Apple is finally giving the Mac mini a refresh, and according to a Bloomberg report by Mark Gurman, it could land within days, possibly even before the company sends out invites for its iPhone launch event.
Why is Apple rushing out a new Mac mini?
Turns out the current Mac mini found an unexpected fan base: people running AI models locally on it. That surge in demand, paired with an ongoing memory chip shortage, has made the machine tough to keep in stock. Gurman reports that Apple has tested both M5 and M6 versions for the update, though it’s not clear yet which chip will actually make the cut. Apple, as usual, declined to comment.
The supply crunch has been a real pain point too, with deliveries reportedly taking weeks or months to reach customers. It’s unclear if the new model will help ease that wait.
There’s also a manufacturing angle worth knowing about. Apple has promised to start building the Mac mini in Houston later this year, and Gurman notes that Cook toured the factory with Trump administration officials earlier this month. This ties into Apple’s broader push to bring more manufacturing to the US, especially after the company discontinued the US-made Mac Pro earlier this year.
Interestingly, this Mac mini refresh will likely be the last big launch under Tim Cook’s watch. He hands the CEO title to John Ternus on September 1.
What other MacBooks are coming?
Per Bloomberg’s report, Apple has more Mac updates lined up, though most are further out. That includes a refreshed entry-level MacBook Pro and an iMac with new color options, both expected to run on M6 chips. The bigger news, though, is Apple’s first-ever touchscreen computer, coming to new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with redesigned cases and OLED screens. I am especially excited for that one and have my wallet ready.