Apple’s latest Mac mini doesn’t just feature the all-new M4 chip; it also introduces the powerful M4 Pro for the first time in a compact desktop form. This enhanced version of the chip delivers impressive performance upgrades, particularly suited to demanding workflows.
With a robust 14-core CPU setup—comprising 10 high-performance cores and 4 efficiency cores—the M4 Pro is designed to deliver significant speed boosts during intense computational tasks, particularly compared to the M3 Pro, which included fewer high-performance cores.
In addition to its advanced CPU design, the M4 Pro chip offers up to 20 GPU cores, pushing graphics and video capabilities beyond previous benchmarks. Both the M4 and M4 Pro configurations of the Mac mini now start with 16 GB of RAM, creating a new baseline for memory, and can be upgraded to a maximum of 64 GB in the Pro configuration.
The M4 Pro also introduces Thunderbolt 5 ports, exclusively available on this model. Thunderbolt 5 allows data transfers at up to 120 Gbps, a substantial jump from Thunderbolt 4, ensuring rapid file handling for large-scale projects. Positioned at the rear of the device, these three Thunderbolt 5 ports work alongside USB-C ports at USB 3 speeds, providing comprehensive connectivity for professional setups.
Memory bandwidth also receives a significant upgrade with the M4 Pro. The new chip offers 273 GB/s, which represents an 80% increase from the M3 Pro and brings it closer to the performance of the M3 Max. This enhanced bandwidth supports seamless multitasking and resource-heavy applications, making the Mac mini with M4 Pro a competitive choice for users who need sustained power in a compact device.
Apple is expected to unveil additional advancements in its processor lineup, likely introducing the M4 Max, which will build on these increases in CPU and GPU performance.
