Apple wrapped up its week of announcements with the launch of a new compact Mac Mini featuring the M4 chip. Previous rumors were confirmed — the minimalist Mac has become even smaller.
The new Mac Mini M4 supports ray tracing for the first time and comes with 16 GB of RAM in its base model. It is available in two versions that differ by processor. The base version with the M4 chip has 10 CPU cores, 10 GPU cores, and up to 32 GB of RAM. Meanwhile, the M4 Pro-based system offers higher performance with either 12 or 14 CPU cores, 16 or 20 GPU cores, and up to 64 GB of RAM. Storage capacity reaches a remarkable 8 TB.
The Mac Mini now measures just 5 inches (127 mm) in length and width. Achieving adequate cooling in such a compact case was possible thanks to the efficiency of the M4 chip and an "innovative thermal architecture that directs air to different levels of the system, with all ventilation occurring through the foot."
Despite its small size, the device includes all the necessary interfaces: the front has two USB-C ports and a 3.5 mm audio jack; while the back provides Ethernet, HDMI, and three USB-C/Thunderbolt ports. USB-A ports are now a thing of the past. The predecessor had only two Thunderbolt 4 ports and two USB-A ports. With the M4, you get five ports in total — losing USB-A but gaining an extra Thunderbolt port.
It's worth noting that the speed of these Thunderbolt ports will vary depending on the chosen M4 processor. The standard M4 chip offers Thunderbolt 4, while the M4 Pro provides the highest bandwidth with Thunderbolt 5. The 10-gigabit Ethernet remains an optional upgrade for those who need it.
Despite the performance enhancements and additional interfaces, the base version of the Mac Mini M4 still starts at $599. The version with the M4 Pro chip is priced from $1399. And if you opt for the most powerful processor, max out the memory, and add 10-gigabit Ethernet, this little powerhouse will cost you $4699.
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