Apple reboots Mac mini with a BIG redesign, faster performance, and £50 price cut
Apple has treated its most affordable Mac to its first major redesign since 2010
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Apple has unveiled a brand-new Mac mini with an unrecognisable new design — its first major shake-up since 2010. Under the bonnet is a choice of the all-new M4 or M4 Pro system-on-a-chip from Apple, the same silicon found inside the overhauled 24-inch iMac announced earlier this week.
Despite the more powerful internals and faster data transfer speeds from the Thunderbolt ports, Apple has managed to dramatically shrink the overall size of the Mac mini with this 2024 reboot
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With its new design, measuring just five-by-five inches, this diddy desktop PC truly lives up to its Mac mini moniker. But despite its diminutive stature, Apple says its upgraded model delivers up to 1.8x faster CPU performance and 2.2x faster GPU performance compared to the M1 version launched in November 2020.
That improved performance means the latest Mac mini can now connect to two 6K displays and one 5K display. Meanwhile, the more powerful M4 Pro machine can drive up to three 6K displays at 60Hz.
As well as shrinking the Mac mini to an Apple TV-esque footprint, Apple has taken the opportunity to add a pair of Thunderbolt 4 ports — compatible with all of your existing USB-C cables — and a 3.5mm audio port to the front of the device. That should make it faster to switch between peripherals or charge your other gadgets.
If you upgrade to M4 Pro model, those ports are upgraded to the speedier Thunderbolt 5 standard. Apple includes an HDMI port and Gigabit Ethernet on the back, alongside three more Thunderbolt ports.
On the back, Apple has equipped its new Mac mini design with 3x Thunderbolt 4 or Thunderbolt 5 ports, a Gigabit Ethernet, HDMI, and power cable
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Like the latest refresh of the all-in-one iMac, the new Mac mini comes with 16GB of RAM as standard, which can be configured up to 32GB. Coupled with the supercharged Neural Engine built into the M4 system, this new machine has been designed with Artificial Intelligence (AI) in mind.
Apple Intelligence features launched in the United States this week with the introduction of macOS Sequoia 15.1, bringing a host of new capabilities to compatible devices.
These include Writing Tools for rewriting and proofreading, a redesigned Siri, and updates to the Photos app such as the "Clean Up" feature, which removes unwanted people and objects from the background. Apple Intelligence works differently from other AI systems, processing tasks on-device using the Neural Engine in recent A- and M-series chips. This approach ensures privacy and allows for offline functionality.
Mac mini owners in the UK will need to be patient, with a UK release date not scheduled until December.
A range of new Writing Tools, powered by Apple Intelligence, will help you summarise, proof-read, and rewrite everything on your Mac in a variety of tones APPLE PRESS OFFICE "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 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."
Mac mini is available in a compact new design alongside a range of new USB-C accessories, including the Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, and Magic Trackpad
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Following its redesign, Mac mini is Apple's first carbon-neutral computer, following in the footsteps of the Apple Watch Series 10. This is a significant milestone towards the Cupertino company's goal of being carbon neutral across its entire portfolio by 2030. Mac mini uses 100% recycled aluminium in its enclosure, with the packaging entirely fibre-based — as part of its goal to remove packaging by 2025.
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The Mac mini with M4 starts at £599, while the M4 Pro version begins at £1,399. Both models are available for pre-order now and will be in stores on November 8. Apple is also offering education pricing, with the M4 model starting at £499 and the M4 Pro at £1,299 for those who are eligible.
The company has introduced new USB-C accessories to complement the Mac mini, including the Magic Keyboard (£99), Magic Keyboard with Touch ID (£149), and Magic Mouse (£79).
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