Where Will Apple Take the Mac mini in the Future?
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The Mac mini's Current Position
The M1 Mac mini has become my primary workstation, supporting every aspect of my business operations. This is quite surprising, as I initially purchased it merely as an experiment. My goal was to compare the performance of the M1 Mac with 16GB of RAM against the 8GB variant housed in my M1 MacBook Air.
My Two-Week Experience with the M1 MacBook Air
After two weeks of using the base model M1 MacBook Air, I discovered some insightful revelations about its capabilities.
Little did I realize how efficient the M1 Mac mini would prove to be for my daily tasks, including 4K video editing and audio production, alongside the myriad responsibilities involved in managing a content-driven business. It has quickly become the most impressive computer I've ever owned. This leads me to ponder: what direction will Apple take this compact device in the future?
Potential Directions for the Mac mini
I see two primary paths Apple could take, and I have a clear favorite.
Option 1: Enhanced Specifications
As I use the M1 Mac mini more frequently, the limitations in ports have become increasingly frustrating. Initially, I thought this wouldn’t be a major issue, as I’m not heavily reliant on ports. I primarily use an external USB-C SSD for video editing and a USB-A Logitech mouse, which requires a dongle due to persistent Bluetooth connectivity problems.
I also forgot that the Mac mini lacks a built-in display, which means there's no webcam available. Consequently, I lost my second USB-A port. Moreover, the absence of an SD card reader has complicated my workflow, forcing me to utilize the remaining USB-C port for an SD card reader dongle. With that, I quickly exhausted the available ports on my Mac mini.
In an effort to solve this, I purchased a Satechi hub and stand, which adds a useful SD card reader at the front along with three additional USB-A ports. However, this solution sacrifices speed and doesn’t offer more USB-C connectivity. While I appreciate the design of the Satechi, it certainly detracts from the intended ‘out-of-the-box’ experience.
The video discusses the release date and pricing of the 2024 Mac Mini, which is expected to be significantly faster.
The limited port availability on the M1 Mac mini is one of the few drawbacks of the M1 chip, which currently restricts the number of supported connections. However, the next version of Apple silicon is anticipated to accommodate additional ports. Therefore, Apple’s first step should be to incorporate more ports and reintroduce the SD card reader.
Subsequently, they could focus on increasing the core count. Currently, the M1 Mac mini features 8 CPU and 8 GPU cores, which perform well for my needs. However, having extra capacity is always beneficial. Final Cut Pro runs smoothly, but faster render and export times would be welcome. Thus, once the port situation is addressed, Apple should increase the core count to 16 and offer up to 32GB of RAM.
This video reveals the release date and pricing for the Mac Mini M4, highlighting its insane base RAM upgrade to 16GB.
Option 2: A More Expandable Mac Pro Mini
This option is where things get particularly exciting. One could argue that my suggestions for upgrading specs verge on the territory of a Mac Pro mini. However, the first option lacks an important feature: expandability.
With the release of the latest Mac Pro in 2019, Apple revived the classic 'cheese grater' design, moving away from the non-expandable 'trash can' model. This new version is precisely what many users had been clamoring for—modular and customizable.
The Mac mini, on the other hand, has become more of a fixed appliance, lacking the ability to modify its internals. The more I contemplate the idea of a Mac Pro mini, the more appealing it becomes. The term 'pro' is subjective; anyone can define themselves as a professional user. However, if Apple is going to label its devices with this designation, it should provide compelling reasons for doing so.
Redefining What Makes a Mac 'Pro'
Imagine a compact version of the Mac Pro that retains the same design but features a swappable M chip. Envision being able to replace the hard drive or add an extra one. What if third-party graphics modules were also an option for those seeking enhanced performance? While this would require innovative switching from the embedded GPU, it’s certainly not an impossible dream.
If these upgrades came at a more affordable price—combined with a rumored lower-cost XDR display—there would be a significant market for such a product. What are your thoughts on this idea of a Mac Pro mini? As you might have guessed, I favor this option; I would be eager to see such a device come to fruition.
Please share your opinions in the comments. What direction should Apple take with its headless desktop offerings?