The Mac mini is my favourite Apple device. I’m writing this story right now on an M2 Pro Mac mini. It’s the size, ports and power that I find compelling when designing a work setup.
But the latest model is next level bang for for buck.
Overnight Apple announced the new Mac mini with M4 and M4 Pro chip versions that go all the way up to 64GB of unified memory. The entry level model starts at 16GB, just like the new iMacs.
“The new Mac mini delivers gigantic performance in an unbelievably small design thanks to the power efficiency of Apple silicon and an innovative new thermal architecture,” said John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering.
“Combined with the performance of M4 and the new M4 Pro chip, enhanced connectivity on both the front and back, and the arrival of Apple Intelligence, Mac mini is more capable and versatile than ever, and there is nothing else like it.”
New Design
The new Mac mini footprint is less than half the size of the previous design at just 12.7cm by 12.7cm. It’s a bit taller though making it look very much like a smaller Mac Studio. It even has ports on the front now. The super-compact system is enabled by the power efficiency of Apple silicon and thermal architecture, which guides air to different levels of the system, while all venting is done through the foot.
Small but Powerful
When compared to the best-selling PC desktop in its price range, Apple claims the Mac mini is up to 6x faster at one-twentieth the size.
When compared to the Mac mini with Intel Core i7, Mac mini with M4:
- Applies up to 2.8x more audio effect plugins in a Logic Pro project.
- Delivers up to 13.3x faster gaming performance in World of Warcraft: The War Within.
- Enhances photos with up to 33x faster image upscaling performance in Photomator.
When compared to the Mac mini with M1, Mac mini with M4:
- Performs spreadsheet calculations up to 1.7x faster in Microsoft Excel.
- Transcribes with on-device AI speech-to-text up to 2x faster in MacWhisper.
- Merges panoramic images up to 4.9x faster in Adobe Lightroom Classic.
Introducing M4 Pro for Pro-Level Performance
For users who want pro-level performance, Mac mini with M4 Pro features the world’s fastest CPU core5 with lightning-fast single-threaded performance. With up to 14 cores, including 10 performance cores and four efficiency cores, M4 Pro also provides multithreaded performance. With up to 20 cores, the M4 Pro GPU is up to twice as powerful as the GPU in M4, and both chips bring hardware-accelerated ray tracing to the Mac mini for the first time. The Neural Engine in M4 Pro is also over 3x faster than in Mac mini with M1, so on-device Apple Intelligence models run at blazing speed. M4 Pro supports up to 64GB of unified memory and 273GB/s of memory bandwidth — twice as much bandwidth as any AI PC chip — for accelerating AI workloads. And M4 Pro supports Thunderbolt 5, which delivers up to 120 Gb/s data transfer speeds on Mac mini, and more than doubles the throughput of Thunderbolt 4.
When compared to the Mac mini with Intel Core i7, Mac mini with M4 Pro:
- Performs spreadsheet calculations up to 4x faster in Microsoft Excel.
- Executes scene-edit detection up to 9.4x faster in Adobe Premiere Pro.
- Transcribes with on-device AI speech-to-text up to 20x faster in MacWhisper.
- Processes basecalling for DNA sequencing in Oxford Nanopore MinKNOW up to 26x faster.
When compared to the Mac mini with M2 Pro, Mac mini with M4 Pro:
- Applies up to 1.8x more audio effect plugins in a Logic Pro project.
- Renders motion graphics to RAM up to 2x faster in Motion.
- Completes 3D renders up to 2.9x faster in Blender.
Speedy Connections
There are no more USB-A ports. I get it but they are still handy and I use them on previous model. On the front for the first time the Mac Mini has 2 USB-C ports and a headphone jack.
On the the back you’ll find the M4 Mac mini has three Thunderbolt 4 ports, while M4 Pro Mac mini has three Thunderbolt 5 ports. Gigabit Ethernet is standard but configurable up to 10Gb Ethernet for faster networking speeds. Plus there’s an HDMI port for connection to a TV or HDMI display. 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 60Hz.
Apple Intelligence
Apple Intelligence is available in U.S. English with macOS Sequoia 15.1. With systemwide Writing Tools, users can refine their words by rewriting, proofreading, and summarising text nearly everywhere they write. With the newly redesigned Siri, users can move fluidly between spoken and typed requests to accelerate tasks throughout their day, and Siri can answer thousands of questions about Mac and other Apple products. New Apple Intelligence features will be available in December, with additional capabilities rolling out in the coming months. Image Playground gives users a new way to create fun original images, and Genmoji allows them to create custom emoji in seconds. Siri will become even more capable, with the ability to take actions across the system and draw on a user’s personal context to deliver intelligence that is tailored to them. In December, ChatGPT will be integrated into Siri and Writing Tools, allowing users to access its expertise without needing to jump between tools.
Apple Intelligence does all this while protecting users’ privacy at every step. At its core is on-device processing, and for more complex tasks, Private Cloud Compute gives users access to Apple’s even larger, server-based models and offers groundbreaking protections for personal information. In addition, users can access ChatGPT for free without creating an account, and privacy protections are built in — their IP addresses are obscured and OpenAI won’t store requests. For those who choose to connect their account, OpenAI’s data-use policies apply.
Carbon Neutral
The new Mac mini is Apple’s first carbon neutral Mac, marking a significant milestone toward Apple 2030, the company’s goal to be carbon neutral across the entire carbon footprint by the end of this decade.
Mac mini is made with over 50 per cent recycled content overall, including 100 per cent recycled aluminium in the enclosure, 100 per cent recycled gold plating in all Apple-designed printed circuit boards, and 100 per cent recycled rare earth elements in all magnets. The electricity used to manufacture Mac mini is sourced from 100 per cent renewable electricity. And, to address 100 per cent of the electricity customers use to power Mac mini, Apple has invested in clean energy projects around the world. Apple has also prioritised lower-carbon modes of shipping, like ocean freight, to further reduce emissions from transportation. Together, these actions have reduced the carbon footprint of Mac mini by over 80 per cent.2 For the small amount of remaining emissions, Apple applies high-quality carbon credits from nature-based projects, like those generated by its innovative Restore Fund.
In another first for Mac mini, the packaging is now entirely fibre-based, bringing Apple closer to its goal to remove plastic from its packaging by 2025.
macOS Sequoia
macOS Sequoia completes the new Mac mini experience with a host of exciting features, including iPhone Mirroring, allowing users to wirelessly interact with their iPhone, its apps, and notifications directly from their Mac. Safari, the world’s fastest browser, now offers the Highlights feature, which quickly pulls up relevant information from a site; a smarter, redesigned Reader with a table of contents and high-level summary; and a new Video Viewer to watch videos without distractions. With Distraction Control, users can hide items on a webpage that they may find disruptive to their browsing. Gaming gets even more immersive with features like Personalised Spatial Audio and improvements to Game Mode, along with a breadth of exciting titles, including the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Easier window tiling means users can stay organised with a window layout that works best for them. The all-new Passwords app gives convenient access to passwords, passkeys, and other credentials — all stored in one place. And users can apply new, beautiful built-in backgrounds for video calls, which include a variety of colour gradients and system wallpapers, or upload their own photos.
Pricing and Availability
- Customers can pre-order the new Mac mini with M4 and M4 Pro starting today, Wednesday, 30 October, on apple.com/au/store and in the Apple Store app in 28 countries and regions. It will start arriving to customers, and in Apple Store locations and Apple Authorised Resellers, beginning Friday, 8 November.
- Mac mini with M4 starts at RRP A$999 inc. GST and RRP A$849 inc. GST for education. Additional technical specifications are available at apple.com/mac-mini.
- Mac mini with M4 Pro starts at RRP A$2,199 inc. GST and RRP A$2,049 inc. GST for education. Additional technical specifications are available at apple.com/mac-mini.
- New accessories with USB-C — including Magic Keyboard (RRP A$149 inc. GST , Magic Keyboard with Touch ID (RRP A$209 inc. GST , Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad (RRP A$249 inc. GST, Magic Trackpad (RRP A$179 inc. GST, Magic Mouse (RRP A$119 inc. GST, and Thunderbolt 5 Pro Cable (RRP A$115 inc. GST) — are available at apple.com/store.
- Apple Intelligence is available now as a free software update for Mac with M1 and later, and can be accessed in most regions around the world when the device and Siri language are set to U.S. English. The first set of features is in beta and available with macOS Sequoia 15.1, with more features rolling out in the months to come.
- Apple Intelligence is quickly adding support for more languages. In December, Apple Intelligence will add support for localised English in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, and the U.K., and in April, a software update will deliver expanded language support, with more coming throughout the year. Chinese, English (India), English (Singapore), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Vietnamese, and other languages will be supported.
- With Apple Trade In, customers can trade in their current computer and get credit toward a new Mac. Customers can visit apple.com/shop/trade-in to see what their device is worth.
- AppleCare+ for Mac provides unparalleled service and support. This includes unlimited incidents of accidental damage, additional hardware coverage, and 24/7 support from the people who know Mac best.
- Every customer who buys directly from Apple Retail gets access to Personal Setup. In these guided online sessions, a Specialist can walk them through setup, or focus on features that help them make the most of their new device. Customers can also learn more about getting started with their new device with a Today at Apple session at their nearest Apple Store.