The Mac Mini has long been regarded as a cost-effective way to get a decently powerful Mac experience without having to invest in a full laptop or all-in-one computer. In 2019, the computer, along with the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, received the M1 treatment. But, finally, in 2022, it appears that it will receive the latest-generation redesign we've been waiting for.
Not only will the new Mac Mini be redesigned, but it will also be more powerful. Many people expect the new Mac to have an M1 Pro or M1 Max chip, but it could also have an M2. According to some recent rumours, the Mac Mini will be available in a variety of models.
Here's what we know so far about the next Mac Mini.
Design for the Mac Mini in 2022
The new Mac Mini is expected to have a slimmer design than previous models. That's right on trend: the original Mac Mini was about two inches tall, while the current model is only 1.4 inches tall. The new Mac Mini, according to leaker Jon Prosser, could be under an inch tall.
In general, the Mac Mini will likely retain its Mac Mini appearance. For example, it will almost certainly continue to offer a square design. However, Prosser speculates that it could have a plexiglass top and come in a variety of colours, similar to the new iMac and the rumoured new MacBook Air. It may resemble an old-school Apple TV combined with a Mac Mini in appearance.
The new Mac Mini will most likely have a slew of modern ports on the back. According to reports, the device will have four Thunderbolt ports (up from two on the current-gen model). Along with that, there's an HDMI port, an ethernet port, and a power input that looks similar to the new iMac.
All of this, of course, is subject to change. We'll have to wait and see if Apple decides to release different models with different numbers and types of ports. It's unclear whether Apple will include an SD card slot and USB-A ports, as seen on the MacBook Pro. The new Mac Mini, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, will have a "updated design and more ports than the current model."
Specifications for the Mac Mini in 2022
Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the new Mac Mini is what it has to offer on the inside.
There's no doubt that the new Mac Mini will outperform the current-generation M1 Mac Mini in terms of specs. However, some reports claim that the new device will come with either an M1 Pro or M1 Max, while others claim that it will instead come with the same M2 chip as the next MacBook Air.
However, according to Mark Gurman's latest reports, all three could be true. Apple will release a lower-end M2 Mac Mini, as well as a higher-end M1 Pro/M1 Max Mac Mini, according to Gurman.
The M1 Pro and M1 Max MacBook Pros have up to 64GB of RAM, and the new Mac Mini is likely to have the same. Storage capacities of up to 2TB are also possible.
