Out of all the computers in the Mac lineup, only two product lines haven't been redesigned since the Apple silicon transition: the Mac Mini and the Mac Pro. The latter is effectively redundant for most people now that the Mac Studio exists, but the former now fits into a growing category of mini PCs — small-form-factor computers that pack a lot of power in a tiny package. According to the latest reports from Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, an overhauled Mac Mini is imminent, with a launch expected in late 2024 or early 2025.

While there's a lot to like about the current Mac Mini (M2, 2023), it's clear that this machine is a stopgap for a fully-redesigned model. In fact, the overall Mac Mini design hasn't changed since 2010. Gurman reports that the next one will be Apple's smallest computer ever, and will feature the M4 chipset, which would make the Mac Mini one of the most powerful mini PCs ever. But there's a lot more I'd like to see on an M4 Mac Mini, so let's break down eight of my top requests.

8 New colors

I'd love to see a Mac Mini debut in something other than silver and space gray

This one is a long shot, because the Mac Mini is one of Apple's least popular computers in terms of sales volume. However, it'd be nice if we saw some new colors debut on the M4 Mac Mini. In a return to form, Apple offered a fresh slate of fun colors on its M1 and M3 iMac desktops, mimicking the iMac G3 from back in the day. I know the Mac Mini isn't the same type of computer as the iMac, but it would still be nice to see colors like Midnight or Starlight, taking inspiration from the MacBook Air lineup, being an option for the M4 model. It's not like Apple hasn't gone outside the box with its desktops before — anyone remember the PowerMac G4 Cube?

7 USB-C accessories

Apple should sync up a peripherals overhaul with the M4 Mac Mini release

The Mac Mini doesn't come with any peripherals in the box, but that's why it's all the more important that the Apple peripherals sold separately are refreshed. For starters, they all still use Lightning, which is simply unacceptable in 2024. The Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad, and Magic Mouse need to be updated to USB-C at a minimum. While I like the Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad, the Magic Mouse could use a design overhaul to make it more ergonomic and make it possible to use while charging.

I'm not asking for Apple to start including a Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse in the box with the Mac Mini — that would only raise the price. I'd simply like for there to be USB-C versions of the accessories ready for when M4 Mac Mini users inevitably start building out their desk setups.

6 Better port variety

Every Mac Mini configuration should have at least four USB-C ports

The base model of the current M2 Mac Mini has an odd port configuration. That's mostly because the computer's design has a few holdovers from the Intel days while also sharing similarities with the M2 MacBook Air. If you buy the M2 configuration (not M2 Pro), you'll get a strange assortment of two Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB-A ports, an HDMI port, an Ethernet port, and a headphone jack. To state it plainly, two USB-C ports are not enough for a desktop computer in 2024.

Being that Apple is rumored to downsize the Mac Mini's footprint, there's a chance the number of ports could decrease. To maximize space and port variety, I'd love to see the company ditch the USB-A ports in favor of more USB-C ports. The two Thunderbolt 4 ports on the base model M2 Mac Mini get used up way too quickly, especially if you want to use a dual-monitor setup. It's much easier to adapt USB-C to USB-A than vice versa, so I'll gladly leave the legacy ports behind in favor of more versatility.

5 Better display support

The external monitor limitations of base-model Macs need to be resolved for good

Speaking of dual-displays, I want to see Apple ditch the external monitor limitations of base-model Macs with the release of the M4 Mac Mini. Right now, the M2 Mac Mini can only drive two external monitors, while the M2 Pro Mac Mini supports three. Intel Macs were far more versatile in terms of display support, with the trash can Mac Pro supporting six back in 2013. It's true that most Mac Mini users probably don't need more than two displays, but it's also true that this limitation is a real limitation that Apple can and should resolve.

4 Thunderbolt 5

I really want to see the future of Thunderbolt on a Mac desktop

A Thunderbolt 5 battle station at the Razer booth at CES 2024.

There was a time when Apple was spearheading the adoption of Thunderbolt in collaboration with Intel, but those days are long gone. The company still features Thunderbolt 4 on its best Macs and iPads, although it's hardly the driving force behind Thunderbolt development in 2024. Now, we have Thunderbolt 5, a standard that doubles the speed and capabilities of Thunderbolt 4 in some instances. While I don't expect Apple to introduce Thunderbolt 5 on its cheapest Mac first, I am eagerly awaiting a sign that Apple is working on bringing the next-gen standard to its product lineups. The potential is incredible, and I'd love to see it on the M4 Mac Mini.

3 M4 & M4 Pro chips

We saw it first on iPad, and now we need it on the Mac

Apple shocked the tech industry when it launched the new iPad Pro with an M4 chip, not the existing M3 chip. We've yet to see an M4 chip appear on a Mac computer and likely for good reason — there's a lot more development and optimization that needs to be done to drop an M-series chip into a Mac compared to an iPad. Still, early indications are that M4 continues Apple's steady momentum with performance on its own silicon. We're eager to see how the M4 Mac Mini would compare to existing M3 Macs.

Since the M2 Mac Mini is still on the M2 platform, an upgrade to the M4 chipset would include benefits from the M3 and M4 platforms. The M3 MacBook Air added hardware-accelerated mesh shading, ray tracing, a more powerful NPU. We expect all that and more to come to the M4 Mac Mini, and there's a lot to be excited about. Macs are already some of the best AI PCs, and the M4 Mac Mini could become the best mini PC for AI.

2 16GB unified memory

8GB memory is no longer enough for most users

When I first tried to use a Mac Mini with 8GB of RAM in early 2024, it went alright. But as more applications start to take advantage of Apple silicon's raw power and AI potential, that 8GB of RAM will start to dwindle quickly. In fact, as of the last month or so, my Macs with 16GB of unified memory have occasionally flashed insufficient memory warnings. Even Apple is starting to see the limitations of shipping computers with 8GB of memory in 2024 — its new Predictive Code Completion feature coming with Xcode 16 requires 16GB of memory.

I've now stopped recommending any computer with 8GB of RAM to friends and family, because it just isn't enough anymore, especially if you want a Mac that'll last you years. This is why Apple should bite the bullet and make 16GB the base amount of memory for the M4 Mac Mini. If it wants to really go above and beyond, it should bump the base storage up to 512GB, too.

1 A smaller chassis

It's past time we find out what an Apple mini PC looks like

The existing M2 Mac Mini could be smaller. If you don't believe me, check out the teardown photos I captured of the inside of my own M2 Mac Mini. The aluminum chassis is a holdover from the Intel era and doesn't represent the true form factor of an Apple silicon Mac Mini. Bloomberg reports that the next M4 Mac Mini will be about the size of an Apple TV 4K, and that's the perfect form factor for this machine. The current Mac Mini measures 7.75 x 7.75 x 1.41 inches, while the Apple TV 4K is 3.66 x 3.66 x 1.2 inches.

I don't know what type of desktop performance an M4 Mac Mini will bring, but if it's better than the current M2 models, I'm excited. I'd even go as far as to predict that the M4 Mac Mini will be the best mini PC we've ever seen. The M2 Mac Mini models you can buy today don't meet the threshold for being described as mini PCs in 2024, since Windows mini PCs are significantly smaller. However, a Mac Mini in the form factor of an Apple TV would have the potential to be a versatile computing device that could shake up multiple markets. It could be a travel PC, a full-fledged desktop, or really anything else.

There's more, but I'm not holding my breath

So, that's my wishlist of Mac Mini M4 improvements that I'd consider as feasible. I don't expect the new Mac Mini to feature all these requests. The smaller chassis and M4 chipset feel like virtual locks, while a port shakeup and 16GB base memory are up in the air. Everything else is a long shot, from display support, to colors, to Thunderbolt 5 support. I've neglected to list upgradability improvements on this list at all, and that's because I think the days of user-upgradable Macs are simply over, as sad as that may be.