A new Mac mini is in the works at Apple, and there’s a small hint that there’s a wind of news on the horizon. Before it’s unveiled, the company appears to have left traces of its presence in parts of its system code, reports Aaron Perris, a MacRumors contributor who goes by the pseudonym @aaronp613This suggests that Apple is working on a Mac mini with five USB-C ports. The exact name of this new desktop computer is “Apple silicon Mac mini (5 Port),” leaving no doubt about Apple’s plans.
5 USB-C ports for the Mac mini, but no more USB-A ports
This discovery confirms above all the words of Mark Gurman, who confirmed last month that the Mac mini M4 will open a new connection. To the journalist BloombergApple will ditch USB-A ports to focus solely on USB-C ports. A more modern connection for the Mac Studio-inspired “mini” computer is by installing two ports on the front. Some of the ports on the Mac mini M4 will likely be Thunderbolt 4 ports that use a USB-C connector.
Apple has confirmed that the new Mac mini is coming and will come with 5 USB-C ports as reported by @MarkGorman pic.twitter.com/p5QBQmQkfk
– Aaron (@aaronp613) September 16, 2024
The precision in parentheses regarding the presence of 5 ports indicates a model with fewer ports. This again echoes information from Mark Gurman who implied an entry-level model with the M4 chip, but with less generous connectivity. Details are unknown, but we can already imagine a difference in processing between the M4 models and the more powerful M4 Pro versions. If it ditched the USB-A ports, the next Mac mini would retain the locations of the power cables, HDMI port, Ethernet port, and even the 3.5mm headphone jack. For our part, we don’t rule out the idea that the USB-C ports on the front of the Mac are reserved for the more efficient models. And as with Apple TVs, we can also imagine an Ethernet port being optional on the new desktop.
The Mac mini will also be closer to the Apple TV in dimensions, with a more compact design than the current one. The chassis will be made of aluminum and Apple will keep an internal power supply despite this “mini” format.
When will the Mac mini M4 be available?
In all likelihood, Apple is planning a new event in late October to introduce new MacBook Pros, iMacs and Mac minis. A major meeting for the mini computer, which will move directly to the M4 chip, skipping the M3 box, and will benefit from the most significant change since 2011.
The brand's other products will also benefit from a major overhaul, focusing primarily on chip upgrades. Currently, the iPad Pro is the only Apple product to feature the M4 chip.
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