At the very end of the “ Peek carrying into action ” presentation Tuesday , John Ternus wrapped up the day ’s promulgation by declaring the Mac ’s transition to Apple silicon was nearly complete , with just one more to go : the Mac Pro . That was promptly follow by theunceremonious removal of the 27 - inch iMacfrom Apple ’s card .
That left Mac mini sports fan feeling a piffling left out . While it ’s unfeigned that Apple ’s cheapest Mac wasfirst in line to get the M1 processorback in 2020 , it was little more than a processor swap . Mind you , it was an first-class processor swop , but essentially the Mac mini did n’t change — the ports , designing , and overall gumption of purpose were largely unchanged . It was an excellent machine , but still a little overpriced and a little underwhelming .
Mac lover were hop the “ Peek Performance ” event change that . For months , rumor were swirling about aredesigned Mac minipacking an M1 Pro / M1 Max processor that dramatically increased the performance . Additionally , it was await to get an delinquent overhaul with a minor case , more port , color , and a cool braided charismatic power cord like the iMac .
At first glimpse , it would seem that theMac Studiousurps that position . With an M1 Max central processor , six USB - degree centigrade / Thunderbolt porthole , a card reader , and a marque Modern design , the $ 1,999 Mac Studio is very much a pro - level Mac mini . But that cost is quite a leap from the $ 699 Mac mini .
Do n’t worry , Apple has n’t forgotten about the Mac mini .
Roman Loyola / IDG
If your notecase is n’t ready to separate over a couple of grand on a screen background Mac , there is wad of grounds that an upgraded Mac mini with more speed and enlargement is indeed on the way . For one , Apple still sells the 3.0GHz Intel Core i5 Mac mini , so it distinctly recognizes that there is a penury for a machine that does n’t top out at 16 GB of RAM and has more than two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports .
moreover , the Mac Studio does n’t match up with the rumors we had heard about the new Mac mini . The late Mac mini rumors pointed to a two - whole step plexiglass top with multiple color options and two rubberized strips on the bottom , nothing like the Mac Studio ’s intent . And the Mac Studio does n’t have a magnetic power cable , either .
And just yesterday,9to5Mac reportedthat Apple is working on an M2 upgrade for the Mac miniskirt that will let in an M2 Pro alternative for the great unwashed who desire more might . Apple prominently lead the M1 Pro out of the Mac Studio choice , lead it open for the Mac mini . TheM2 splintering is expectedto have the same architecture as the M1 with a 15 to 20 pct focal ratio boost , which would make an M2 Pro Mac mini an extremely speedy machine .
The timing is another question . Often - accurate Ming - Chi Kuo does n’t think it ’ll arrive until next year , while Bloomberg ’s Mark Gurman and other have pegged it for a release later in 2022 . Apple apparently involve to announce the M2 chip shot first , and that might not bump until the dusk , which could push back the Mac mini to next spring .
But fear not Mac mini fans . Just because Apple made another Mac for the desktop does n’t mean the Mac mini is give up . Quite the opposite in fact — the Mac Studio gives the Mac mini some much - needed clarity and solidifies its place in the lineup as a mid - range fireball that ’s both attractive and affordable .
Update 3/11 : Added atweetfrom Ming - Chi Kuo .
