We’ve already discussed what a quiet summer it’s been for the Mac. Yet that hasn’t stopped the rumour mill spinning – especially when it comes to the Mac mini.
Word on the grapevine is that by October, there’ll be a fresh high-end M1X Mac mini on the scene, and there’s a lot of evidence to back this up. So, let’s take a walk through what to expect, and why we think this will happen.
The features
Trustworthy leaker, Mark Gurman, has divulged that the Mac mini will have a new design along with a faster Apple silicon processor: the 10-core M1X chip, to be exact. This will have eight performance cores and two efficient ones.
It’s anticipated that this updated Mac mini will have a 16- or 32-core GPU option, and 16GB of unified memory, which can go up to 64GB. The M1X processor is predicted to have a minimum 16GB of RAM universally, and will come with 512GB of storage, which can go up to 4TB.
The design will host extra ports (four Thunderbolt 4 and one HDMI 2.0), WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2. It’s also likely to have support for three displays and a plexiglass top.
The evidence
Whilst we can never be certain that these leaks are true, all the clues do point towards a new Mac mini. In May, another reliable leaker, Jon Prosser, released renderings of the upgraded device, which will be much thinner than the version currently available. This aligns with the significantly slimmer design that Apple did with the 24-inch iMac.
As for the plexiglass top, the schematics revealed by Prosser essentially verified this too. What’s more, if we travel back to 2005, you might remember the first Mac mini with a flat plastic top. It seems as if Apple is rediscovering its origins, just like when they revamped the iMac with colour options.
Dependable leaker, DylanDKT, believes it’s getting an identical chip to the new MacBook Pros, which would make a great deal of sense. The lower-end Mac mini arrived with the same M1 chip as the MacBook Pro at this level. Not only that, it aligns with Apple’s two-year transition period to the silicon chip.
The reveal
So the next question is: when will the new Mac mini be unveiled? Well, it’s looking like October. Firstly, Gurman disclosed that it could come at the same time as the refreshed M1X 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros, which should also be released around then. Plus, last November’s event was all about the new M1 chip and the products that would be redesigned with it, therefore the same could happen at the October Special Event.
If you’re wondering why it would be October rather than November, it’s important to note that up until 2020, we’d never experienced a November event before. This is because when there is an October event, it’s usually centred around the Macs and iPads – but that couldn’t happen due to delays to the iPhone 12. These were originally expected for September, and so were pushed back and launched in October – taking the Mac spot.
iPhone supply seems back on track for 2021. This means there could be an iPhone-focused Apple event on 14th September, and one for the new Mac mini and MacBook Pros in October.
Reliable source, LeaksApplePro, also predicts October, so it’s looking more and more likely. After all, they’ve been right about a lot of things, from the iMac being the first redesigned Mac, to a small Mac mini update in April.
Mac mini leasing
With all that said, it seems we really can look forward to a fresh Mac mini this October, along with revamped 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros. Yet you don’t need us to tell you that such high-end devices usually come with a premium price tag. The solution? Leasing.
Instead of paying a substantial amount in one go, you can spread the cost over time. You’ll be able to better manage your cash flow and focus on what you need to grow. If that isn’t enough, you’ll be supported by our dedicated team who’ll assist you beyond the lease, cheering you on as your business soars.
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