The M4 Mac mini was previously reported to feature a new design, with Apple aiming to make it the most compact computer that has already shipped. The machine was said to maintain the same size as an Apple TV, though it would be slightly taller to accommodate the extra hardware. However, the aesthetic overhaul will be accompanied by a change in I/O, with a new report claiming that the M4 Mac mini is expected to ditch all USB-A ports in favor of an all-USB-C setup.
Other ports like HDMI and Ethernet won’t be removed from the M4 Mac mini, so there won’t be many compromises.
In total, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that the M4 Mac mini will feature five USB-C ports, with three of them located on the back and two present on the front. It’s not confirmed how many will support the Thunderbolt 4 standard, but here’s something to keep in mind. Apple’s M4 was previously reported to features four Thunderbolt controllersdoubling the number present on the M3. In short, this means that Apple can incorporate multiple Thunderbolt ports without a bandwidth limitation coming into play. The rest of the details are provided below.
“As I’ve been reporting for several months, the Mac is about to undergo a major transition to M4 chips — starting around the end of this year and continuing through the first half of 2025. Apple plans to kick things off soon with a new Mac mini, iMac, and MacBook Pro. Of these models, the Mac mini will have the most dramatic design, its first major redesign since 2010. To put that in perspective: the last time the Mac mini was redesigned, pre-orders for the iPhone 4 had just begun.
I’ve reported on this new look before, but now I have some additional details. First, suppliers are scheduled to start shipping Mac mini units from China — with the standard M4 chip — to warehouses globally in early September. The higher-end version, with an M4 Pro, won’t start shipping until October. That likely means neither will be announced until about a month after the iPhone launches. I’m also told the computer’s power supply will be internal, so don’t expect to need to carry a separate brick.
Despite the smaller factor, we were pleasantly surprised to hear that the M4 Mac mini’s power supply will be housed inside the chassis, so users won’t need to carry an external drive around with them all the time, and all that’s needed to power the compact machine is an empty power outlet. Those who really miss the USB-A ports and still want to use the M4 Mac mini with their older peripherals will need to purchase dongles separately to ensure compatibility.