Apple Introduces New Mac mini With M6 and M5 Pro Options
Apple has officially unveiled the latest generation of the Mac mini, offering two processor options for different types of users: the M6 and the M5 Pro.
While the compact design introduced with the previous generation remains unchanged, the new models bring major upgrades in performance, artificial intelligence capabilities and connectivity.
The M6 Mac mini targets most users
The M6-powered Mac mini is expected to be the most popular option in the new lineup. According to Apple, the new chip delivers up to four times faster AI performance, up to twice the storage and graphics performance, and up to 40% faster CPU performance compared with the previous M4 generation.
The M6 features a 12-core CPU, adding two more cores compared with its predecessor. Apple also says the chip offers extremely strong single-threaded performance.
The graphics system has received significant improvements as well. The 12-core GPU includes dedicated neural accelerators built into every graphics core, marking the first time Apple has introduced this technology in a Mac mini.
Apple says local AI applications such as LM Studio can deliver first-response times of nearly five times faster than on the M4 model.
The M6 Mac mini starts with 16GB of unified memory and can be configured with up to 32GB, while memory bandwidth reaches 170GB/s.
M5 Pro is designed for demanding professional workloads
For users who need considerably more power, Apple is offering the Mac mini with the M5 Pro processor. This model can be configured with up to an 18-core CPU and a 20-core GPU.
The M5 Pro also benefits from the neural accelerators integrated into the graphics cores, providing improved performance in AI-related workloads. It supports up to 64GB of unified memory and offers 307GB/s of memory bandwidth.
This makes the more powerful Mac mini better suited for running larger local AI models and handling demanding tasks such as editing and processing ProRes RAW video.
According to Apple's performance figures, the M5 Pro Mac mini can deliver up to 4.5 times faster ray-traced rendering in Blender compared with an M2 Pro Mac mini. Image processing performance in Affinity is also said to be more than twice as fast.
Wi-Fi 7 and Thunderbolt 5 support arrive
Both new Mac mini models receive notable connectivity upgrades. They support Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and feature a 2.5Gb Ethernet port that can be configured to support speeds of up to 10Gb.
The front of the device includes two USB-C ports and a headphone jack, while HDMI and Ethernet connections are located at the rear.
The M6 version features three Thunderbolt 4 ports, while the M5 Pro model is equipped with three Thunderbolt 5 ports.
The new Mac mini ships with macOS 27
Apple's latest Mac mini models ship with macOS 27, which introduces faster AirDrop transfers, improved Safari loading speeds and a rebuilt search system powering Spotlight, Photos and Mail.
Apple has also continued its focus on environmentally friendly manufacturing. The Mac mini enclosure is made from 100% recycled aluminum, while its magnets use fully recycled rare earth elements. Overall, Apple says the new Mac mini is made with 50% recycled materials.
Mac mini M6 and M5 Pro pricing
The new Mac mini starts at $899 for the M6 version, while the more powerful M5 Pro model starts at $1,699.
Pre-orders are already open through Apple's website and the Apple Store app. The new Mac mini is scheduled to go on sale in 30 countries and regions starting September 22.
