Apple has launched its tiniest desktop computer yet, the new Mac mini, which is compact enough to fit in the palm of your hand. Measuring just five by five inches, this model is less than half the size of its predecessor.
Powered by Apple’s latest M4 and M4 Pro chips, the new Mac mini offers impressive performance upgrades. According to John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, this small powerhouse boasts “1.8x faster CPU performance and 2.2x faster GPU performance” compared to the M1 model released in 2020.
Both Mac mini configurations come standard with 16GB of RAM, a recent trend from Apple aimed at enhancing the performance of its devices. The M4 model features a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, while the M4 Pro variant can be configured with up to 14 CPU cores and 20 GPU cores. Notably, this is also the first Mac mini to support hardware-accelerated ray tracing, making it a viable option for gaming.
Connectivity options have been updated as well. The new Mac mini includes a headphone jack for high-impedance headphones, targeting music producers, along with five USB-C ports (three at the back and two at the front). However, Apple has removed USB-A ports entirely, so keep a dongle handy if you need to connect older devices. Additional ports include Gigabit Ethernet and HDMI, with the M4 model supporting two 6K displays and one 5K display, while the M4 Pro can handle up to three 6K displays.
Pre-orders for the new Mac mini are now live, with prices starting at $599 USD, making it an appealing choice for those seeking a powerful yet compact desktop solution.
