This is the Mac Mini's big moment

When the Mac Mini was first introduced in early 2005, it was presented as a compact, “stripped down” desktop – and the cheapest Mac in Apple's lineup. Steve Jobs called it a “BYODKM” system: you brought your own screen, keyboard, and mouse, and the Mini would provide a reliable computing experience with all the benefits of macOS.

The Mac Mini has continued since then. There was a time when the Mini was sidelined and ignored by Apple for a long time. But the debut of Apple Silicon gave it new life. Even though the overall design didn't change much during the transition from Intel to Apple's in-house chips, the Mini's potential skyrocketed.

But now this design will change. And if the rumors prove true, there will be a radical transformation. BloombergMark Gurman has reported that the M4-powered Mac Mini will be shrunk so much that its footprint will resemble that of an Apple TV. The new Mac Mini will be everything But a stripped down Mac.

Rather, it will likely be the most visually stunning example yet of what Apple is capable of in this new era, where the incredible efficiency of its chips enables all sorts of hardware designs that weren't technically feasible just a few years ago. Not since the release of the phenomenal MacBook Pros M1 Pro and M1 Max in 2021 have I been this excited about a new Mac.

Gurman has said that the 2024 Mac Mini – at least the M4 Pro variant – will have a total of five USB-C ports, two of which are on the front of the device. I consider this front I/O a godsend after years of having to turn the Mini around to plug something in – or just guessing. For those of you who have integrated Apple's smallest Mac into your home theater setups, there will still be an HDMI port. USB-A is supposed to be a thing of the past, but… it's time.

The Mini still occupies an important place within the Mac family. The iMac is a visual eye-catcher; the MacBook Pro delivers tremendous performance on the go; and the Mac Pro and Mac Studio are both aimed at professionals and creatives. But the Mini remains the lineup's humble performer at an attractive price point for anyone who wants a Mac that “just works.”

Regardless of its size, BYODKM remains one of its best attributes. Apple may not be planning a 27-inch iMac, but we're about to have an amazingly compact desktop that can be paired with any screen you want. And the software outlook is excellent, too: The revamped Mini arrives shortly after macOS Sequoia, which adds useful features like iPhone mirroring and (long overdue) window tiling.

It would take a colossal, unforeseen deal-breaker for me to not immediately pre-order the M4 Mac Mini as my new home machine. If I have any concerns, it's that Apple will find a way to artificially hold back the Mini so as not to steal too much attention from the Mac Studio. But I don't think that will be the case – at least not to any egregious extent. As of now, the Studio clearly stands out in terms of CPU and GPU performance and has other advantages such as an SD card slot and faster Ethernet. I expect these advantages to remain even when the M4 model comes onto the market.

Apple's Mac portfolio has never been on a better path. And for those who have remained loyal to the company's products for decades, it is possible Despite it It's hard to believe – even this deep in the age of Apple Silicon. We have been through some dark days. But with a new Mac Mini that looks like equal parts streaming box and miniature PC, Apple appears to be ready for another M-series marvel—and one with a feather galore.