The Mac Mini 2021 is rumoured to be the next iteration of Apple’s dinky desktop PC range, with reports suggesting it could be upgraded with the Apple M1 Pro or Apple M1 Max chip.
Apple revealed the two new chips alongside the MacBook Pro 2021, but failed to mention the Mac Mini during the ‘Unleashed’ event. But it’s still expected that at least one of the new processors will eventually make its way to the Mac Mini.
The new Mac Mini could also have a flatter design according to renowned Apple leaker Jon Prosser (via Mac Rumours), but will retain the same port options as existing models.
For everything else on the Mac Mini, keep scrolling down and keep this page bookmarked for updates during today’s big event.
Release date
The Mac Mini 2021 failed to turn up at the October Apple event. This could mean that Apple won’t reveal the new upgrade until next year.
That said, with more than two months left to go for 2021, there’s still plenty of time for Apple to sneak in a launch for they tiny desktop PC.
Price
The new Mac Mini is not expected to replace the existing Mac Mini M1, and will likely be pitched as a more powerful configuration option instead.
This means it’s going to be more expensive than the current £699 starting price. As a guess, the new Mac Mini will either replace the existing £1099 configuration, or accrue an even higher price.
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Specs
The next Mac Mini is expected to feature either the M1 Pro or M1 Max processor, with both chips offering a substantial performance boost over the standard M1 chip.
Of course, these chips have only been confirmed for the MacBook Pro so far, so we don’t know whether Apple will tweak the specs once they eventually arrive in the Mac Mini.
| Apple M1 | Apple M1 Pro | Apple M1 Max | |
| High-performance cores | 4 | 6 / 8 | 8 |
| Energy-efficient cores | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Graphics Cores | 7 / 8 | 14 / 16 | 32 |
Either way, the biggest benefit these chips would bring to the Mac Mini is a far greater number of graphics cores. This would enable Apple’s tiny desktop PC to handle intensive workloads such as video editing, 3D modelling and more.
Design
Apple leaker Jon Prosser claimed the Mac Mini 2021 could have a flatter design this time round, but will retain the same port selection (4x Thunderbolt, 2x USB-A, Ethernet and HDMI) as its predecessor.
Ian Zelbo has created a concept image of what the new Mac Mini could look like according to Jon Prosser’s information. Check it out below.
However, Jon Prosser has provided incorrect information multiple times recently when it comes to Apple leaks, so it’s worth keeping everything with a pinch of salt for now. It’s very possible that Apple will keep the design as the existing model.
That’s everything we know about the Mac Mini 2021 so far. Keep this page bookmarked for future updates.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
