Apple fixed its faux pas with the Studio Display firmware earlier this week, but the 15.4 firmware update may have done more than provide some fixes—it may have revealed a new Mac that’s coming soon.
Developer Steven Troughton-Smith pointed out on Twitter that the Studio Display’s latest update includes a reference to a Mac mini that’s not yet available. Troughton-Smith first speculated that “Macmini10,1” could be a Mac mini with a new M2 processor, but later he changed his mind to an M1 Pro and Max model.
Apple has two Intel-based Macs left in its lineup: the Mac Pro, and the high-end $1,099 Mac mini. The $699 and $899 Mac mini have M1 processors, and a model with a more powerful processor would fit perfectly between those low-end Mac minis and the $1,999 M1 Max Mac Studio. The only Mac with an M1 Pro is currently the MacBook Pro.
There are persistent rumors that Apple will reveal a new Mac mini this year, possibly with a new case design. It could make an appearance at WWDC alongside a new Mac Pro and possibly a revamped MacBook Air.
Mac mini (M1, 2020)
MSRP:
$699, 256GB | $899, 512GB