Apple’s Mac mini, a compact, PC-only bundle with no included peripherals, now follows the tech big’s pattern towards inner silicon with the most recent M4 chip improve.

The shape issue of simply five-by-five inches—half the scale of the earlier model—holds 16GB within the base mannequin. The Mac mini begins at $599 for the 16GB mannequin, with the M4 Professional model at $1,399, with 64GB of unified reminiscence and 273GB/s of reminiscence bandwidth. Prospects can pre-order now and choose it up in shops on November 8.

“The brand new Mac mini delivers gigantic efficiency in an extremely small design due to the ability effectivity of Apple silicon and an revolutionary new thermal structure,” John Ternus, Apple’s senior vp of {hardware} engineering, mentioned in a press launch.

Each fashions embody HDMI, whereas M4 Professional doubles knowledge switch throughput with Thunderbolt 5

The 2024 Mac mini options:

• 10-core CPU.
• 10-core GPU.
• Thermal air flow by means of the foot to maintain the small type issue cool.
• An HDMI port.
• An audio jack.
• Two USB-C ports that help USB 3.
• Three Thunderbolt 4 ports.
• Gigabit Ethernet, configurable as much as 10Gb Ethernet.
• Assist for as much as two 6K shows and as much as one 5K show.

The M4 Professional model swaps the three Thunderbolt 4 ports for 3 Thunderbolt 5 ports, which may help as much as three 6K shows at 60Hz, run at 20 Gb/s knowledge switch speeds, and, Apple says, greater than double the throughput which is out there with Thunder 4.

As well as, M4 Professional will increase the {hardware} to as much as 14 CPU cores and as much as 20 GPU cores. The M4 Professional’s neural engine accelerates Apple Intelligence generative AI options.

Generative AI software program runs alongside macOS Sequoia

Apple highlights the Mac mini working macOS Sequoia 15.1, which included Apple Intelligence as of October 28. Extra generative AI options, together with tighter integration between Siri and ChatGPT, are anticipated later within the yr. Apple is betting that some customers will flip to generative AI as their gateway to broader computing performance, with Apple intelligence capable of execute instructions throughout apps, together with Siri.

SEE: Apple gadgets can simply combine into an workplace setting based mostly on Microsoft software program equivalent to Outlook.

Apple Intelligence is just accessible when the system and Siri languages ​​are set to US English, with different variants of English coming in December and different languages ​​to observe in April.

MacOS Sequoia additionally brings:

• iPhone mirroring.
• Highlights, a function of the Safari browser meant to spotlight crucial parts of internet sites.
• A brand new video viewer format that reduces distraction.
• Distraction management, a technique to disguise movies, advertisements or different parts of internet sites.
• The Password Administration app.
• Up to date video games.

How does the Mac mini examine to an iMac?

The value of a Mac mini and a monitor will be considerably extra reasonably priced than a $1,299 2024 iMac, even if you happen to purchase Apple equipment. For instance, Apple suggests connecting the Mac mini with the Magic Keyboard ($99), Magic Mouse ($79) and Thunderbolt 5 Professional Cable ($69). Alternatively, the 2024 iMac provides as much as 2TB of storage on the excessive finish, making the complete desktop mannequin a worthwhile funding if you happen to want further area.

Should you’re knowledgeable who primarily makes use of a laptop computer as a house workstation, not often transports it, and depends on a separate monitor, the Mac mini will be a horny different to each a desktop and laptop computer.