A revamped version of the Mac mini is planned
Apple
With Apple this week putting its new M1 Pro and Max processors inside the MacBook Pro, Mac fans are left with one big question: when is the promised ‘Mac mini Pro’ going to arrive?
Back in May, Bloomberg’s renowned Apple Watcher, Mark Gurman, reported that a revamped Mac mini was among the models that Apple was planning to launch. Gurman – who got all the key details of this week’s MacBook Pro launch right – even went as far as putting a model number (J374) on the new Mac mini, suggesting this was no idle speculation.
The new Mac mini is not intended to replace the M1 versions of the desktop that were launched last November. Gurman reported this new model will sit above the current entry-level Mac mini and use the same processors as the newly launched MacBook Pro. Although he didn’t put a name on it, the ‘Mac mini Pro’ would certainly make sense and help to distinguish it from the older, cheaper models.
The Mac mini Pro won’t only have new internals. Gurman’s report claimed that the revamped Mac mini would have four USB 4/Thunderbolt ports instead of the current two on the existing Mac mini, a move which would further underline its ‘pro’ credentials.
Will it arrive before Christmas?
It seems it’s only a matter of time before Apple refreshes the Mac mini range, but will it do so before the holiday season?
Much will depend on the sales of the new MacBook Pro and whether Apple can manufacture enough of the new processors.
Apple has been largely insulated from the component shortages that have blighted the computer industry over the past year or so, partly because of the shift to its own silicon and partly because it has the financial might to get top priority on component supplies. Let’s also not forget that the main reason Tim Cook was elevated to CEO was because of his mastery of the supply chain and ability to keep complete control over contract manufacturers.
However, signs suggest even Apple is struggling to keep up with demand. Delivery times for the new MacBook Pros have stretched out to between three and five weeks in the U.S. That doesn’t bode well for another pre-Christmas launch, which could place further strain on supply chains, especially during the peak holiday season.
All of which makes it more likely that Apple will refresh the Mac mini early next year, perhaps as soon as January. Although it’s been a long time since Apple held a major January event, it could easily refresh the line-up with little fanfare.
For those keen to get the power of M1 Pro and Max chips inside a desktop format, the anxious wait continues.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/barrycollins/2021/10/23/the-mac-mini-pro-apples-missing-link/