This is the Mac mini’s big moment

When the Mac Mini was first introduced in early 2005, it was intended as a small, “disconnected” desktop — and the most affordable Mac in Apple’s lineup. Steve Jobs mentioned it A “BYODKM” system: You bring your own display, keyboard and mouse, and the Mini provides a reliable computing experience with all the benefits of macOS.

The Mac Mini has continued ever since. There have been times when the Mini was sidelined and neglected by Apple for a long time. But the introduction of Apple Silicon gave it a new lease of life. While the overall design hasn’t changed much in the switch from Intel to Apple’s in-house chips, the Mini’s capabilities have gone up.

But now that design has is going to change. If the rumors prove accurate, it could be a serious production. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported The M4-powered Mac Mini will shrink significantly in size, and its footprint will resemble that of an Apple TV. The new Mac Mini will be anything but But A stripped down Mac.

Instead, it’s a very visually impressive example of what Apple can do in this new era, with the incredible performance of its chips allowing all kinds of hardware designs that were technically impossible just a few years ago. I haven’t been this excited about a new Mac since the release of the unique M1 Pro and M1 Max MacBook Pros in 2021.

Kurman said the 2024 Mac mini — at least the M4 Pro variant — will include a total of five USB-C ports, two on the front of the machine. After years of lugging the Mini around and having to plug anything in or guess what, I consider that front I/O a godsend. Those of you who have integrated Apple’s smallest Mac into their home theater system will still have an HDMI port. USB-A is said to be a goner, but… it’s time.

Within the Mac family, the Mini still holds a prominent place. The iMac display is stunning; MacBook Pro offers tremendous power on the go; And Mac Pro and Mac Studio both cater to professionals and creatives. But for anyone who wants a “working” Mac, the Mini line’s unabashed overperformance is at a compelling price point.

Regardless of its size, Mini’s BYODKM remains one of its best attributes. Apple may not be planning a 27-inch iMac, but we’re about to get a surprisingly small desktop that can be attached to any screen you want. And the software outlook is better: the updated Mini comes soon after macOS Sequoia, which added useful features like iPhone mirroring and (long overdue) window tiling.

I’d need some sort of colossal, unexpected deal-breaker to keep me from immediately reserving the M4 Mac Mini as my new home machine. If I have one concern, it’s that Apple will find a way to artificially capture the Mini so it doesn’t steal too much thunder from the Mac Studio. But I don’t think that’s the case – not to an extreme degree anyway. For now, the Studio easily wins in CPU and GPU performance, and it has other bonuses like an SD card slot and faster Ethernet. I expect those benefits to hold true whenever the M4 model arrives.

Apple’s Mac portfolio has never been on a better track. For those who have stuck with the company’s products for decades, it can Still Hard to believe – this is even in Apple’s Silicon Age. We’ve been through some dark days. But with a new Mac Mini that looks equal parts streaming box and miniature PC, Apple has another M-series wonder and feather in its cap.