Apple Launches New Mac mini with M6 Chip and Updated Mac Studio
Apple unexpectedly listed the all-new Mac mini on its official website with no prior leaks or announcements. The design and dimensions remain identical to previous generations. All meaningful upgrades focus on internal hardware.
New Mac mini: M6 and M5 Pro Configurations #
The Mac mini introduces Apple’s latest M6 chip alongside an M5 Pro variant.
The M6 uses a 2-nanometer process node and is positioned as the industry’s first 2nm chip. It features a 12-core CPU, 12-core GPU, and dual 16-core Neural Engines. Connectivity includes Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.
Apple compared the M6 directly against the two-year-old M4 Mac mini and highlighted these gains:
- AI performance: 4×
- LLM prompt processing: 4.8×
- CPU performance: 40%
- GPU and storage speed: 2×
- Cyberpunk 2077 ray-tracing performance: 2×
Apple emphasizes that the M6 is purpose-built for AI workloads, with substantial on-device neural processing improvements.
The M5 Pro configuration targets more demanding professional tasks such as video production and game development.
Mac mini Pricing #
M6 models
- 16 GB unified memory + 256 GB storage: $1,041
- 16 GB unified memory + 512 GB storage: $1,265
- 16 GB unified memory + 1 TB storage: $1,599
M5 Pro models
- 24 GB unified memory + 512 GB storage: $1,934
- 24 GB unified memory + 1 TB storage: $2,269
- 24 GB unified memory + 2 TB storage: $2,827
New Mac Studio: M5 Max and M5 Ultra #
Apple also listed a refreshed Mac Studio. The chassis is unchanged from the previous generation. The primary upgrades are the available chips: M5 Max or the newly introduced M5 Ultra.
The M5 Ultra combines two M5 Max dies into a single SoC. Because the M5 Max is already a dual-chip design, the Ultra effectively functions as a quad-chip package. Maximum configuration reaches a 36-core CPU and 80-core GPU—Apple’s highest GPU core count to date—along with up to 512 GB of unified memory (RAM, not storage).
Mac Studio Pricing #
M5 Max
- 32 GB unified memory + 512 GB storage: starting at $2,976
M5 Ultra
- 96 GB unified memory + 1 TB storage: starting at $6,993
Purchasing Considerations #
The Mac Studio is aimed at professional studios and users running heavy workloads. For the majority of users, the Mac mini remains the more practical choice.
Global memory price increases have raised the Mac mini’s starting price. The previous M4 Mac mini launched at approximately $669; the new base model starts at $1,041—an increase of roughly $372. This reduces the price-to-performance appeal relative to earlier generations.