Apple is reportedly working on an all-new Mac dubbed the “Mac Studio,” known internally by the codename “J375,” which 9to5Mac’s Filipe Espósito reported on Friday is currently under development, described as a model between the Mac mini and Mac Pro, aimed at professional Mac users.
According to the report, which cites information seen by 9to5Mac, the rumored new “Mac Studio” is said to be primarily based on the Mac mini with enhanced internals. Apple is said to be testing two versions of the machine: one with the M1 Max chip and another with a new, never-before-seen more powerful chip.
The “Mac Studio” naming is not said to be locked down, but it seems Apple is looking to bridge the gap for professional users who don’t require the full-blown power of the Mac Pro but need something more powerful than the existing Mac mini.
The new “Mac Studio” is expected to be the “smaller Mac Pro” rumored by Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman in 2020. At the time, Gurman suggested the machine would have reduced internal configurability, and fewer PCI-E slots compared to the current Mac Pro due to the machine’s smaller size.
The report was followed up again by Gurman last year, with the reporter saying the new machine would use Apple’s own processors and be less than half the size of the current Mac Pro. The design reportedly will feature a mostly aluminum exterior and “could invoke nostalgia for the Power Mac G4 Cube.”