Pre-orders for the updated Mac mini and Mac Studio desktop computers begin today, bringing a shift toward high-capacity local AI processing. The new Mac mini features the M6, Apple's first chip built on a 2 nanometer process, with a 12-core CPU and GPU and up to 32GB of unified memory starting at $899. A higher-end M5 Pro version starts at $1,699 and offers up to 64GB of memory. Both models add Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, with general availability scheduled for Sept. 22.
The updated Mac Studio introduces M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips, the latter of which uses a quad-die design supporting up to 512GB of unified memory for 3D rendering and frontier AI models. Starting at $5,499, the M5 Ultra provides up to 4.3x faster AI performance than previous iterations. The new hardware includes Thunderbolt 5, which Apple says allows users to cluster multiple Mac minis together to run larger AI models entirely on-device. This launch marks the first Mac mini refresh in nearly two years and arrives ahead of the company's typical September iPhone events.
Key sources
- SOURCE@markgurman“Apple officially launches the M6 M5 Pro Mac mini, plus the M5 Ultra Mac Studio”x.com
- SUPPORT@deitaone“LAUNCHES FIRST 2 NM CHIP M6 AND QUAD-DIE M5 ULTRA”x.com
- SUPPORT@wallstengine“Apple claims up to 8.5x faster LLM prompt processing vs. M2 Pro”x.com
- SUPPORT@techmeme“up to 4.3x faster AI performance, faster graphics, and up to 512GB of unified memory”x.com
- SUPPORT@wallstengine“M6 delivers up to 13.5x faster LLM prompt processing vs. M1 and 4.8x vs. M4”x.com
- SUPPORT@markgurman“M5 Ultra starts at a whopping $5,499”x.com
- SUPPORT@business“first time in almost two years”x.com
- SOURCE@markgurman“as early as ahead of its September iPhone launch”x.com