The new Mac mini is on the way. Although Apple has not officially announced it and no release date has been set, signs suggest it will arrive soon, likely featuring the M4 chip. Mark Gurman mentioned this in his latest Power On newsletter, which outlines some features of the updated Mac mini M4.
As for the details, many are still unknown. We do know it will be the smallest Mac ever made, reduced in size to be somewhat larger than an Apple TV, but not by much. Additionally, it will remove the USB-A ports and include only USB-C ports, except for the video ports.
However, the company seems to be testing the connectivity options for the new M4 Mac mini. According to Gurman, Apple has tried models with at least 3 USB-C ports on the back, a power cable slot and an HDMI port for connecting to TVs and monitors. This suggests that the final model might include up to 5 USB-C ports, with two of them on the front for easy access, similar to the current setup on the Mac Studio. This change addresses one of the most common user requests and one of the few complaints about the existing model.
Mac Mini M4: 5 USB Ports and Apple TV Size
The remaining question about the Mac mini’s connectivity is whether all its USB-C ports will support Thunderbolt. It’s unclear if only some of the ports—possibly the rear ones—will have Thunderbolt, while the front ports might be standard USB-C but with the latest protocol specifications.
In fact, the size and features of the new Mac mini, combined with its enhanced connectivity, suggest it will be like a small version of the iPad Pro. This could help keep the device’s price similar to current models. The Mac mini available today starts at $599, but there’s no guarantee that Apple will offer a model at a lower price. This new Mac mini is just one of several new Macs expected in the coming months. Updates are also planned for the desktop iMac and the MacBook Pro, both featuring M4 chips and scheduled for release this year.