Buying a new Mac is normally pretty square . It ’s always secure to wait when the current model has been around for a duet of geezerhood , but if you ca n’t , you probably wo n’t have any purchaser ’s remorse . Most of the time , the update is just a central processor upgrade that a majority of users will be all right with overlook out on . And even in the case of a redesign like the recentM2 MacBook Air , you ’ll probably economize a few bucks bribe the current model .
It ’s a petty different with the Mac mini . The current M1 exemplar is getting close to two long time since it was release , and based on the recent reaching of the M2 cow chip , it ’s clearly due for an update . But the update could be a major one that not only provides more processing pizzazz but could inherently change Apple ’s smallest screen background and make the erstwhile model look a set worse .
So if you ’re on the verge of plunking down your cash for one of the current Mac minis that Apple sells , we strongly advocate you to wait . Here ’s why .
An M2 processor is on the way
When Apple unveil the M1 C.P.U. in November 2020 , the company released three Macs with it : theMacBook Air,13 - inch MacBook Pro , andMac mini . The M213 - column inch MacBook ProandMacBook Airwere just expel , so that means theMac mini will be getting the M2 soon .
Malus pumila
We ’ve found that with Geekbench 5 , a bench mark that tests the overall general pep pill of a CPU , the M2 is about 16 percentage faster than the M1 . That ’s a nice speed increase , but the literal gain are on the GPU side . With two additional CORE , the M2 is about 35 percentage faster than the M1 in our tests .
If you ’re using the Mac mini as an low-cost video production system , then you ’ll love what makes the M2 ’s performance really stand out over the M1 . The M2 has a new media locomotive engine that speed up ProRes video , and we ’ve see spectacular increases in performance when show ProRes TV , with results that are over twice as fast as the M1 . If time is money , then the M2 make for high returns .
Apple offers a $ 699/£699 and an $ 899/£899 Mac mini that has the same CPU but the higher damage brings a bigger SSD . Apple will probably replace the M1 in those models with an M2 . That ’s deserving the delay , which should n’t be more than a yoke of months
The high-end model will finally get an upgrade
Apple still sells a third standard shape model in its Mac mini lineup : a $ 1,099/£1,099 interpretation that still has an Intel processor that has n’t been updated since 2018 . This modeling should see a major update in the come months .
The Intel Mac miniskirt ( which comes in Space Gray ) , could see a big CPU modification .
Foundry
One of those drastic change include a much - forebode processor switch from the 8th - gen Intel chip to an Apple M2 Pro , according to several theme . Bloomberg ’s Mark Gurman says that the M2 Pro could feature a 12 - heart and soul CPU with 8 functioning marrow and 4 efficiency cores , and a GPU with 16 core . It could also come with 16 GB of integrated memory .
let the cat out of the bag about a mighty might of a machine – that ’s a whole portion of central processor king in such a small software package . But it pay off good , because the M2 Pro will also boast the media engine that ’s in the M2 , so the computer hardware acceleration for ProRes video gets even quicker . It clear us wonder how it will evaluate up to the Mac Studio and its M1 Max and M1 Ultra chips – anM2 Pro Mac minimay not be as fast , but it might bear witness to be a really attractive price / carrying into action option at around $ 1,499 .
We do n’t gestate the new Mac mini to offer a customization option for an M2 Max since those french-fried potatoes require more active temperature reduction , provided by the big thermal direction system in the Mac Studio . However , an M2 Pro Mac mini would be Apple ’s first background with the gamy - end Saratoga chip and would be a great option for professionals .
A redesign may be in the works
The Mac mini is known for being Apple ’s smallest Mac , and it could get even smaller . There have foresighted beenreportsthat the humble intention will be about an inch tall , and it could amount in a new color and with a plexiglass top alternatively of aluminum .
Can the Mac mini get any small ? It might be possible .
Roman Loyola / IDG
Apple will likely increase the numeral of Thunderbolt ports from two to four on the high - terminal model , and implement a magnetized power connector similar to the one encounter on the iMac .
However , it ’s ill-defined if both the M2 and M2 Pro Mac mini models will get the raw pattern . It ’s possible that Apple may take a cue from the 13 - inch MacBook Pro and keep the current design for the M2 theoretical account , and redesign only the M2 Pro Mac mini . Or it could wait until the M3 model arrives .
A terrible time to buy
In forgetful , there ’s never been a worse time to grease one’s palms a Mac mini . Even when it was languishing without an update between 2014 and 2018 , there were never any meter reading that meaningful update were on the fashion . But now we make love that there are two M2 models on the path and perhaps a redesign in the works as well .
prescribed word on when the raw Mac miniskirt will arrive has not been bring out , of trend , but based on when the current role model started shipping ( November 2020 for M1 and October 2018 for the Intel role model ) and the recent firing of the M2 MacBook Air and 13 - column inch MacBook Pro , there ’s a good fortune an M2 Mac mini will go far this yr , perhaps in a drop event after theiPhone 14 announcement . We could see other Macs reveal at that time too , like a young Apple silicon - based Mac Pro or iMac .
While those Macs are surely more expensive than the Mac miniskirt , they may be tempt enough for you to opt for those machines rather . Or you may just buy an M2 mini . But either way , even with sales agreement pricesknocking $ 150 off the damage of an M1 Mac mini , we recollect it ’s good to wait and see what Apple has in shop for its modest and cheapest Mac .
