Comedian and comic actor Steve Martin may want to take a closer look at Apple’s M4 Mac mini if and when it is released, as the much-rumored desktop machine may “get small.”
Apple is planning to unveil a completely redesigned Mac mini lineup, powered by the company’s M4 and M4 Pro chips later this year, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
Gurman says the new Mac mini will boast its first major redesign since 2010, which will make it the smallest desktop computer ever offered by Apple. The new Mac mini will be close to the size of an Apple TV, although it may be slightly taller than the current model, which measures in at 1.4 inches “tall.” The mini will continue to sport an aluminum shell. Those working on the new mini are said to refer to it as “essentially an iPad Pro in a small box.”
Gurman says Apple has tested Mac mini models with at least three USB-C ports on the back, as well as power cable and HDMI connectors. There will be two versions of the new Mac mini, one powered by an M4 chip and a second one boasting an M4 Pro chip. Suppliers are expected to begin shipping the M4 model this month for a release a bit later this year, while the M4 Pro model won’t be ready for prime time until October.
The M4 generation of Apple Silicon will be used across all of Apple’s Macs, marking the first time the Cupertino firm has used the same chip generation across its Mac lineup. The MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro are all expected to be upgraded to use the M4 over the next year.