Surprise – Apple’s Mac Mini has a new color and higher specs

At today’s New York event, Apple has announced a new version of its Mac Mini. The desktop computer will now come in a Space Grey finish and comes with either four or six core processors.

According to Apple, this will make the Mac Mini five times faster than previously – which shouldn’t be much of a surprise as the last version of the hardware was released four years ago.

This is how Apple presented the speed upgrade at the keynote:

Memory and storage

The previous Mac Mini had 16GB of RAM. Now, it can be upgraded to 64GB of 2666 MHz memory. That’s quite a lot of memory, which is great news for designers and video editors.

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Apple has also increased the storage space of the device up to 2TB – double the previous capacity. These are up to four times faster than the old Mac mini. Again, something to be expected when the last version of the device was released so long ago.

Connectivity

Probably the most interesting thing Apple has done with the Mac Mini is focus on connectivity. In fact, it might have actually listened to users. The device includes an ethernet slot, four Thunderbolt/USB-C ports, and two USB-A ports.

Oh, and did we forget to say it has a headphone port too? Praise be.

Have a look at all of the ports here and drool:

Apple’s T2 security chip

Apple has also put its T2 security chip into the Mac mini. Some of its features include an SSD controller that provides your data with encryption as you work.

Construction

Apple will make the new Mac mini with 100 percent recycled aluminium and 60 percent recycled plastic. Apple actually invented its own aluminum alloy, something it used in the Mac Mini.

And, well, the more I think about it, the more badass this seems.

Retail

The entry-level Mac Mini will come with 8GB of memory, a 3.6Ghz quad-core Core i3, and a 128GB SSD – it’ll retail for $799. It’ll be released on November 7 and pre-orders are open today.

Stay tuned to Plugged for more updates.

Story by Callum Booth

Callum Booth is a freelance journalist with over a decade of experience. Previously, he was the Managing Editor of TNW, where his reporting (show all) Callum Booth is a freelance journalist with over a decade of experience. Previously, he was the Managing Editor of TNW, where his reporting was cited widely, including in VICE, the FT, and the BBC. Callum’s writing has appeared in The Verge, The Daily Telegraph, Time Out, and many more. He covers the full spectrum of technology, with a particular focus on how it shapes our daily lives. And a lot of regulation stuff too. Outside of work, Callum’s an avid bookworm, a Fisherman’s Friends addict, and resolutely unshaven. Follow him on Twitter @CallumBooth or visit www.callumbooth.net.