Apple has announced its latest Mac mini, featuring a redesign that makes it even more compact, coming in at five by five inches and a mere two inches tall. It includes the company’s M4 chip, and can also be configured with the newly announced M4 Pro version. Both variants now start with 16GB of RAM, likely to facilitate the addition of Apple Intelligence.
The new Mac mini’s M4 chip brings a substantial boost in performance, with Apple reporting it is up to 1.8 times faster than the M1 Mac mini and up to 2.2 times faster in graphics. The chip tops out at 10 cores, while the newer M4 Pro version boasts a 14-core CPU configuration, split between 10 performance and two efficiency cores. GPU capabilities are similarly impressive, with the Pro model featuring a 20-core GPU that supports ray tracing for the first time on a Mac mini.
Both M4 variants support substantial RAM configurations, with the base model expandable up to 32GB and the M4 Pro allowing up to 64GB of RAM, alongside memory bandwidth of 273 GBps. With the inclusion of Apple Intelligence, AI capabilities on the new Mac mini have been notably upgraded, delivering up to 38 TOPS of processing power. Meanwhile, SSD storage starts from 256GB for the base and from 512GB for the Pro, with both maxing out at 8TB.
Apple’s design changes go beyond just internal upgrades, with user-friendly adjustments on the exterior as well. The new model features two front USB-C ports and a 3.5mm headphone jack, while its rear layout includes three Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI, and Ethernet connectivity, although USB-A ports are now entirely absent. Users opting for the M4 Pro get three Thunderbolt 5 ports instead, along with optional 10-gigabit Ethernet.
The compact design also benefits from a refined thermal system. Apple claims the M4’s efficient architecture, combined with an innovative thermal setup, manages airflow through the system’s foot, allowing it to maintain optimal temperatures. This thermal approach promises quiet and effective cooling even under heavy workloads.
The new Mac mini with M4 starts at RM2,499 and RM2,069 for education, while the M4 Pro variant starts at RM5,999 and RM5,569 for education. Much like the recently unveiled 2024 iMac, Apple says customers in Malaysia can order its new compact desktop computer “soon” via its official website.
(Source: Apple Malaysia press release)
