Apple has once again raised the bar with the introduction of its all-new Mac mini, a compact powerhouse that delivers incredible performance in an unbelievably small form. Unveiled on October 29, 2024, the new Mac mini is powered by the M4 and M4 Pro chips, and is designed to be more capable, versatile, and environmentally friendly than ever before.
The new Mac mini is significantly smaller than its predecessors, measuring just 5 by 5 inches. Despite its diminutive size, it packs a punch with up to 1.8x faster CPU performance and 2.2x faster GPU performance compared to the M1 model. The M4 chip features a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, while the M4 Pro takes it a step further with up to 20 cores, making it the world’s fastest CPU core with lightning-fast single-threaded performance.
For the first time, the Mac mini features front and back ports, including two USB-C ports and a headphone jack on the front, and three Thunderbolt 4 ports on the back. The M4 Pro model also introduces Thunderbolt 5 connectivity, delivering transfer speeds of up to 120Gbps and the ability to connect up to three displays. This enhanced connectivity makes the Mac mini a versatile option for a wide range of users, from students to small business owners.
One of the standout features of the new Mac mini is its integration with Apple Intelligence, a personal intelligence system that transforms how users work, communicate, and express themselves while protecting their privacy. The M4 Pro’s Neural Engine is over 3x faster than the previous model, enabling on-device Apple Intelligence models to run at blazing speeds. This makes the Mac mini an ideal choice for tasks like video editing, music production, and coding.
Apple has also made significant strides in sustainability with the new Mac mini. It is the company’s first carbon neutral Mac, with over 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions across its materials, manufacturing, transportation, and customer use. The Mac mini is made from more than 50% recycled materials and is manufactured using 100% renewable energy.
The new Mac mini is available for pre-order starting at $599 (approximately R10,782) with 16GB of memory, and will be available from November 8, 2024. The M4 Pro model starts at $1,399 (approximately R25,182) and offers even more powerful performance for those who need it.
