The new Mac Mini is a 5″ x 5″ x 2″ computer with up to an M4 Pro chip and optional Thunderbolt 5

by · Liliputing

Apple’s new Mac Mini features a brand new design that takes up half as much space on a desk, a major processor update that brings a whole lot more horsepower, and a versatile set of ports.

Prices start at $599 for an entry-level configuration with an Apple M4 processor and three Thunderbolt 4 ports. But customers who opt for a higher-priced model with an M4 Pro chip get three higher-speed Thunderbolt 5 ports instead. Prices for those models start at $1399. Both models are available with a choice of Gigabit or 10 Gb Ethernet.

While the Mac Mini with an M4 Pro processor costs a lot more than models with M4 chips, you also get a heck of a lot more for your money.

M4M4 Pro
CPU10 cores (4 performance + 6 efficiency)12 cores (8 performance + 4 efficiency)
GPU10-core16-core
Neural Engine16-core16-core
Memory bandwidth120GB/s273GB/s
Starting RAM / storage16GB / 256GB24GB / 512GB
Max RAM / storage32GB /2TB64GB / 8TB
Thunderbolt3 x Thunderbolt 4 (40 Gbps)3 x Thunderbolt 5 (Up to 120 Gbps)
Max displays2 x 6K/60Hz + 1 x 5K/60Hz
1 x 5K/60Hz + 1 x 8K/60Hz
1 x 5K/60Hz + 1 x 4K/240Hz		3 x 6K/60Hz
1 x 6K/60Hz + 1 x 8K/60Hz
1 x 6K/60Hz + 1 x 4K/240Hz

And that’s just what you get with the entry-level configuration. You can also pay an extra $200 to upgrade to a higher-performance M4 Pro chip with a 14-core CPU and 20-core graphics.

Apple says when compared with the previous-gen Mac Mini with an M2 Pro chip, the new model with an M4 Pro can render 3D graphics up to 2.9X faster in Blender, apply up to 1.8X more audio effect plugins in a Logic Pro project, and render motion graphics to RAM up to 2X faster in Motion.

While the new processors are a big part of the performance gains, the new Mac Mini also supports speedier I/O thanks to the Thunderbolt 5 ports on the M4 Pro models.

The Thunderbolt 5 specification has been around for a year at this point, but the Mac Mini is one of only a handful of computers to use the new ports with support bi-directional data transfer speeds up to 80 Gbps or asymmetrical speeds up to 120 Gbps for video output.

Thunderbolt 4 supports DisplayPort 1.4 output over a USB-C connection, while Thunderbolt 5 supports DisplayPort 2.1 output.

But even the lower-cost models with M4 chips have a pretty decent selection of ports (as long as you don’t mind using a dongle or adapter for any legacy USB Type-A devices you may have). All of the new Mac Minis include:

  • 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (10 Gbps)
  • 1 x 3.5mm audio
  • 1 x Ethernet (Gigabit standard or 10 Gb for $100 more)
  • 1 x HDMI
  • 3 x Thunderbolt (TB4 with M4 or TB5 with M4 Pro)
  • 1 x power input

Other features include support for WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, a built-in speaker.

The new Mac Mini is available for pre-order now for $599 and should be available starting November 8.

press release