Apple announced the M2 chip at WWDC 2022 for its 13-inch MacBook Pro and redesigned MacBook Air. However, the Mac Mini was conspicuously absent from this announcement and the event as a whole. The M2 Mac Mini may still be released, but it is hard to predict when.

If you're interested in getting into Apple's Mac ecosystem, the superb Mac Mini is one of the best bargains. As Apple follows up on 2020's M1 model, expectations are high for new chips and new features, including a high-end model for more demanding users. Here's a roundup of all the details we could find about the next Mac Mini. 

Two Mac Minis were rumored to be in development. One was said to be a high-end model, while the other was said to be an entry-level version. The rumored Mac Mini high-end appeared to be the Mac Studio following Apple's Peak Performance event in March, which looks like a bunch of Mac Minis stacked upon each other.

Having said that, we're still waiting for Mac Mini updates. It is not only that the M1 Mac Mini has not been updated since late 2020, but Apple is still selling Intel-based Mac Minis on its website despite claiming to have transitioned to Apple silicon chips by the end of 2018. It is likely that both versions will be updated soon.

What is the expected time frame for these changes? It was a good bet to see the Mac Mini at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 6th. However, that does not mean the M2 Mac Mini won't be released. The launch of the new MacBooks was not simultaneous with its release.

Apple might be planning a new Mac Mini based on a clue discovered by iOS developer Steve Troughton-Smith in the firmware for the company's Studio Display monitor.

According to Troughton-Smith, the firmware mentioned an as-yet-unreleased Mac dubbed 'Macmini10,1', which may refer to an M2 Mac Mini. The fact that it is mentioned in official firmware is a strong indication Apple is almost ready to deploy the Mac and it might still be released in 2022, even after WWDC is over.

Let's talk about the price. Currently, the M1 Mac Mini costs $699, while the second model costs $899. It costs $1,099 to get the Intel-based model. Those pricing structures make sense, so it wouldn't surprise us if Apple kept them for the new models.

It has been rumored that the next high-end Mac Mini will have a redesigned chassis. Apple has sometimes increased prices in the past when it has done this - see the 2021 16-inch MacBook Pro for an example - so we may see a situation similar to the Mac Mini.

The Mac Studio turned out to be the rumored Mac Mini, complete with a redesigned chassis. The Mac Mini will still get a new look, however, according to yet another rumor that has not yet been disproven.

Leaked renders from Jon Prosser in May 2021 portray a much slimmer Mac Mini with an aluminum body covered in a plexiglass-like surface than its current iteration (primarily due to the more power-efficient Apple Silicon chip inside). Apple has been experimenting with different colors, but it is unknown whether these will make it into the final product.

Moreover, Mark Gurman stated in his Power On newsletter in August 2021 that the upcoming Mac Mini would have an updated design and more ports than the current model. However, he did not elaborate on the shape and size of the device.