Apple is rumored to be working on an upgraded Mac mini which might be powered by a faster Apple M1X chip and offer several more expansion ports, however, one of the expected ports is missing from the latest leaked information. Rumors of new MacBook and Mac computers have been circulating for the last few months ahead of Apple's product launch, which usually takes place in September. Since the current M1 Mac mini is a bit light on ports, many would benefit from an option that doesn't require an expansion hub.

Apple started making the move away from Intel CPUs and toward its own chip design in 2020 with the introduction of the M1 system-on-a-chip (SoC). The M1 is a much more powerful version of Apple's already potent A14 chip which is found in the iPad Air 4 and iPhone 12. At the end of 2020, Apple released two 13-inch MacBook laptops and a new Mac mini. All three looked virtually the same as the devices they replaced, but contained Apple's M1 SoC. Earlier this year Apple launched a total redesign of the iMac driven by an M1 SoC and sporting an ultra-thin design.

Related: M1X Mac mini Design Changes & More: What The Latest Leak Reveals

A now-deleted Tweet from LeaksApplePro showed what appeared to be some simplified schematics of a new Mac mini case. What jumps out immediately is the much slimmer design and many more ports than the M1 Mac mini that's currently available. Based on the shape, the new Apple Silicon Mac mini might have four Thunderbolt ports/USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, one HDMI 2.0 port, as well as a Gigabit Ethernet port. Naturally, the diagrams showed a hole in the case for a power button and a power cord. Wccftech spotted the leak and suggested the USB-C ports will be Thunderbolt 4, an upgrade from the Thunderbolt 3 of the current Mac mini. The outlet also speculated that the new Mac mini might have a magnetic charging port, however, that might make more sense on a MacBook.

The M1X Mac mini's Missing Port

Apple M1 Mac mini With Integration Tech Icons

If the leaks mentioned above are correct, the rumored M1X Mac mini will match the ports found in the 2018 Intel Mac mini, which Apple still sells, continuing its path of replacing every Mac that had an Intel CPU with an upgraded Apple Silicon version. Still to be seen are a 16-inch MacBook Pro, an iMac Pro, and a Mac Pro, some of which might arrive by the end of this year with the others expected in 2022. The 16-inch MacBook Pro has been heavily rumored for this year and it is said to include an SD port.

Some might expect the M1X Mac mini to include an SD port, which would be a nice convenience feature, but that doesn't appear to be the case with this latest leak. SD cards are the most commonly used memory storage for DSLRs, drones, and other external cameras, being able to plug the card into the computer and instantly access photos and videos would have been a nice touch for the new Mac mini. That said, USB dongles that provide SD card ports are inexpensive and easy to find, so it won't be a hardship for anyone needing this capability. Apple's new Mac mini should arrive in September and then all will be known about the dimensions, ports, and the chip that powers it.

Next: M1X or M2 Is The Mac Apple Silicon To Wait For, Here’s Why

Source: LeaksApplePro, Wccftech