Mac Mini M4 2024: All about Release Date, Specs and Price
At the end of this year, Apple users will be expecting new Mac Mini 2024 with the M4 chipset and may be M4 Pro 2. If you are interested in the new M4 Mac Mini, this article will walk you through the overview of its release date and price and what the M4 chipset is.
A Long-Awaited Design Update?
The Mac Mini has not undergone a radical design change for over a decade. The Mac Mini has not experienced a lot of changes since the aluminum design was launched around 2010. At one point, it even had a CD drive, which was then dropped over time, but otherwise, the design has not changed much.
A major internal change was observed during the fiscal year 2020 when Apple replaced Intel processors with its own silicon in the M1. In early 2023, we got the M2 and M2 Pro models within the same design. The Mac Studio introduced in 2021 has the same length and width as the Mac Mini but is taller to house advanced cooling solutions for the M2 Max and M2 Ultras processors.
External Design Features:
At the moment, all Mac Mini models come equipped with a different number of USB-C and Thunderbolt ports. The M2 variant comes with two ports while the M2 Pro variant has four. In the next M4 series, more pronounced changes are unlikely to be observed. Based on rumors, the form factor is expected to remain the same although there could be the addition of a glass panel on top made of superior material.
The M4 Chipset:
It is expected that the new Mac Mini will come with the M4 chipset and is a huge improvement over the previous models. As the iPad Pro already came with the M4 chipset, it would only be reasonable to assume that the Mac Mini will go straight to the M4 without an M3 release. This makes sure that Mac Mini remains up to date with the best performing and efficient machines that Apple has to offer. GeekBench 6 testing has shown that the groundbreaking M4 chip is already almost 25 percent faster than the M3 chips introduced last year. So Mac Minis are in for an amazing chipset upgrade.
Anticipated Mac Mini 2024 Release Date:
As per the revelation of Mark Gurman, the M4 Mac Mini should be launched sometime at the end of 2024 or during the first quarter of 2025, with a keynote expected in October or November. The other scenario is that it can come out in January or February of 2025 and there won’t be any special announcement about it besides a press drop.
Mac Mini 2024 expected Pricing:
Although exact pricing details are yet to be disclosed, we can make educated guesses based on past trends. The pricing is expected to be competitive, offering significant value considering the advanced capabilities of the M4 chipset. As always, the final price will depend on the chosen configuration and specifications. The starting price for the M4 Mac Mini with 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM will be $699.
While specifics of this new pricing structure have not been revealed, it is possible to assume certain aspects by referring to previous trends. It is safe to assume that due to valuable capabilities provided by the M4 chips, the pricing would be competitive . As usual, the price will depend on the chosen configuration and parameters. The initial price of the M4 Mac Mini may will be $699 with 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM.
Summary of Key Specs:
- Design: Not expected to be modified withsignificant changes, likely retaining the current form factor.
- Chipset: The M4 series is expected to include both M4 and M4 Pro models with a 10-core CPU and GPU for increased performance.
- Storage: Ranging from 256GB to 4TB options, with different RAM configurations.
- Connectivity: Thunderbolt 4 ports, USB 3.2 ports, optional 10GB Ethernet, and HDMI 2.1 Port.
- Pricing: Starting at $699 for the base M4 model.
Wrapping Up:
he upcoming Mac Mini with the M4 and the M4 Pro 2 chipsets is expected to pave the way in the tech giant’s product portfolio. Though the design is unlikely to be overhauled, the upgrades within the device will keep the Mac Mini relevant for both the everyday user and the creative professional. Check out the next post for more information on updates to the application as it nears the final release!