Apple’s next Mac mini refresh could prove even more exciting than the last, thanks to a slimmer chassis design and a faster “M1X” chipset, according to a reliable leaker.
The machine is expected to be offered as a more powerful alternative to the existing M1 Mac mini, which is already faster than most Intel-powered Apple computers, but not a complete replacement.
Apple’s first M1 machines continue to blow us away due to their incredible performance. The custom Apple Silicon chip unveiled in 2020 combines power and efficiency. But with the exception of the outstanding new iMac, all the M1 Macs look exactly the same as their predecessors on the outside.
That’s expected to change over the coming year, with even bigger refreshes expected for a number of devices. One of those, according to tipster Jon Prosser, will be the Mac mini, which could get even smaller.
Mac mini set for big refresh with M1X chip
Prosser expects Apple’s most affordable desktop to become even more compact with its next refresh. He also predicts it will sport a glossy, “plexiglass-like” surface, similar to that of the original Mac mini from 2005.
Despite its shrinking stature, the new Mac mini could run even faster than the M1 model, thanks to what Prosser calls the “M1X” chip. He predicts it will pack 10 processing cores and up to 32 cores for graphics.
The M1X also will allow additional connectivity options, letting Apple add even more ports to the next-gen Mac mini. Prosser predicts we’ll see four Thunderbolt ports, two USB-A ports, HDMI and Ethernet.
More design tweaks
Other design changes, Prosser says, could include a magnetic power connector — like that found on the M1 iMac — a repositioned cooling grille, and rubber strips rather than rubber feet on the machine’s base.
Photo: Front Page Tech
This new Mac mini reportedly will replace the Intel model Apple still sells for $1,099 as a pricier but more powerful alternative to the M1 model. Check out the video above from Front Page Tech for more.
