The Mac mini is expected to be one of the largest Mac mini overhauls in 14 years, since the computer has remained unchanged design-wise since 2010, excluding the removal of the DVD drive in 2011.
EDIT: See also:
Apple is also expected to start providing 16GB of RAM as the standard in all of these new Mac models, including the controversial base model 14-inch MacBook Pro.
It’s about time on the RAM. I know some here disagree with me, but it’s insane that Apple is still selling $1,000+ laptops and desktops in 2024 with only 8gb of non-upgradeable RAM. That might be okay in a $300 plastic Chromebook, but…
I think I’ll bite the bullet for a M4 Pro Mini as a main computer to replace my ageing 2012 Mini with my current M2 Pro.
Sounds like it will be a great time to buy. Iirc, the current very highest spec Mini configuration is so close to a Studio in price that it doesn’t make sense. It will be interesting to see how that pricing shakes out in the new models.
I just bought myself a Lenovo T14 Gen5 AMD for just under $1000. Base memory was 16GB and the base storage a paltry 256GB.
Upgrade pricing is on par with Apple’s though. To upgrade to 1TB of storage they were asking $432 and a memory bump to 32GB wasn’t quite that bad, but still ridiculous.
But both are user-serviceable! Which makes upgrades a lot more affordable - I upgraded the storage for
I miss the days when that was true of MacBooks.
That’s quite a cliffhanger. When should we tune in for the sequel? 
No idea how that got dropped
1TB Samsung 990. $70 on Amazon.
Apple made M1-series so phenomenal that I see no reason to upgrade.
I have an observation - could it be that Apple is looking at a minimal footprint Mac Mini to provide a platform for vertical market computing?
Retail cash registers, point-of-sale terminals, medical carts in hospitals and doctor’s offices, etc.?
I’ve noticed that over the past few years these have all migrated to mini PC’s that are either zero-footprint and clamped onto the back of video monitors or very small tiny boxes placed under or next to the required hardware (cash drawers, pos card scanners, etc.)
I think this is the biggest hole in Apple’s lineup if they want to keep expanding in small and medium business usage.
The existing systems (MacBook, iMac, Mac Studio) cover the general computing/productivity market but this more dedicated function computing node is a glaring hole in the lineup?
Completely agree. I won’t be considering upgrading until my M1 systems become unusable (which I don’t see happening for a long time).
Not only do new features drive my decision to upgrade, but I also like to give my kids a good impression of responsibility towards the environment. 85% of the environmental damage from electric devices comes from manufacturing. Using a new one because it has a new color, camera, button or port is the worst example we could give to the next generation in terms of generating waste and environmental damage.
I love the concept behind the Framework laptops, and wish more devices were like that. Too bad batteries aren’t easy to swap anymore.
Even in the Apple world, we can minimize e-waste by (as you note) only upgrading when we need to and, for example, choosing a Mini and a monitor instead of an iMac.
I am considering upgrade my M1 for this. At one point I was considering the Studio.
For me the catch is this… I would like to upgrade my internal network. I use Unifi and I have a Synology. I would like to take advantage of speeds higher than 1GB. But the Mac Mini is always the bottleneck.
Hopefully that could get addressed into the M4s
Have the MacBook pro with the M1 and as much as I like the digital bar , (Yes I’m one of the few LOL) The M4 is about 10 to 15 % more than M3 , so the deal is getting a M3. Also the M1 does not support dual monitors M2 and up I think is where you can have a double monitor set up. I know I tried lol …