M1X Mac mini with more ports could launch within months
The next Mac mini will feature both a new M1X chip and an updated design, a report claims, one that will also include more ports than the current version, and finally replace the Intel version in Apple's product catalog.
![A render for what could be an updated Mac mini [Jon Prosser]](https://photos5.appleinsider.com/gallery/43923-85436-42210-81843-mac-mini-m1x-header-xl-xl.jpg)
A render for what could be an updated Mac mini [Jon Prosser]
Apple is expected to launch a number of new products during its fall events, with one potential candidate being a new Mac mini. A report on Sunday seems to double down on rumors relating to the desktop Mac, including changes to its appearance and an improvement in performance.
In the latest "Power On" newsletter for Bloomberg, Mark Gurman claims a high-performance Mac mini is on the way. The model, equipped with an M1X Apple Silicon chip, will complete the transition for the Mac mini line by eliminating the Intel model completely.
Gurman believes that the Mac mini's use as a server and for some tasks like video editing and software development, made Apple keep the Intel variant available for purchase for a while longer. At least until it produces a high-performance variant.
It is reckoned the Intel version may only be around for the "next several months."
The new Mac mini is said by Gurman to have "an updated design and more ports than the current model." This may take the form of a May render leak, which claimed the Mac mini would have a thinner profile, as well as a plexiglass-like top panel and aluminum sides.
Around the back, the render showed four USB 4-Thunderbolt 3 ports, two USB-A connections, Gigabit Ethernet, and HDMI. It also included the magnetic circular power connector, as used on the 24-inch iMac.
Read on AppleInsider
![A render for what could be an updated Mac mini [Jon Prosser]](https://photos5.appleinsider.com/gallery/43923-85436-42210-81843-mac-mini-m1x-header-xl-xl.jpg)
A render for what could be an updated Mac mini [Jon Prosser]
Apple is expected to launch a number of new products during its fall events, with one potential candidate being a new Mac mini. A report on Sunday seems to double down on rumors relating to the desktop Mac, including changes to its appearance and an improvement in performance.
In the latest "Power On" newsletter for Bloomberg, Mark Gurman claims a high-performance Mac mini is on the way. The model, equipped with an M1X Apple Silicon chip, will complete the transition for the Mac mini line by eliminating the Intel model completely.
Gurman believes that the Mac mini's use as a server and for some tasks like video editing and software development, made Apple keep the Intel variant available for purchase for a while longer. At least until it produces a high-performance variant.
It is reckoned the Intel version may only be around for the "next several months."
The new Mac mini is said by Gurman to have "an updated design and more ports than the current model." This may take the form of a May render leak, which claimed the Mac mini would have a thinner profile, as well as a plexiglass-like top panel and aluminum sides.
Around the back, the render showed four USB 4-Thunderbolt 3 ports, two USB-A connections, Gigabit Ethernet, and HDMI. It also included the magnetic circular power connector, as used on the 24-inch iMac.
Read on AppleInsider
Comments
Apple always had one or two quietly hidden, deeply obsolete models that just tucker around for years due to niche needs. like the 21” iMac that still has a hard drive, a 2014 pedigree computer, only discontinued like last year?
Apple will need to have one token machine available for developers who have a difficult time transitioning to ARM — like, five or more years — and people who use quirky, special needs software (lots of musicians in this bucket). The Mini is the cheapest computer that ticks these boxes.
I doubt the M1 versions will go away just because the M1X versions get introduced, unless Apple will transition to a much more aggressive upgrade cycle across its entire product line, or a repositioning of the MacMini line.
For a Mac mini (and, even the 24" M1 iMac) if someone comes along and pulls the cable out, the computer turns off right away. No battery there to safely save your data and shutdown gracefully. I guess that's better than having the mini fall to the floor, but who has the cables in a place where they could be trodden on? Most people have a desk against the wall with the cables running behind it. Anyone who has the cables in a place they could be trodden on, should really be thinking about that.
I mean, who am I to know why it would be there. Apple might've had a spate of repair claims from exactly this.
Okay, I answered my own question.
The M1X versions are going to have a starting price of $1300, maybe $1100. Nobody is going to confuse the silver M1 models to these. They supposedly have a new form factor, so it will probably be more obvious than a different finish.
https://www.newegg.com/amd-ryzen-7-5700g-ryzen-7-5000-g-series/p/N82E16819113682?quicklink=true
It’s also interesting that USB A and HDMI ports are included, despite everyone on AI deriding them as obsolete, unnecessary ports.
Remember, though - this is a rumor. Some, none or all of it may be true.
The day the iMac went on sale, reviewer Jason Snell compared the new iMac power cord to the old: "In practical terms, the force required to yank the magnetic power cable off the iMac is the same force required to yank the current iMac’s plastic power plug out of its socket."
Unless we're going to start referring to non-magnetic designs as "FrictionSafe", we should agree to only call products MagSafe that Apple calls MagSafe.
https://www.cpu-monkey.com/en/compare_cpu-apple_m1-1804-vs-amd_ryzen_7_5700g-1876
The Ryzen CPU is up to 80% faster but this is a 65W desktop chip.
For M1X, Apple would be able to double the CPU cores (8 performance cores vs 4) of the M1 and gain around 15% from the more advanced node to hit 20W for the CPU. They can 2x the GPU cores to get 5TFLOP (16-core) within 40W overall and 4x GPU for 10TFLOP (32-core) within 60W.
Comparing a 60W M1X (on 5nm+) vs 65W AMD (7nm), Apple's chip would be 1.25x faster CPU and 4-5x faster GPU.
It's going go be interesting what TDP the M1X will have. It can go into the MBP14, MBP16, iMac 24, Mac mini, and even the base SKUs for the Apple Silicon large iMac and Mac Pro. It's really their true blue, designed for a PC chip. A workhorse chip as it can go into all of their systems, save for the fanless laptop, and will be used for multiple generations of Mac models.
So like with the M1, probably power-gated to 30 W for the MBP14 and iMac 24 for a 10 to 15% performance reduction versus the MBP16, Mac mini, large iMac and Mac Pro running at 40 to 50 W. Apple lets the MBP16 with the Intel i9-9980HK run at 90 W in perpetuity. Don't think they are going there. The RAM packaging will be the most interesting thing. They might stack LPPDR5 two layers high with 4 stacks to get 8 8GB packages in there for 64 GB total of RAM.
Still wish they went for 24 GPU cores, and binned for 12, 18 and 24 GPU cores depending on computer model.
Also, the C13-14 pair is only normally used for devices with onboard PSUs, which the iMac couldn't have without dramatic changes to the design. Without a PSU, the connector type is pretty open season, there's loads of them.