Skip to main content

Apple may have just accidentally leaked a new Mac Mini

It was recently revealed that Apple could launch two new Macs at its upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June. Now, one of those mystery Macs might have been revealed as a new version of the Mac Mini.

The information comes from well-known developer Steve Troughton-Smith, who tweeted that the latest firmware for Apple’s Studio Display monitor contains a reference to a hitherto-unreleased Mac, specifically one called “Macmini10,1.”

Apple Mac Mini M1 sitting on a desk.
Alex Blake/Digital Trends

The most recent Mac Mini — the M1 model launched in 2020 — comes with the model identifier “Macmini9,1.” That means the new, unreleased Mac Mini mentioned in the Studio Display firmware certainly makes sense from a naming standpoint.

As for the chip the machine will house, Troughton-Smith believes it will be Apple’s M2 instead of the M1 Pro. This has been a point of contention for a while, especially since Apple has not released a high-end version of the Mac Mini that uses an Apple Silicon chip, instead, leaving an Intel-powered model in the line-up. The M2 would be an entry-level chip, while an M1 Pro is aimed more at pro-level users.

The rumor mill is a little unclear as to what new Macs are imminent; for what it’s worth, there is one concrete clue: the shipping Studio Display firmware references one unaccounted-for mystery machine — a new model generation of Mac mini (“Macmini10,1”). My guess: M2, not M1 Pro

— Steve Troughton-Smith (@stroughtonsmith) April 12, 2022

Rumors suggest the M2 chip will be similar to the M1 but will boost the number of GPU cores to 10 from the seven or eight found in the M1 (depending on the model). As for the CPU cores, reporter Mark Gurman believes the M2 will have eight in total, just like the M1, but will weight them more toward high-performance cores. The M1’s cores are split evenly between high-performance and high-efficiency cores, but the M2 could skew that more towards the former.

As well as the M2 Mac Mini, there are claims Apple could launch an M2 Pro model alongside it, finally giving users a more powerful Mac Mini that is built on Apple Silicon. According to the rumor mill, this chip will feature a 12-core CPU (with four high-efficiency cores and eight high-performance cores). Right now, the GPU core count is unknown.

Additionally, there’s a strong chance that Apple will unveil a new MacBook Air at WWDC, which is also rumored to be outfitted with an M2 chip. Aside from the hardware, though, there are plenty more WWDC rumors swirling around what we could see. The event kicks off on June 6, so there’s plenty of time for more news to leak out ahead of the show.

Editors' Recommendations

Alex Blake
In ancient times, people like Alex would have been shunned for their nerdy ways and strange opinions on cheese. Today, he…
Report: Apple’s 2024 MacBooks may face some serious shortages
Apple's John Ternus stands next to an image of the 15-inch MacBook Air at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June 2023.

Looking forward to getting a new MacBook in the next year or so? You might have to wait longer than expected, as Apple chip supplier TSMC is reportedly struggling to get enough skilled workers for its forthcoming Arizona factory. That could mean we see serious shortages of Apple laptops and a struggle to get hold of stock.

The bad news comes from The Wall Street Journal. According to the outlet, TSMC has said that “people with expertise erecting semiconductor facilities were in short supply in the U.S.” As a result, the Arizona factory “would miss its target of starting mass production next year.”

Read more
The M3 MacBook Pro may launch sooner than anyone expected
Fortnite running on a Macbook M1.

Earlier this week, we learned that Apple’s next batch of Macs loaded with M3 chips could be set to launch in the fall. Today, a fresh report claims they could arrive ahead of schedule -- but there are reasons to be doubtful.

The idea comes from a paywalled DigiTimes report (via MacRumors), which cites “industry sources” to claim that Apple will introduce a new MacBook Pro -- complete with a 3-nanometer Apple silicon chip that will boast improved performance and efficiency -- as soon as the third quarter of 2023. That quarter runs from July 1 until September 30.

Read more
M3 Macs may launch this year — with a surprising addition
Apple's 15-inch MacBook Air placed on a desk.

We’ve only just gotten a bunch of new Macs from Apple, with the 15-inch MacBook Air launching a mere one month ago alongside a slate of other Apple computers. Yet the company is already gearing up to release M3 Macs at a special event later this year, and they could be the biggest performance upgrade we’ve seen in years.

This idea comes from journalist Mark Gurman, who has correctly predicted many upcoming products and details in Apple’s lineup. In his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman explains that, while there will be a whole heap of new devices arriving at an event in October, they won’t include Apple’s high-end laptops and desktops.

Read more