Apple updates the Mac mini with a much smaller design, M4 or M4 Pro, two front-facing USB-C ports, up to 64GB of RAM, and more, shipping November 8 for $599+

As part of the company's week of Mac-focused announcements, Apple has just introduced a smaller, yet even more powerful Mac Mini.

The Verge 2024-10-29 Chris Welch

Context & Ripple Effects

This is the next step in a Mac mini refresh cycle that moved from an Intel-based model with up to 64GB of memory to Apple silicon, including the M1 Mac mini launch and a 2023 update with M2 and M2 Pro options.

The new model preserves the prior generation's $599 entry price while adding a substantially revised enclosure, higher memory ceiling, and M4-tier chips. It also confirms the previously reported plan for a dramatically smaller M4 Mac mini.

First-order effects

Mac mini buyers can choose M4 or M4 Pro performance in a smaller desktop, with front USB-C ports and configurations reaching 64GB of RAM.
Apple keeps its entry Mac mini price at $599 while expanding the range between the base system and higher-spec professional configurations.

Second-order effects

The smaller chassis and front-facing ports make the Mac mini a more practical fit for desk setups where the computer remains visible and frequently connected to peripherals.
The M4 Pro option gives Apple a clearer performance step-up within the same product line; a subsequent review of the M4 Pro model highlighted both its speed and the cost of specification upgrades, making configuration pricing more consequential for buyers.

Third-order effects

The update reinforces Apple's pattern of using its own chip generations to refresh long-lived Mac categories without changing their entry pricing, while differentiating performance through higher-end silicon and memory options.
If this approach continues, compact desktops may increasingly compete on integrated compute tiers, memory capacity, and I/O convenience rather than enclosure size alone.

The trend: Apple is using successive in-house silicon generations to make compact Macs more capable while reserving higher performance and configuration flexibility for premium tiers.

Discussion

@jguthmann Jordan Guthmann on x
Mac mini press release posting Excel calculation improvements? Excel Gods, we're back up. [image]
@jake_hansen_ Jake Hansen on x
@MaxWinebach Mac mini with M4 is priced at $479 in 5-pack configurations for EDU customers — again incredible!
@benbajarin Ben Bajarin on x
In case people were wondering why Apple keeps bringing up performance comparisons to Intel Macs, it is because roughly ~50% of the Macs still in use (Mac installed base) are Intel based Macs. I know, shocking.
@bdsams Brad Sams on x
New Mac mini is the best way to run Windows on ARM as a desktop 😑
@mkbhd Marques Brownlee on x
The tiny new Mac Mini - M4 and M4 Pro chips - 5 x 5 inch cube footprint - Headphone jack on the front - Starting at $599 with 16GB Memory https://www.apple.com/... [video]
@benbajarin Ben Bajarin on x
The new Mac Mini may be one of the more interesing Macs this go around. It's not an accident it looks like a mini Mac Studio. Also, M4 Pro is a significant step up from prior years going to 10 P cores and 4 E cores. M4 Pro: - Features a 14-core CPU for increased [image]
@thurrott Paul Thurrott on x
Want to trade in your PC—any PC—to get a new Mac mini? Apple is offering awesome trade-in values. Cough. [image]
@neilcybart Neil Cybart on x
Day 2 of Apple's Mac week. A completely redesigned (and much smaller) Mac mini. Remains at $599 ($499 for education). And a M4 Pro chip. [image]
@ronaldmannak Ronald Mannak on x
Interesting choice. The power button is on the bottom of the new Mac mini. And if you place it on the right side of your monitor, the stand will block access. Granted, you'll likely only press that button 5 times or less over its lifetime, but still [image]
@maxwinebach Max Weinbach on x
The thermals on the new Mac mini is nuts [video]
@raywongy Ray Wong on x
There it is! Apple just announced new redesigned 5" x 5" Mac Mini with M4/M4 Pro chips. Here's how the two compare... FEATURES ✨Mac Mini with M4 chip • 10-core CPU, up to 1.8x faster than M1 • 10-core, GPU up to 2.2 faster than M1 • 16GB RAM • Up to 8TB SSD (base is 256GB) [image…
@aaronp613 Aaron on x
Apple created a replica Apple Park for the M4 Mac mini intro [video]
@vadimyuryev Vadim Yuryev on x
As predicted last night, the M4 Pro Mac mini starts with 24GB of RAM!!! This confirms that it uses 4 Memory chips. 6GB x 4 chips = 24GB of RAM at a minimum. They DID increase the price by $100, but I think the upgrades are WELL worth it! [image]
@connorjewiss Connor Jewiss on x
The new M4 Mac mini is officially here and officially tiny [image]
@tomwarren Tom Warren on x
Apple never ceases to amaze with its charts 🥲 [image]
@zollotech Aaron Zollo on x
The new Mac mini has quite the pricing swing. $599 to $4499. Pretty hefty specs for a Mac mini too [image]
@zollotech Aaron Zollo on x
The new Mac mini has Thunderbolt 5. Yesterday's iMac M4 said it had 4K 120, but then they changed it. However with Thunderbolt 5 we should be able to do 8K 120. New 8K Pro Display next?
@aaronp613 Aaron on x
The M4 Mac mini has Thunderbolt 5! [image]
@maxwinebach Max Weinbach on x
Also M4 Pro! • 14-core CPU (10 performance/4 efficiency) • 20-core GPU (2x M4) • 75% more memory bandwidth vs last gen • 2x bandwidth of latest AI PCs • Neural engine 3x faster (38 TOPS)
@dylanmcd8 Dylan on x
Mac mini with M4 and M4 Pro, the first redesign in over 14 years!! ITS SO SMALL [image]
@maxwinebach Max Weinbach on x
Day 2 Apple Launch! Mac mini! • 5x5 inches (!!!) • First desktop with Thunderbolt 5 • Finally added front ports • M4 or M4 Pro • Starts at $599 w/16GB RAM • First carbon neutral Mac [image]
@vadimyuryev Vadim Yuryev on x
Apple's teardown of the M4 Mac mini showing the cooling system. DANG that's impressive! No wonder it can be so small and cool the M4 Pro chip SO well! [video]
@parkerortolani Parker Ortolani on x
blows my mind that so many people are still using Intel Macs, I guess I can understand it in corporate environments with tight budgets, but personal use is mind boggling - the last few Intel Macs felt slow when they were new!
@yacinemtb Kache on x
2,199.00 for the m4 pro mac mini with 64gb of unified memory thunderbolt data transfer rate is 40gbps between them, that would be the limiting factor right? so 256 gb with 40gbps between each node, and each node has 273GB/s. 8.8k
@yacinemtb Kache on x
“M4 Pro supports up to 64GB of unified memory and 273GB/s of memory bandwidth”
@vadimyuryev Vadim Yuryev on x
BET: The 14-core M4 Pro chip is going to outperform the 16-core M3 Max. This Mac mini update is BLOWING my Mind!
@vadimyuryev Vadim Yuryev on x
HOLY SMOKES!!!! All of my performance predictions for the M4 Pro chip in the new Mac mini are SO WRONG! I was expecting a 14-core chip with 8 Performance cores and 6 Efficiency cores, but it's actually 10 Performance cores, so it's gonna be SO MUCH FASTER than I expected!! 🤯 [ima…
@stevemoser Steve Moser on x
The new M4 Pro Mac mini supports Thunderbolt 5 but Apple doesn't list a Thunderbolt 5 cable on their site. What gives Apple? [image]
r/apple r on reddit
M4 Pro chip boosts CPU and GPU performance, up to 64 GB RAM and Thunderbolt 5 support

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