Apple Unveils M4 Mac mini with All-New Design

Yesterday, Apple unveiled its M4 iMac, the first of its three Mac announcements this week. Today, Apple has unveiled the new Mac mini, which has significant upgrades compared to before.

Powered by M4 and M4 Pro chips, the new Mac mini delivers 1.8x faster CPU and 2.2x faster GPU performance compared to the previous M1 model, says Apple. This increased power is packed into a 5 by 5-inch frame, making it Apple’s smallest desktop to date, looking like an Apple TV. Yes, Apple skipped the M3 for the Mac mini and went straight to M4.

“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.”

The base M4 chip includes a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, starting with 16GB of RAM, double from before.

The upgraded M4 Pro has 14 cores (10 performance and 4 efficiency cores) and a 20-core GPU, making it twice as powerful as the M4 for demanding workloads like 3D rendering and AI development. Also, the Neural Engine in M4 Pro is three times faster than in the M1 model, enhancing AI-driven features. You can get up to 64GB of RAM and up to 8TB of storage with the M4 Pro.

For gaming and image editing, Apple cites 13.3x faster gaming performance in World of Warcraft and 33x faster photo editing in Photomator.

The Mac mini with M4 Pro offers performance improvements over the previous M2 Pro model. It can apply up to 1.8x more audio effect plugins in Logic Pro projects, enhancing workflow for music producers. In Motion, the M4 Pro renders motion graphics to RAM up to 2x faster, providing smoother previews for video editors. Additionally, it completes 3D renders up to 2.9x faster in Blender, making it an excellent choice for designers and developers working on complex 3D projects, says Apple.

The new Mac mini offers expanded connectivity with front-facing USB-C ports and a high-impedance audio jack. The M4 model supports Thunderbolt 4, while the M4 Pro introduces Thunderbolt 5 for the first time, allowing 120 Gb/s data transfer speeds.

The M4 model supports up to two 6K displays, while the M4 Pro handles three 6K displays at 60Hz. Both models also come with Gigabit Ethernet and HDMI.

Apple says the Mac mini is its first-ever carbon-neutral Mac. The computer features 100% recycled aluminum in its enclosure, recycled gold and rare earth elements in its components, and uses 100% renewable energy in manufacturing. Shipping emissions are minimized by prioritizing ocean freight. Apple says these efforts have led to an 80% reduction in carbon emissions. For any remaining emissions, Apple applies carbon credits through its Restore Fund projects.

The Mac mini starts at $799 in Canada and is now available for pre-order, while the M4 Pro Mac mini starts at $1899, with deliveries starting November 8.