Apple has announced updated Mac Mini models, which get their first major redesign in 13 years. The new version is considerably smaller, while halving the size of the body.

The new Mac Mini is the first major redesign in the last 13 years.

Besides the compact design, the major upgrade concerns new chips: The Mac Mini now comes with Apple’s M4 processor or its more powerful M4 Pro version. The desktop remains Apple’s most affordable device, starting at $599, but the screen must be bought separately. When the Mac Mini first came out in 2008, it was aimed at users transitioning from Microsoft Windows, offering to connect an existing keyboard, mouse, and monitor to the new device.

The Mac Mini is now the most affordable desktop computer available.

While the Mac Mini isn’t the company’s best-selling device, it’s an important part of Apple’s lineup, especially among app developers for the iPhone and other Apple platforms. Many iPhone developers use the Mac Mini as their personal server to coordinate downloads and code work.

A lot of iPhone developers use the Mac Mini as a personal server to coordinate downloads and code work.

Improved ports and powerful M4 chip

One of the improvements in the new design is the complete replacement of all ports with USB-C, just like in Apple’s latest laptops. There are now three USB-C ports on the back, and two on the front, making it easier to plug and unplug accessories when the computer is on a desktop.

The new design makes it easier to connect and disconnect accessories when the computer is on a desktop.

Apple claims the M4 chip is far superior to the M2 chip in the previous model, which came out in 2022. Graphics and gaming performance are now more than twice as fast, and the M4 supports up to 14 CPU cores and 20 GPU cores, more than the past version. The M4 chip was first introduced in May this year in the iPad Pro.

The M4 chip was first introduced in May this year in the iPad Pro.

Apple Intelligence integration and AI support on older models

Apple is positioning the new Mac Mini, like all of this year’s products, as being built to work with Apple Intelligence, the artificial intelligence system the company unveiled this week. As part of its integration with ChatGPT, users will be able to generate and edit text in apps such as Word using AI prompts.

In contrast to the iPhone, where Apple Intelligence support is only available on models from the last two years, all Apple computers with an M1 chip and newer released from 2020 onwards will be able to work with the system.

Apple Intelligence support is available only on models from the last two years.

Mac remains an important segment for Apple

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Although Mac sales are losing ground to the iPhone, Apple’s computers remain a big business. In June, the company reported $7 billion in revenue from Mac sales, up 2 percent from a year earlier.

Macs remain an important segment for Apple.

Apple’s chief marketing officer has previously hinted at a “week of announcements,” and this week the new iMacs were unveiled, so there’s reason to believe we’re in for a few more new products. The new Macs are likely to be the company’s last major hardware announcements of the year.

Prices and availability of the Mac mini 2024

The new Mac mini with M4 and M4 Pro processors can be ordered today, beginning October 29, at apple.com/store and the Apple Store app in 28 countries and regions, including the United States. Shipments to consumers, as well as availability at Apple retail stores and authorized resellers, will begin November 8.

Apple.com/store and the Apple Store app in 28 countries and regions, including the US.

• Mac mini with M4: pricing starts at $599 in the U.S. and $499 for educational institutions.
• Mac mini with M4 Pro: price starts at $1,399 in the U.S. and $1,299 for educational institutions.

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New USB-C accessories

Apple also unveiled updated USB-C-enabled accessories, which can be ordered at apple.com/store:

• Magic Keyboard – $99
• Magic Keyboard with Touch ID – $149
• Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and numeric keypad – $179
• Magic Trackpad – $129
• Magic Mouse – $79
• Thunderbolt 5 Pro Cable – $69

Availability of Apple Intelligence

Apple Intelligence features are already available as a free update for Macs with M1 chips and newer. They can be accessed in most countries by setting the device and Siri to English (US). The first set of features are in beta testing and available in macOS Sequoia 15.1, with new features to be added over the coming months.

Apple Intelligence is now available as a free update for Macs with M1 chips and newer.

• In December, Apple Intelligence will be available in localized English for Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, and the UK.
• April will see an update expanding language support to include Chinese, English (India), English (Singapore), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Vietnamese, and more.

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