The Mac Mini M4 is coming – and it could be the smallest Mac that Apple’s ever made

The Mac mini 2023 on a desk next to a monitor
(Image credit: Apple)

We've already heard that the Mac Mini M4 is likely to land later this year, but some fresh rumors have just revealed that Apple's tiny Mac is likely to get even smaller thanks to its first design refresh for 14 years.

According to Bloomberg's reliable Apple insider Mark Gurman, the new Mac Mini will be the company's "smallest desktop computer yet." In fact, the new M4-powered Mini will be so compact that it'll be "approaching the size of an Apple TV set-top box," according to Gurman's sources.

In reality, the redesign wouldn't functionally change the Mac Mini very much. The current version measures 197 x 197 x 35.8mm, while the Apple TV 4K is 93 x 93 x 31mm. Gurman's report claims that the new Mac Mini may actually be taller than the current version to achieve that reduced overall footprint.

Still, that would ensure it hits the milestone of being Apple's smallest desktop so far, and the upgrade to an M4 chip could make it hugely popular. That chip is apparently the main reason for Apple's Mac Mini redesign due to its lower power requirements – with Gurman's sources stating that the computer is "essentially an iPad Pro in a small box."

What other upgrades might the M4 Mac Mini get? Naturally, the Apple Intelligence features inside macOS Sequoia will be one of the mainstays. Still, it appears Apple has also tested versions with three USB-C ports on the back (the current M2 version has two Thunderbolt 4 ports) alongside an HDMI port, like the current model. 

According to Bloomberg, there will also apparently be two versions of the Mac Mini. One is expected to be powered by the base M4 chip, while another has been tipped to run on the unannounced M4 Pro chip. It sounds like the base M4 version will be available sooner, with production ramping up in August ahead of a release "later this year." We may have to wait until October for the M4 Pro model.

One thing we don't yet know is whether or not Apple plans to keep the Mac Mini's tempting pricing at the same low level. The current one starts at only $599 / £649 / AU$999, and according to Gurman, "the new model may be cheaper to make." We don't yet know if that'll result in an even lower price tag, a similar one, or potentially a higher one.

Don't buy a Mac right now

Top-down view of the Mac mini 2023 next to a monitor and keyboard on a desk

(Image credit: Apple)

Our Mac mini (2023) review called it "the best mini PC you can buy right now," and it remains at the top of our guide to the best mini PCs. A new M4 chip and redesign certainly wouldn't harm its chances of remaining there unless Apple drops a clanger with the connectivity or performance.

The appeal of the Mac mini has always been the combination of its size and the fact that you get to add your own keyboard, mouse, and monitor. If Apple manages to keep the base model at $599 / £649 / AU$999, then it'll surely continue to be popular among Mac fans and even some die-hard Windows users.

The main competition for the new Mac Mini may actually come from within Apple. This Bloomberg report has reiterated previous rumors that Apple is planning M4 refreshes for the iMac and MacBook Pro in 2024 as well, which means we'd advise holding off from buying a new Mac right now if you can.

The exceptions to that might be if you're considering a MacBook Air, Mac Pro, or Mac Studio. The Air apparently won't get an M4 reboot until the spring of 2025 (in other words, sometime between March and April), while the M4-flavored Mac Pro and Mac Studio apparently won't arrive until "the middle of next year."

You might also like...

Mark Wilson
Senior news editor

Mark is TechRadar's Senior news editor. Having worked in tech journalism for a ludicrous 17 years, Mark is now attempting to break the world record for the number of camera bags hoarded by one person. He was previously Cameras Editor at both TechRadar and Trusted Reviews, Acting editor on Stuff.tv, as well as Features editor and Reviews editor on Stuff magazine. As a freelancer, he's contributed to titles including The Sunday Times, FourFourTwo and Arena. And in a former life, he also won The Daily Telegraph's Young Sportswriter of the Year. But that was before he discovered the strange joys of getting up at 4am for a photo shoot in London's Square Mile. 

Read more
Mac mini vs. Mac Studio
Mac mini M4 vs Mac Studio M2: Which is the one for you?
Mac mini vs. iMac
Mac mini M4 vs iMac M4: Which is the one for you?
Apple Mac Mini on wood desk
Forget President’s Day sales, Apple is selling an M2 Mac mini refurb for just over $300 which could be the PC bargain of the year
Mac mini vs Mac Pro
Mac mini M4 vs Mac Pro M2: Which is the one for you?
Person playing a game on new MacBook Air
What to expect from Apple Macs in 2025
A person holding the 15-inch MacBook Air at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in 2023.
Apple MacBook Air M4 announcement due any day now, according to industry insider
Latest in Macs
A mockup of the possible Apple M3 Ultra logo
Performance isn't the only reason you should buy Apple's M3 Ultra Mac Studio - it's reportedly one of the most power-efficient processors too
Mac Studio on a desk
Apple Mac Studio (M3 Ultra): the ultimate creative workstation
Mac Studio from above.
New benchmark suggests Apple's M3 Ultra may not be much faster than the M4 Max - only a minor uplift in multi-core performance
Apple Mac Mini on wood desk
Forget President’s Day sales, Apple is selling an M2 Mac mini refurb for just over $300 which could be the PC bargain of the year
Sergii Figurnyi
Apple's M5 chip is rumored to be in mass production - but we're still waiting for M4 MacBook Airs
A hand holding up the new Mac mini M4
Apple's M4 Mac mini might be one of the best Macs ever, but it has a serious issue that needs fixing right now
Latest in News
Man using iMessage on an iPhone
Apple will finally enable encrypted RCS messages between iOS and Android, and it's about time
Jason Sudeikis' Ted Lasso pointing at someone in Ted Lasso season 2
Believe it, baby: Ted Lasso season 4 is officially in development for Apple TV+ and Jason Sudeikis will reprise his role as the titular soccer coach
Quordle on a smartphone held in a hand
Quordle hints and answers for Saturday, March 15 (game #1146)
NYT Strands homescreen on a mobile phone screen, on a light blue background
NYT Strands hints and answers for Saturday, March 15 (game #377)
NYT Connections homescreen on a phone, on a purple background
NYT Connections hints and answers for Saturday, March 15 (game #643)
Wix automation
The world's leading website builder aims to save businesses time with new tool