Apple has introduced updated Mac mini and Mac Studio desktop computers while expanding its proprietary Apple Silicon processor lineup. The key technological innovation is the M6 chip — the company's first processor built on a 2-nanometer process. The new Mac mini will be available with either the M6 or M5 Pro, while the professional Mac Studio will come in configurations featuring the M5 Max and the new M5 Ultra. Pre-orders for both computers opened on August 25, with official sales scheduled for September 22. Both devices will run macOS 27 Golden Gate, which will also become available for other compatible Mac computers this fall.
The M6 features a 12-core CPU and a 12-core GPU, along with two 16-core Neural Engines designed for artificial intelligence tasks. The chip supports up to 32 GB of unified memory with a bandwidth of up to 170 GB per second. Compared to the previous generation, Apple has increased memory bandwidth by approximately 10 percent.
"Built using an advanced 2-nanometer process, M6 brings a new processor complex, two additional CPU and GPU cores, a dual 16-core Neural Engine, and increased unified memory bandwidth to handle tasks with exceptional energy efficiency," said Sri Santhanam, Apple's Vice President of the Silicon Engineering Group.
The standard Mac mini configuration with M6 includes 16 GB of memory, while the M5 Pro version can be configured with up to 64 GB. This makes the compact computer better suited for graphics processing, software development, and running modern AI tools locally.
The Mac Studio is aimed at professional workloads and offers significantly higher specifications. The M5 Max model starts at $2,499, while the new M5 Ultra version starts at $5,499. The top-tier M5 Ultra configuration can be equipped with a 36-core CPU and an 80-core GPU, with a maximum unified memory capacity of 512 GB. A fully configured Mac Studio with M5 Ultra can cost up to $18,299.
The M5 Ultra architecture is a four-die design that connects two dual-die M5 Max chips using UltraFusion technology. This enables memory bandwidth of up to 1.2 TB per second — approximately 50 percent higher than the M3 Ultra. These specifications are aimed primarily at professional video editing, 3D graphics, scientific computing, software development, and working with large AI models.
Both computers feature Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 support. The Mac mini retains the compact chassis first introduced with the M4 and M4 Pro generation. At the same time, Apple has raised the base configuration price: the new Mac mini with M6 starts at $899, whereas the previous generation's starting price was $599. In May, the company had already removed the $599 base configuration and raised the entry price to $799, followed by another increase to $899. Apple attributes the price change to a shortage of memory chips, which has been exacerbated by high demand from the artificial intelligence industry.