Apple is once again taking the mini name to heart, unveiling today an all-new, almost impossibly tiny Mac mini running not only a 3-nanometer M4 chip but with the option of an all-new piece of Apple silicon, the M4 Pro.
When Apple introduced the Mac mini almost a decade ago, it was the smallest Mac to date, at just 6.5 inches x 6.5 inches and 2 inches tall. Recent editions have grown to almost 8 inches square, making them feel less like tiny computers and a bit more like elegant hot plates. This new model clocks in at 5.5 inches square and perhaps a bit taller than the M2 model. That's still about two inches larger than an Apple TV 4K but also small enough to fit in one decent-sized hand.
At a glance, the Mac mini M4 is familiar. It's still made of recycled aluminum (though 85% less than the last model), is still square with rounded corners, and has a circular fan vent in the base. After that, the pint-sized computer diverges. The once-clean face now offers a pair of USB-C ports and a 3.5mm headphone jack. One might argue that the smaller chassis forced the movement of some ports from the back to the front, but I think people will welcome the ease of use.
You'll find the more familiar Thunderbolt (3x), Ethernet, and HDMI ports on the back.
What may matter most to Mac mini fans is the introduction of Apple's newest and fastest silicon, the M4, first seen in the iPad Pro. The last Mac mini topped out at an M2 class chip, offering performance options up to the M2 Pro. Similarly, the new Mac mini marks the introduction of the M4's first iteration: an M4 Pro.
The M4 Pro brings with it an up-to-14-core CPU and an up-to-20-core GPU. It matches the M4's 16-core neural engine, which plays a large role in AI operations. One of the big changes, and one that could significantly impact performance, is the increased memory bandwidth. While the M2 Pro offers 120Gbps throughput, the M4 Pro promises 75% higher memory bandwidth.
Again, we won't know the true impact until we test the new Mac mini and its new CPU.
The new Pro-level silicon also introduces Thunderbolt 5 support, which means those ports will offer transfer speeds of up to 120Gbps, a tantalizing prospect for those who work in pro-level video editing.
Tiny and neutral
Apple is calling this its first carbon-neutral Mac because, in addition to that far reduced use of aluminum, the product features 50% recycled content and is being produced using all renewable energy.
Like other Apple silicon-running systems, the new Mac mini M4 offers full support for Apple intelligence. Perhaps that's why the new base memory for all Mac minis is 16GB, up from 8 GB. However, you can get up to 64GB of RAM when you have the M4 Pro chip in a Mac mini.
Apple is doing that while keeping the base price at $599 / £599 / $999AU. It's a welcome change, even if it's partially necessitated by Apple Intelligence's onboard generative AI processing demands.
While I have yet to test the new M4 Pro Mac mini, I have seen it in action running an application called Aperty, which lets you do pro-level portrait photography editing.
In one demo, I watched as they added new point lighting to a photo and then dragged it around as the subject's lighting changed in real-time. The system appeared to instantly assess the 3D contours of the face, apply an invisible map, and adjust the virtual light accordingly. It can do this work and other onboard AI actions—powered mainly by the Neural Engine—that can instantly add or change makeup and remove under-eye shadows.
The new Mac mini M4 is on pre-sale today (Oct. 29) and ships on November 8 with a starting price of $599 / £599 / $999AU. The base model starts with a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, 16GB of memory, and 256GB of storage. It ranges up to $1,399 / £1399 / $2,199AU for a Mac mini M4 packed with a 12-core CPU, 16 Core GPU, 24GB of memory, and 512GB of storage.
Apple's AI update is here: What to know about Apple Intelligence, top features
Apple's artificial intelligence-centric update is finally rolling out on devices.
The first features in Apple Intelligence launched Monday after months of anticipation in the latest operating system update for supported iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices.
Apple Intelligence, which was first teased at the tech company's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June, is part of the iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 updates and introduces Apple-built generative models and other enhancements to existing Apple software as well as a few new tools.
Here's what to know about Apple Intelligence:
How to get Apple Intelligence
To get to the new AI feature, users will first need to activate it after updating to iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, or macOS Sequoia 15.1.
After installing the new OS update, users will need to navigate to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri and join the Apple Intelligence waitlist. After a waiting period, which has been as short as a few minutes, there will be the ability to turn on Apple Intelligence, along with additional options and settings for the feature.
Top Apple Intelligence features
The top features introduced in this first Apple Intelligence update include:
◾ Writing Tools: These new tools, which are integrated into apps and can be accessed in the same menu as copy and paste when tapping on text, allow users to rewrite their text or even generate a summary for selected text. Writing Tools also features a proofread option, which can suggest edits to the text, along with explanations of the proposed edits.
◾ Priorities and summaries: Priority messages deemed urgent or timely will show at the top of email inboxes, and there will be summary and smart reply options for emails. Summaries will also be possible for notifications, showing key details on the Lock Screen.
◾ Siri redesign: Siri not only gets a new look on devices but the revamp hopefully means the virtual assistant is better able to handle requests and questions. Siri should now more easily follow along while a user is speaking, even maintaining context if the user messes up or stumbles on their words, rephrasing their request. Users can also now type to Siri on their devices.
◾ Photos: In addition to the Photos app redesign introduced in the previous OS update, Photos now features a Clean Up tool where users can remove unwanted objects in pictures and search using descriptions. Users can also create movies in Memories using descriptions.
◾ Other updates: A new Focus option, Reduce Interruptions, is available, and the Notes app now features audio and phone call transcriptions
Compatible devices
For iPhone, Apple Intelligence is compatible with these devices:
◾ iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus
◾ iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max
◾ iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max
The update is compatible with these iPad devices:
◾ iPad Pro (M1 and later)
◾ iPad Air (M1 and later)
Apple Intelligence is compatible with these Mac devices:
◾ MacBook Air (M1 and later) and MacBook Pro (M1 and later)
◾ iMac (M1 and later)
◾ Mac mini (M1 and later)
◾ Mac Studio (M1 Max and later)
◾ Mac Pro (M2 Ultra)
Apple Intelligence features coming up
The rollout's features are just the first in a slate of capabilities Apple is planning for Apple Intelligence. Two previously announced features notably missing in this first release are Genmoji, which allows users to create custom emojis, and Image Playground, where Apple Intelligence can generate cartoon-like images and illustrations from text descriptions.
These two features are now expected to be released in December, likely in the iOS 18.2 update.
Another feature likely coming later this year is ChatGPT integration for Siri, which also was mentioned in the Apple Intelligence announcement at WWDC.
Priority notifications and additional updates to Siri and Writing Tools are also listed as features coming to Apple Intelligence, according to an announcement release from Apple.