Mac Mini MSource: Apple

What you need to know

  • Apple is rumored to be working on a new Mac Studio machine.
  • The Mac Studio is thought to be similar to Mac mini but with more powerful internals.
  • No timescale has been given for the product's release.

Apple is reportedly working on a new type of Mac that would sit between the Mac mini and Mac Pro in its desktop lineup. The machine, dubbed Mac Studio, is expected to look similar to a Mac mini but with more powerful internals.

While the Mac Studio name could change, a new 9to5Mac report says that it will upgrade the Apple silicon to one of two possibilities — an M1 Max similar to the MacBook Pro or a new chip that's even more capable. Both are reportedly being tested.

Based on information seen by 9to5Mac, the new Mac Studio is primarily based on the Mac mini, but with much more powerful hardware. Apple has two versions of Mac Studio under development. One features the M1 Max chip (the same as the 2021 MacBook Pro) and the other a variant of the Apple Silicon chip that is even more powerful than the current M1 Max.

The new machine is said to carry the designation J375 inside Apple and is likely to be aimed squarely at people who want a professional machine but would rather not go the MacBook Pro route.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported in August of last year that Apple was working on a 'smaller Mac Pro' that would be launched in 2022. That could well be this machine being reported on today. If true, we could see as many as 40 cores being offered in what would likely be the upgraded M1 Max chip mentioned earlier in this report.

If all of this comes to fruition we can expect the standard Mac mini to hang around with the new Mac Studio replacing the current Intel i7 Mac mini that Apple continues to sell. No timescales for any of this have been shared, although Apple does have an event planned for next week that is expected to see at least one new Mac announced.

If this machine does ship we can expect it to be the best Mac for a whole ton of professionals that find themselves tethered to a desk.

PSA: Send your 4th of July iMessages with fireworks this year
Celebrate!

PSA: Send your 4th of July iMessages with fireworks this year

This year, try to remember to use iMessage's cool Send with Fireworks feature when wishing friends and family a happy Independence Day. You've probably thought about doing it after the fact, when it's too late. This year's the year you remember!