Apple unveils M6-powered Mac Mini starting at $899
The new desktop features Apple's first 2nm processor and AI-focused upgrades, though it carries a higher starting price than the previous generation.
New Hardware and Pricing
Apple announced a new generation of the Mac Mini on Tuesday, featuring the company's first M6-generation chip. The base model of the device is priced at $899 and includes 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. This entry price represents a $100 increase over the starting price of the M4 generation.
Pre-orders for the new Mac Mini began immediately following the announcement, with shipments scheduled to start on September 22. In addition to the base M6 model, Apple is offering a higher-end configuration equipped with the M5 Pro chip, which starts at $1,699.
Technical Specifications and AI Performance
The M6 chip is Apple's first processor built using a 2nm process. It features a 12-core CPU and a 12-core GPU, an increase from the 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU found in the M4. The chip also includes a dual 16-core Neural Engine and is described as offering the world's fastest single-threaded performance.
Apple stated that the new Mac Mini's AI performance is four times better than that of the M4 model. The company noted that storage and graphics are twice as fast as the previous generation. These upgrades are specifically aimed at AI workloads, including agentic computing and local model inference.
Design and Connectivity
Despite the internal upgrades, the new Mac Mini maintains the same "tiny design and footprint" as the 2024 M4 and M4 Pro models. However, the updated internals include speedier ethernet ports.
Broader Product Line Updates
Alongside the Mac Mini, Apple refreshed the Mac Studio line. The Mac Studio has been updated with the M5 Max and a new M5 Ultra chip. Apple describes the M5 Ultra as its most powerful chip.
Industry reports noted that the Mac Mini did not receive an upgrade to the M5 chip last year, skipping directly from the M4 to the M6 in this latest refresh.
Sources (8)Open
- 1.TechCrunch — Apple’s latest Mac Mini runs on a new M6 chip, and starts at $899
- 2.Techcrunch — Apple's latest Mac Mini runs on a new M6 chip, and starts at ...
- 3.Theverge — Apple’s new Mac Mini has fresh M6 and M5 Pro chip offerings — and higher prices | The Verge
- 4.Engadget — Apple refreshes Mac mini and Mac Studio with new M6 and M5 Ultra chips - Engadget
- 5.Qz — Apple launches M6 Mac Mini and updated Mac Studio with AI upgrades
- 6.Glitchwire — Apple's New Mac Mini With M6 Starts at $899. The Sub-$600 Desktop Era Is Over. — Glitchwire
- 7.Aol — Apple Refreshes Mac Mini And Mac Studio With New M6 And M5 Ultra Chips - AOL
- 8.Forbes — Apple Launches New Mac mini, Mac Studio, M6 And M5 Ultra Chips Unexpectedly
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