Will the M4 Mac mini finally have the courage to dump its USB-A ports?

The M4 Mac mini: Will it Finally Dump its USB-A Ports?

In recent years, Apple has been known for its bold moves in removing popular ports from its devices in the name of progress and thinness. The latest victim of this trend may be the USB-A ports on the upcoming M4 Mac mini. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the new Mac mini will have five USB-C ports, but no USB-A ports, a change from the current model which has two USB-A ports. This move marks a significant shift in Apple’s approach to connectivity and may indicate a wider trend towards a portless future.

The M4 Mac mini’s new design and port configuration have been confirmed by Gurman, who reports that the device will have three USB-C ports on the back and two on the front. This is a significant increase from the current model’s two USB-C ports, and it suggests that Apple is doubling down on its commitment to the USB-C standard. The removal of the USB-A ports is likely to be controversial, as many users still rely on these ports for their peripherals and accessories. However, Apple has a history of removing popular ports in favor of newer, more advanced technology.

In 1998, the iMac famously removed the floppy drive in favor of CD burning, and in 2015, the MacBook Air had a single USB-C port. More recently, Apple removed the headphone jack from the iPhone 7 in 2017, a move that was met with some criticism at the time but has since become standard practice in the industry. The removal of the USB-A ports from the M4 Mac mini may be seen as a similar move, with Apple prioritizing sleekness and progress over compatibility with older devices.

The M4 Mac mini will also feature an HDMI port, ethernet, and a headphone jack, according to Gurman. The HDMI port is likely to be an HDMI 2.1 port, an upgrade from the current M2 Mac mini’s HDMI 2.0. The ethernet port may also be upgraded to gigabit or 10Gbit, following a similar trend in Apple’s high-end Macs and Mac Pro. The headphone jack will likely support high-impedance headphones, as seen in the M2 Mac mini.

The removal of the USB-A ports may be a sign of things to come for Apple’s future devices. The company has been moving towards a portless future for some time now, with the iPhone and iPad already relying on wireless connectivity and charging. The M4 Mac mini may be the first step towards a completely portless Mac lineup, with future devices relying solely on USB-C and wireless connections.

The M4 Mac mini is expected to ship in early September, according to Gurman, while the M4 Pro Mac mini won’t arrive until October. Apple may announce both devices at an October event, following a similar pattern to previous years. The M4 Mac mini, along with the M4 MacBook Pro and iMac, are expected to be released before the end of 2024, while the MacBook Air, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro will follow in 2025.

In conclusion, the M4 Mac mini’s removal of USB-A ports may be a bold move by Apple, but it is not entirely unexpected given the company’s history of pushing towards newer, more advanced technology. The move towards a portless future may be controversial, but it is clear that Apple is committed to this vision and will continue to push the boundaries of what is possible with its devices.