All in all, Apple’s Glowtime occasion earlier this month was mildly disappointing. The brand new iPhones are one more cautious iteration on a product with nowhere attention-grabbing left to go; the brand new AirPods didn’t do the one factor we had been all enthusiastic about (dropping the value beneath $100); the ‘updated’ AirPods Max are a foul joke; and the rumored iPad mini didn’t seem in any respect. I’ll admit that I just like the look of the redesigned Apple Watch, but it surely stays a relatively area of interest product and I’m not satisfied its modifications will make an enormous distinction to the consumer expertise anyway.
However that’s okay, as a result of Apple has by no means felt it essential to house out its launch occasions in a smart style. We get one occasion most springs; we get one occasion (WWDC) every summer season; and within the fall, we get wherever from one to a frankly insane three. And most pundits reckon one other Apple occasion, and an opportunity for the corporate to make amends for the tedium of September, will occur as quickly as subsequent month.
The principle motive for that expectation is the truth that a great deal of rumored merchandise nonetheless have to be introduced. The aforementioned iPad mini, in fact (plus seemingly the Eleventh-gen iPad), but in addition new variations of a number of necessary Mac strains. And the one that might flip the October occasion into a real extravaganza—the type of extravaganza that Glowtime was not—is the brand new Mac mini.
Based on credible sources, the mini is about to get a serious bodily revamp, lastly shelving the design first unveiled again in 2010. It’ll be considerably smaller, which implies extra free desk house, much less muddle, and a doable future for the Mac mini as a conveyable workstation. So it’s obtained the exterior refresh lined, just like the Apple Watch Sequence 10.
However Apple reportedly received’t neglect the inside both, with the mini anticipated to be on the forefront of the M4 rollout. That’s a chip which has already debuted on the iPad Professional, however doesn’t presently characteristic in any Macs… so at launch, the Mac mini will likely be as nicely outfitted as any of its costlier siblings. (Effectively, by way of chip era, anyway. Whereas the mini will get M4 or M4 Professional, the higher-end Macs will presumably get entry to Max and even Extremely imprints of the chip, in addition to extra RAM.) With a bounce from M2 on the earlier mannequin (and with many homeowners nonetheless operating Intel-based machines), the 2024 Mac mini will provide customers an considerable bump in efficiency to go together with its revamped exterior.
Lastly, the Mac mini will likely be simply as a lot part of the Apple Intelligence story because the iPhone 16. (A narrative, observe, that the Apple Watch Sequence 10 has been written out of.) The brand new mini will likely be comfortably highly effective sufficient to deal with AI’s processing calls for, and due to its comparatively low price ticket will probably be essential in driving widespread participation within the undertaking. If you wish to see what Apple Intelligence can do, the brand new Mac mini will likely be the most effective methods to seek out out.
The issue with the Mac mini, in fact, is exactly what most of us like about it: that reasonably priced price ticket. The low(ish) worth means a low(ish) revenue margin, and a have to make compromises by way of design and specs; each are liable to make the mini unappealing as the point of interest of a presentation. So the gadget, sarcastically, might not be the centerpiece of the occasion it’s going to elevate by its presence, sidelined maybe in favor of a brand new Mac Studio with a well-recognized design and an alarmingly excessive worth.
Nonetheless, the merchandise that take advantage of distinction are those which can be accessible for the most individuals–a precept which Apple used to carry expensive. So whether or not it’s first on stage, held again for One Extra Factor, or marooned in a graveyard slot someplace in between, the brand new Mac mini feels like precisely the kind of significant improve we missed this month.
Assuming, that’s, the rumors are correct. (They normally are, lately, however you possibly can by no means be certain.) On reflection, maybe we must always mood our pleasure. As I used to be all the time informed, anticipate nothing, and also you’ll by no means be dissatisfied.
Our weekly Apple Breakfast column consists of all of the Apple information you missed final week in a helpful bite-sized roundup. We name it Apple Breakfast as a result of we expect it goes nice with a Monday morning cup of espresso or tea, but it surely’s cool if you wish to give it a learn throughout lunch or dinner hours too.
Trending: High tales
The ‘new’ AirPods Max are one other lazy Apple replace nobody needs.
Michael Simon explains why he’s switching from an iPhone 15 Professional Max to an iPhone 16 Plus.
iOS 18 is lacking extra than simply Apple Intelligence, reckons Dan Moren.
The iPhone 16 isn’t the Google Pixel killer I hoped for, laments Mahmoud Itani.
The iPhone 16 is doomed and it’s all Apple Intelligence’s fault.
iOS 18: All of the little particulars and hidden options you received’t wish to miss.
We current 6 the reason why you have to improve to macOS Sequoia.
Apple could quickly make a minimum of some chips in the USA.
Podcast of the week
New main releases of Apple’s working programs can be found, however must you even hassle? We speak about iOS 18, macOS Sequoia, watchOS 11, and why you need to replace now or wait, within the newest episode of the Macworld Podcast!
You’ll be able to catch each episode of the Macworld Podcast on Spotify, Soundcloud, the Podcasts app, or our personal website.
Critiques nook
The rumor mill
The autumn Mac occasion will characteristic M4 MacBooks and a redesigned Mac mini.
Speaking of which… New 5-port Mac mini noticed in Apple’s macOS 15 code.
A plastic Apple Watch SE remains to be coming subsequent 12 months.
Software program updates, bugs, and issues
PSA: Hyperlink-sharing bug in iOS 18 Messages may cause iPhone crashes, information loss.
iPadOS 18 replace pulled after bricking M4 iPad Professional.
Apple releases safety updates for macOS Sonoma and Ventura.
Apple releases iOS and iPadOS 17.7 with necessary safety fixes.
Apple updates iOS 18 firmware for AirPods Professional 2 and AirPods 4.
And with that, we’re performed for this week’s Apple Breakfast. In case you’d wish to get common roundups, join our newsletters. You can too comply with us on Fb, Threads, or Twitter for dialogue of breaking Apple information tales. See you subsequent Monday, and keep Appley.