Apple’s M3/M4 Mac Mini: The Comprehensive Detail

Since the end of October 2023, Apple’s M3 chip has been released. It is still missing from the Mac mini, although it is present in the MacBook Pro M3, iMac, and the new MacBook Air.

The purpose of this post is to assist you in understanding what is going on within the M3/M4 Mac mini and M3 Pro models or whether Apple will forego the M3 series in favor of the M4 model.

M3/M4 Mac Mini: Abandoning the M3 for M4

According to a report published in April by Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, Apple intends to upgrade the Mac mini in the second half of 2024 with an AI-enhanced M4 CPU. With just a few months to go, Apple may completely forego the M3-series Mac mini.

M3/M4 Mac Mini: Release date

In January 2023, more than a year ago, Apple introduced the M2 and M2 Pro Mac mini. The M1 Mac mini was initially made available in November 2020. The Covid epidemic had an impact on manufacturing, although it was more than two years between the M1 and M2 Mac mini. Since the M3 and M3 Pro CPUs are available in other models, there shouldn’t be any reason to postpone the release of the M3 and M3 Pro Mac mini.

We could see the M3 Mac mini this spring or at WWDC if Apple decides to go with it. According to a report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in early August 2023, Apple was testing an M3 Mac mini in preparation for the release of a new model.

According to Gurman’s April 2024 report, Apple appears to be planning to move directly to the M4 and forego the M3. The M4 Mac mini, he said, may be released later this year (2024).

M3/M4 Mac Mini: Processor

• M3: 3nm processor with 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 8GB unified memory (16GB and 24GB choices)
• M3 Pro: 18GB of unified memory (with a 36GB option), 11 or 12 CPU cores, and 14 or 18 GPU cores
• M4: AI enhancements

Since we have previously seen the Mac mini M3 and M3 Pro CPUs in the MacBook Pro, iMac, and MacBook Air, we have a good idea of what to expect from them. The M4 may feature comparable CPU and GPU specifications to the M3, but with a bigger Neural Engine and more unified memory, since Apple is rumored to place a strong focus on AI.

An increase in performance is anticipated since more transistors can be fitted on a chip because of the new 3nm technology utilized for the M3/M4 Mac mini. The M3 Mac mini may run quicker since it won’t get as hot as the M1 or M2 because it will have superior power efficiency and different temperature requirements.

Moreover, the M3 GPU boasts improved speed and efficiency along with a new technique called Dynamic Caching that gives the Mac access to hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading. 

Regarding unified memory, Apple continues to provide the 8GB default configuration for the M3 and, similar to the M2, choices for 16GB and 24GB. Up to 36GB of unified memory may be used with the M3 Pro; however, memory is now 18GB by default (up from 16GB).

Mac mini: Ports Connectivity

Apple changed the ports when it debuted the M1 Mac mini in 2020; whereas the Intel-based Mac mini had four Thunderbolt/USB-C connectors, the M1 Mac mini had two. Apple. With the M3 Mac mini, which also has two USB-A ports, a gigabit Ethernet port, HDMI, and a 3.5mm audio jack, Apple is probably going to remain with this port arrangement.

Mac mini: Connectivity

Apple may decide to go with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 instead of the Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 currently present in the M2 Mac mini.

Although Apple could choose to use Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, the M2 Mac mini currently features Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. It’s unlikely that Apple will alter the M3 Mac mini’s port arrangement.

Mac mini: Design

The compact box probably hasn’t changed, despite speculations to the contrary some years ago. The M3/M4 Mac mini is said to be oriented around the M3 processor, with not much data available regarding the design. The outward design measuring 7.75 by 7.75 by 1.41 inches (19.7 by 19.7 by 3.6 centimeters) will remain the same for Apple. Apple may alter the internal layout due to the new 3nm M3, but users won’t have to worry about it.