Apple Reseller Lists Mac Mini With M2 CPU, Mac Mini Tower

An Apple M2 logo we mocked up ourselves
(Image credit: Aple)

Popular online electronics retailer B&H photo has set up a placeholder product page for a new Apple Mac computer featuring an Apple Silicon M2 processor. Apple will host its WWDC keynote on Monday, and the Apple press is keen to get early scoops. Still, sites like 9to5 Mac admit that the B&H listing may be an attention-grabbing prank or hoax, as Apple doesn't pass on any information to resellers ahead of product announcements.

The first of B&H Photo's 'accidental' early product page leaks is a new Mac Mini with an M2 processor. According to the retailer page, this mini computer comes in an 8GB RAM and 256GB storage configuration (possibly others). Adding a bit of sauce to its listing, the retailer says, "checkout will be available at 9:45 pm ET Monday night." WWDC22 runs from Monday, June 6, to Friday, June 10, with the keynote on the first day at 10 am PT / 1 pm ET. Apple traditionally opens sales, or at least pre-orders, of products shortly after their announcement.

Nearly all readers will be familiar with the iconic Mac Mini. Therefore tomorrow, the most significant interest will be in what is inside – with this listing teasing the arrival of the new M2 processor. Perhaps B&H read our story from early March when we discussed the rumors of M2 Mac Minis by mid-2022. That report suggested the more contemporary architecture M2 processors leverage a mix of Avalanche performance cores and Blizzard efficiency cores. Moreover, the GPU core counts are likely to be increased, and the TSMC process node will move from N5 to N5P. Looking further ahead, rumors say that the Apple M3 SoCs will use TSMC's next-generation N3 node.

Of course, no one knows what kind of performance uplift the new M2 SoCs will deliver to Apple's Mac refreshes. Even after the keynote and the presentation slides at hand, we won't have the most straightforward idea either, as a cloud of marketing will add to the technical information shared. Therefore, we must look forward to third-party testing and comparisons to get an authentic feel for what M2 delivers.

Another listing spotted at the US electronics retailer was one for an Apple Mac Mini Tower. As a more premium design, it is odd that this would come with an M1 Pro SoC and the same 8GB RAM and 256GB storage configuration as the Mac Mini. 9to5 Mac reckons to list the tower design as a probable sign that the product page is fake for the fun of someone at B&H. In other words, take these two listings with a hefty pinch of salt.

Apple mentioned a new Mac Pro on the way at the end of its March event, so if there is any 'tower' being prepared for launch tomorrow, this is what we expect. The last Mac Pro, AKA the cheese grater, launched with up to a 28-core Intel Xeon processor in late 2019.

Other Macs that could be in line for an update tomorrow include the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro 13. Outside of the laptop/desktop computer arena, tomorrow's most exciting hardware launch could be Apple's first AR/VR headset. As a developer conference, most of the week will be concerned with software; MacOS 13, iPadOS 16, iOS 16, TVOS 16, and WatchOS 9 are all expected to arrive during WWDC22 and new and improved apps.

Mark Tyson
News Editor

Mark Tyson is a news editor at Tom's Hardware. He enjoys covering the full breadth of PC tech; from business and semiconductor design to products approaching the edge of reason.

  • Alvar "Miles" Udell
    Not like TomsHardware, along with pretty much every other website, has never created clickbait before either.
    Reply
  • Sippincider
    Wouldn't the cost of the chip itself, push an M2 mini into Mac Studio pricing?

    Second, 8GB on a 2022-issue machine would be an insult. Minimum 16. If I want to cut corners I'll get a store-spec PC.

    Third, release a 32" iMac and take my money. Not having at least a 28" AIO is a pretty glaring gap in the lineup.
    Reply
  • Findecanor
    That a retailer enters a rumoured product into their catalogue is not that unusual.

    The purpose is often to allow customers to sign-up for an email notification when actual info about the product is available.
    Reply
  • mevinyavin
    Just one point on your article that tickled my funny bone...

    You wrote, "The retailer says, "checkout will be available at 9:45 pm ET Monday night." I think you drew the wrong conclusions. B&H is owned by Orthodox Jews, and as such, their store is closed during the holiday of Shavuot and only reopens at nightfall when it ends. (This is indeed what the banner on their website currently states.) Although it is theoretically permissible to have the website fully functional, the owner does not rely on that leniency.

    As an aside, this may explain the placeholder listings, as B&H employees will be forced to play catch-up with other retailers when they get into work on Tuesday morning.

    (I myself am an Orthodox Jew, but I live in Israel where the holiday has already ended.)
    Reply
  • Rdslw
    Sippincider said:
    Wouldn't the cost of the chip itself, push an M2 mini into Mac Studio pricing?
    it should not be that bad, depends on how it's made and process underneath. I expect price creep from inflation of $100 or $200 but not much more. Apple pay ~$35 each basic m1 cpu they made, ($80 for max) so they have a lot of space to sink extra cost and dont worry, they will make enough $1000 upgrades for it to profit.

    Sippincider said:
    Second, 8GB on a 2022-issue machine would be an insult. Minimum 16. If I want to cut corners I'll get a store-spec PC.
    Obviously, you will get that chance for $1000 extra.
    Reply
  • jeremyj_83
    M2, 8GB RAM, and 256GB SSD all for the low low price of an arm and a leg. If you want 16GB RAM or 512GB SSDthrow in your second arm. If you want 16GB RAM & 512GB SSD you will need all your limbs.
    Reply