Apple is rumored to release a new lineup of Mac Minis armed with the M4 chip, this processor is built upon the 3nm technology and is expected to bring up to 50% better performance than its M2 counterpart. Not only that, but up to 4x faster rendering performance according to MacRumors. The M4 chip was first introduced in the iPad Pro and is yet to make it into any fixed desktop components.

According to the same source, Apple is set to release these new Mac models sometime in November 2024. New Macs are usually launched towards the end of the year, but that doesn’t discount the possibility of Apple hosting an event to announce the new tech, as they did last year for the Macbook Pro and iMac models donning the M3 chips.

M4 Mac Mini release date rumors

There is no solid release date yet, but we could see some M4 Mac Minis hit the market late this year if history is anything to go off. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the Mac Mini will be refreshed alongside the 14 and 16-inch Macbook Pros “starting around the end of this year“. To us, late 2024 is defined as anything from late November to early December.

It is alleged that suppliers are scheduled to ship Mac Mini units from China in early September for the standard M4 Chip, followed by the M4 Pro version sometime in October. Furthermore, Gurman notes that the Mac Mini will likely not be making an appearance at Apple’s ‘Glowtime‘ event on September 9th.

M4 Mac Mini specs expectations

There’s not much in terms of specifications for the rumored Mac Minis, but we do have some suggestions that come from MacRumors. Apart from the M4 chip offering much faster performance, it offers a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU configuration with an advanced 16-core neural engine for AI. The GPU also supports hardware-accelerated Ray Tracing, which is something that the M2 didn’t offer. According to Apple, the Neural Engine in the M4 chip is an “absolute powerhouse for AI.”

Memory (RAM)

The Mac Mini models could start at 16GB, as opposed to the 8GB that these models previously started at. The extra RAM floor is definitely an indication that Apple expects the Mac Mini to be capable of a lot more than the M2-based model. According to MacRumors, all of the M4 Macs that have been spotted in developer logs have either 16GB or 32GB RAM.

USB-A antics

In a reported redesign, Apple may be opting to get rid of USB-A ports in a bid to half its size, which could alienate users still reliant on the USB-A standard. If not already, I bet Apple starts selling USB-A to USB-C adapters, around the same time this change is implemented, if they don’t already. On the plus side, it does free up space for a rumored five USB-C ports instead.

M4 Mac Mini price estimate

Based on last generation’s prices (because there are no current confirmed prices), you were paying upwards of $600 for an 8GB version of the Mac Mini. However, we know that Apple might be doing away with the 8GB versions altogether, so you could be expected to pay an extra $150 – $200 for the RAM upgrade. The M2 Apple Mac Minis is still around $800 for the 16GB version.

The state of the economy is quite a bit different now than it was when the M2 versions were released, so it remains to be seen if that’s going to be reflected in the price of this refresh.

About the Author

Jack Howarth

Jack Howarth, a Tech Writer at PC Guide, is deeply passionate about technology. He started his journey during college, earning an Extended Diploma in ICT, and CompTIA A+ later in life.