In addition to the M4 MacBook Pros, Apple is offering a new version of the Mac mini. After years of aesthetic (but not technical) stagnation, the small desktop computer takes a new step with a completely redesigned, miniaturized design. All accompanied by the powerful M4 chip and its M4 Pro variant.
As mentioned several times in our columns before its official release, the Mac mini 2024 has everything big, except the size. And that’s so much the better!
Everything you need to know about the Mac mini 2024
Apple therefore revealed today the all-new redesigned Mac mini, equipped with M4 and M4 Pro chips, in an even smaller format of 12.7 cm by 12.7 cm (for 5 cm thick). It weighs 670 grams in the M4 version, 730 grams in the M4 Pro version.
The new Mac mini, powered by the M4 processor, delivers up to 1.8x faster CPU and up to 2.2x faster GPU performance than the M1 model. The M4 Pro version, meanwhile, enhances these technologies to handle more demanding workloads and includes Thunderbolt 5 ports for accelerated data transfers. The mini computer can finally be equipped with 64 GB of RAM as an option.
Designed to integrate Apple Intelligence, this Mac mini also protects user privacy. Plus, it’s Apple’s first carbon-neutral Mac, with more than an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
Size comparison between the old and new Mac mini M4:
John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware engineering, said:
The new Mac mini delivers gigantic performance in an incredibly small design thanks to the power efficiency of Apple silicon and an innovative new thermal architecture. Combined with the performance of the M4 chip and the new M4 Pro chip, improved front and rear connectivity, and the arrival of Apple Intelligence, Mac mini is more capable and more versatile than ever, and there is nothing like it.
Increased performance with the M4 and M4 Pro
Compared to the previous model, the Mac mini M2 from January 2023, the M4 and M4 Pro models allow you to achieve incredible performance in this price range.
Compared to the best-selling desktop PC in its price range, Mac mini is up to 6 times faster for one-twentieth the size, says Apple. For a wide range of users, from students to budding creatives to small business owners, the Mac mini with M4 is a powerhouse.
Mac mini with M4
The Mac mini with M4 features a 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, and 16 GB of unified memory as standard (up to 64 as a $690 option), like the iMac M4 from yesterday.
Compared to the Mac mini with Intel Core i7, the Mac mini with M4:
- Apply up to 2.8x more audio effects plugins in a Logic Pro project.
- Delivers up to 13.3x faster gaming performance in World of Warcraft: The War Within.
- Improve your photos with up to 33x faster scaling in Photomator.
Compared to Mac mini with M1, Mac mini with M4:
- Performs spreadsheet calculations up to 1.7 times faster in Microsoft Excel.
- Transcribed with the device’s AI text-to-speech up to 2x faster in MacWhisper.
- Merges panoramic images up to 4.9x faster in Adobe Lightroom Classic.
Mac mini with M4 Pro
As for the M4 Pro variant, the Mac mini takes off with apparently the fastest processor core in the world. With up to 14 cores (12 standard and 2 optional for 230 euros), including 10 performance cores and four efficiency cores, the M4 Pro also offers phenomenal multithreaded performance. With up to 20 cores, the M4 Pro GPU is up to twice as powerful as the M4 GPU, and both chips bring hardware-accelerated ray tracing to the Mac mini for the first time.
The M4 Pro’s Neural Engine is also three times faster than that of the M1 Mac mini, so the Apple Intelligence models on the device run blazingly fast. M4 Pro supports up to 64 GB of unified memory and 273 GB/s of memory bandwidth – twice the bandwidth of any AI PC chip – to accelerate artificial intelligence workloads. M4 Pro also supports Thunderbolt 5, which delivers data transfer speeds of up to 120Gbps on Mac mini, and more than doubles the throughput of Thunderbolt 4.
Compared to Mac mini with Intel Core i7, Mac mini with M4 Pro:
- Performs spreadsheet calculations up to 4x faster in Microsoft Excel.
- Runs scene edit detection up to 9.4x faster in Adobe Premiere Pro.
- Transcribed with built-in AI up to 20x faster in MacWhisper.
- Processes base calling for DNA sequencing in Oxford Nanopore MinKNOW up to 26 times faster.
Compared to Mac mini with M2 Pro, Mac mini with M4 Pro:
- Apply up to 1.8x more audio effects plugins in a Logic Pro project.
- Renders animated images in RAM up to 2x faster in Motion.
- Renders 3D up to 2.9x faster in Blender.
Everything for Apple Intelligence
With its new Mac mini, Apple is obviously placing a lot of emphasis on Apple Intelligence, its in-house AI. Available with macOS Sequoia 15.1, AI offers system-wide writing tools that allow users to rewrite, correct, and summarize text in various applications. The redesigned Siri supports both spoken and written queries, simplifying tasks and providing answers on Mac and Apple products.
Upcoming features include Image Playground for creating original images and Genmoji for generating custom emojis. In December, ChatGPT will be integrated with Siri and writing tools, allowing easy access to its capabilities without having to switch tools.
Privacy remains the priority of the brand which reminds that all this is achieved by on-device processing and a private cloud computing option for more complex tasks, ensuring that personal information remains secure. Users can access ChatGPT for free, with built-in privacy measures that hide IP addresses and prevent queries from being stored. For those who choose to connect their accounts, OpenAI’s data use policies will apply.
Improved connectivity
The Mac mini 2024 improves its connectivity with more ports and Wi-Fi 6E which could (should) have been replaced by Wi-Fi 7.
The new Mac mini 2024 takes inspiration from Mac Studio and now includes front-facing ports for more convenient access, including two USB-C ports that support USB 3, and an audio jack with support high impedance headphones. On the back, the Mac mini M4 includes three Thunderbolt 4 ports, while the Mac mini with M4 Pro includes three Thunderbolt 5 ports.
Mac mini comes standard with a Gigabit Ethernet port, configurable up to 10Gb Ethernet for faster network speeds, and an HDMI port for easy connection to an HDMI TV or display without an adapter.
With M4, Mac mini can support up to two 6K displays and up to one 5K display, and with M4 Pro, it can support up to three 6K displays at 60 Hz for a total of over 60 million of pixels.
Price and release date
Customers can order the new M4 Mac mini today for €699, with availability from November 8. The M4 Pro version starts at €1,649. Ouch! But it offers 24 GB of RAM and 512 SSD as standard.
The resellers are:
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