Faster ‘M1X’ Mac mini with more ports coming ‘in the next several months’

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M1X Mac mini concept
It could look a little like this.
Concept: Front Page Tech

Apple is expected to launch its next-generation Mac mini with a faster “M1X” chipset “in the next several months,” according to one reliable reporter.

The new machine will also feature an “updated” design and more ports.

Unlike the newest MacBook Air, the Mac mini is still available to order from the Apple Store with an Intel processor. That’s because Apple knows some people use it for software development, video editing, or as a home server.

But a new Mac mini could soon replace those Intel options as a faster, more expensive alternative to the existing M1 Mac mini, which is going nowhere.

Faster M1X Mac mini on the way

Apple’s “high-end, M1X Mac mini” will launch “in the next several months,” according to the latest Power On newsletter from Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman. “It will have an updated design and more ports.”

This isn’t the first time Gurman has provided details on the new Mac mini. Earlier this month, he predicted Apple’s most affordable desktop would see a refresh — and a big chip upgrade — before the end of the year.

An earlier report from Jon Prosser of Front Page Tech claimed the machine will also feature a magnetic power connector — like the new M1 iMac — as well as four Thunderbolt ports, two USB-A ports, HDMI, and Ethernet.

Prosser also believes the new Mac mini will sport a glossy, “plexiglass-like” surface, like the original Mac mini launched in 2005. He expects its M1X chip to pack 10 processing cores, and up to 32 cores for graphics.

A big power upgrade

In comparison, the M1 chip currently found inside Mac mini is identical to that of the 13-inch MacBook Pro. It features eight processing cores, and up to eight for graphics. The M1X could be a significant upgrade across the board.

Gurman’s latest timeline suggests the M1X Mac mini will launch before the end of 2021. But we don’t have anything more specific just yet. Apple is expected to host a number of events for new hardware this fall.

In addition to keynotes for iPhone 13, Apple Watch Series 7, AirPods 3, and a refreshed iPad and iPad mini, a Mac event is expected. And it may also bring that faster M1X chip to the much-anticipated 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro.

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