Apple could go all-in on USB-C with its upcoming M4 Mac mini. As a part of the machine’s major design revamp, the company might ditch USB-A ports for good.
The Cupertino company should unveil the M4 Mac mini later this year.
USB-C all the things!
Apple’s Mac mini lineup last received a major design revamp in 2010. The Apple silicon transition in late 2020 with the M1 Mac mini freed up considerable internal space. Yet, Apple stuck to the same design.
Reports suggest the Mac mini could finally get a new design this year. The revamp will make the overall machine much smaller, about the same size as an Apple TV. The smaller dimensions made many worry that Apple might reduce the number of USB and I/O ports on the upcoming mini. Thankfully, that’s not going to happen. Not according to a reliable source, anyway.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, in the latest Power On edition, claims the new Mac mini will sport five USB-C ports. Like the Mac Studio, it will house three ports on the back and two on the front for easy access. It will also sport an Ethernet port, an HDMI connector, and a headphone jack. However, Apple will ditch the USB-A ports entirely as a part of the upgrade.
Apple could follow the same strategy with a future Mac Studio, ditching the USB-A ports entirely.
This will only apply to Mac mini models configured with M4 Pro. The M4 variant will likely ship with fewer USB-C ports.
M4 Mac mini might not launch before October
The report further sheds light on the M4 Mac mini’s availability. Apparently, Apple suppliers will start shipping the M4 model in September, but the M4 Pro configuration won’t start shipping until October.
This indicates the M4 Mac mini refresh is unlikely to go official before late October. The M4-powered MacBook Pros should also debut around the same time.
