Oliver Cragg / Android Authority
TL;DR
- A recent leak signifies that the upcoming Mac Mini M4 will retire the USB-A ports in favor of extra Sort-C ones.
- The compact pc is predicted to endure its first main design overhaul in 14 years, which may considerably scale back its dimension.
- Apple may launch the M4-powered Mac Mini, together with upgraded iMac and MacBook Professional fashions, as quickly as October.
Earlier this 12 months, Apple began providing its newest M4 chip completely by means of the iPad Professional (2024). By year-end, although, the corporate is predicted to develop this chipset’s availability to a few Mac fashions, together with the Mac Mini, iMac, and MacBook Professional. Whereas the iMac and MacBook Professional upgrades will doubtless be incremental, the Mac Mini M4 is predicted to function the primary main redesign since 2010. This might retire the USB-A ports, as Apple will reportedly supply extra Sort-C ones as a substitute.
Based on Bloomberg, the upcoming Mac Mini will not supply USB-A ports. As a substitute, Apple will reportedly add extra USB-C ones, growing their complete to 5. In any other case, the Cupertino agency’s most compact pc will doubtless retain the HDMI port, Ethernet port, and headphone jack current on the present mannequin.
Past the up to date port selection and boosted processor, the Mac Mini M4 will doubtless introduce a considerably smaller exterior for the primary time in 14 years. Apple may additionally transfer two USB-C ports to the entrance aspect, making them extra accessible. Other than that, the most recent rumors state that the ability provide will proceed to stay internally, so customers received’t must cope with exterior bricks.
Apple sometimes launches new Macs in direction of the top of the 12 months, and this spherical could also be no completely different. The identical report signifies that Apple may announce the three M4 Macs someday in October, whereas the opposite fashions — together with the inexpensive MacBook Air — may comply with swimsuit in 2025’s first half.