Apple’s Mac Mini redesign isn’t just about losing important ports, it’s also about portability and new connectivity options, according to a report.
Apple’s long-awaited fall event is just a week away, and while this year’s iPhones are expected to offer a stopgap solution, the Mac Mini will likely get a redesign.
In his last Power On NewsletterBloomberg’s Mark Gurman said Apple’s new desktop computers will arrive in warehouses in September and begin retail sales in October.
He adds that the new Mac Mini Pro with M4 Pro chip will have five USB C ports – three on the back and two on the front.
Among other connectivity options, Gurman’s sources suggest there will be an Ethernet port, an HDMI port, and a headphone jack. The new Mac mini is also expected to feature an internal power supply.
Gurman didn’t say anything about the number of ports on the standard version of the Mac mini with the M4 chip. That cheaper version will likely have just three USB-C ports on the back, along with other key connectivity ports.
Apple
While the front-facing ports are a welcome addition, it looks like Apple is ditching USB-A ports. Apple’s removal of USB-A ports on the Mac Mini could start a trend and suggest that it’s probably time to say goodbye to the old, reliable port.
However, a quick glance at most of Apple’s computing devices will tell you that the USB-A port was already past its expiration date and was about to be phased out.
That said, given how many accessories like USB flash drives, wired keyboards and mice, and more still rely on the good old USB-A port, this move will likely force users to search for their USB-C adapters again.
Gurman adds that Apple is also working on a cheaper, simplified version of the Magic Keyboard, which is expected to launch “by the middle of next year.”
