Apple could play it smart by waiting for its M4 chips before releasing a new Mac mini
Recent Apple launched the new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models, which are equipped with the latest M3 chips. However, it looks like the tech giant is planning to skip M3 models for Mac desktops and release an M4 Mac mini instead. If true, that would be an excellent move by Apple – one of the smartest decisions yet.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is reportedly producing M4-powered Mac devices to properly update its line of PCs (as opposed to MacBook laptops). This same report, from BGRreveals that the Mac mini will skip the M3 – instead, an M4 model could arrive later this year or, more likely, early 2025, according to recent rumors from market analysis agency Canalys .
It’s an obvious choice, but brilliant nonetheless, because it directly addresses one of Apple’s biggest criticisms.
As most Apple fans realize, the tech giant tends to double or even triple the dip when it comes to releasing new products. Of course, huge profit gains are the driving force behind this decision, and huge profits are exactly what Apple is showing. But this comes at the cost of diluting the products, often making them redundant, which negatively affects both the products and the brand’s reputation in the long term.
Apple could be onto something big
But by staggering the release of not just the Mac mini but other Mac desktops as well, you’re giving owners with older devices more incentive to actually upgrade. At the moment, the current model of the Mac mini is equipped with M2 chips, which makes the jump to M4 much more attractive – as it would be a much bigger upgrade than if an M3 model were released in 2024 and then an M4 version coming in 2025. What would be the point of an upgrade next year when the M3 version is cheaper, or an upgrade to the M3 when a more powerful version is just on the horizon?
Interestingly enough, there seems to be another reason why Apple is waiting until the launch of the M4 chips before upgrading the Mac mini and other desktops. According to another rumor, the M4 processor is reportedly focused on built-in AI features. Apparently, macOS 15 is introducing several new artificial intelligence features around the same time as its competitors in the processor market.
This is something I want to see a lot more often from Apple, holding back new launches to better spread them out. Not only for the benefit of the consumer, but also for the benefit of the environment. E-waste is a major problem in the technology industry due to the constant development and annual release of new devices.
If Apple, one of the largest tech companies in the world, can finally put an end to its constant and wasteful releases, it would be incredible progress in the long run. We hope that MacBook releases will follow the Mac mini’s lead.