Apple’s M6 chip brings a 2nm process node to the new Mac mini

Apple has refreshed the Mac mini with its new M6 chip, introducing the company’s first 2nm processor design to the compact desktop.

The Mac Studio is also getting new M5 Max and M5 Ultra configurations aimed at professional users. The updates bring stronger AI and graphics performance across Apple’s desktop lineup, but they also come with higher prices.

The Mac mini now starts at $899 with 256GB of storage, while the Mac Studio starts at $2,499 with M5 Max. The M5 Ultra version starts at $5,499.

Mac mini gets Apple’s first 2nm chip

The new Mac mini is powered by the M6, making it the first Apple desktop to use the company’s 2nm chip technology. The processor has a 12-core CPU consisting of 2 super cores, 4 performance cores, and 6 efficiency cores.

Apple has also expanded the chip’s AI hardware. The M6 features a Dual 16-core Neural Engine, with two 16-core engines that system frameworks can use simultaneously. Apple says the Neural Engine delivers up to 2x the peak compute of previous generations.

The M6 also has a 12-core GPU with a Neural Accelerator in every core. Neural Accelerators previously appeared in the M5 GPU, but this is the first time they have been included in a Mac mini. Apple says the M6 Mac mini delivers up to 4x faster AI performance and up to 2x faster graphics than the M4 Mac mini.

In Apple’s Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition test, gaming performance with ray tracing was up to 2x faster than on the M4 model.

Higher price changes the Mac mini value proposition

The Mac mini now starts at $899 with 256GB of storage. That is $100 more than the $799 starting price of the immediately preceding M4 lineup and $300 above the M4 Mac mini’s original $599 launch price in 2024.

The increase could make the machine less attractive to buyers who previously chose the Mac mini as a relatively affordable desktop option, especially because the $899 base model still includes 256GB of storage.

The M6 model supports up to 32GB of unified memory and up to 170GB/s of memory bandwidth. It has 3 rear Thunderbolt 4 ports, while the M5 Pro model uses 3 rear Thunderbolt 5 ports.

Apple has retained the same overall 5-by-5-inch Mac mini design. The new models add Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and 2.5Gb Ethernet as standard, with 10Gb Ethernet available as an option.

M5 Pro offers a faster Mac mini option

Customers who need more performance can configure the Mac mini with an M5 Pro starting at $1,699. The processor is also used in Apple’s latest MacBook Pro and can be configured with up to an 18-core CPU and a 20-core GPU.

The M5 Pro version supports up to 64GB of RAM and 307 GB/s of memory bandwidth. It is designed for users whose workloads require more resources than the standard M6 Mac mini can provide.

Its $1,699 starting price also places it between the standard Mac mini and the Mac Studio. The Mac Studio begins at $2,499 with the M5 Max, giving Apple a separate performance tier for users who need more powerful professional hardware.

Mac Studio moves to M5 Max and M5 Ultra

Apple’s Mac Studio is also receiving new processors, with M5 Max and M5 Ultra options. The computer itself keeps the same basic design, but the new chips significantly raise its performance ceiling.

The M5 Ultra is built by connecting 2 dual-die M5 Max chips via Apple’s UltraFusion technology, which provides over 4.4TB/s of inter-die bandwidth. Apple describes the resulting processor as its first quad-die architecture.

The M5 Ultra can reach 36 CPU cores, including 12 super cores and 24 performance cores. Apple says it provides up to 1.25x higher single-threaded performance and up to 1.3x higher multithreaded performance than the M3 Ultra.

The chip can also be configured with up to 80 GPU cores. Apple claims up to 40% faster graphics performance and up to 4.3x faster peak AI compute compared with the M3 Ultra.

The Mac Studio starts at $2,499 with M5 Max, while the M5 Ultra model starts at $5,499. The higher-priced configuration is aimed at users with particularly demanding professional workloads.

Mac Studio gets faster storage and display support

The processor upgrades are accompanied by storage and connectivity improvements. Apple says the new Mac Studio uses a next-generation SSD architecture that delivers up to 2x faster storage performance than the previous generation.

All new Mac Studio models have 4 Thunderbolt 5 ports on the rear. The M5 Ultra configuration also has 2 front Thunderbolt 5 ports, for a total of up to 6, while the M5 Max model has 2 front USB-C ports.

Mac Studio with M5 Ultra supports up to 8 external displays. Apple also says the M5 Ultra model can drive up to 4 Studio Display XDR monitors simultaneously at full 5K resolution and 120Hz.

These features reinforce the distinction between Apple’s two desktop lines. The Mac mini offers a smaller and less expensive route into Apple’s latest desktop hardware, while the Mac Studio is designed for more demanding professional workloads.

Apple’s desktop lineup shifts toward higher performance and higher prices

The latest Mac refresh gives Apple’s desktops stronger AI capabilities and more processing power, but the Mac mini has become considerably more expensive than it was several generations ago.

The M6 should represent a substantial step for owners of older M1 and M2 Mac mini systems, particularly with the move to a 2nm process and expanded AI hardware. Users with M4 models have less immediate reason to upgrade because their machines are newer.

Apple is also creating a clearer price-and-performance progression. The M5 Pro Mac mini starts at $1,699, followed by the $2,499 Mac Studio with M5 Max and the $5,499 Mac Studio with M5 Ultra.

The result is a desktop lineup that covers a wider range of performance requirements, from compact everyday computing and local AI workloads to demanding professional production.

At the same time, the $899 starting price and limited 256GB base storage make the latest Mac mini a substantially larger investment than its predecessors.

TL;DR

• Apple has refreshed the Mac mini with the M6, its first chip built using a 2nm process.
• The M6 has a 12-core CPU, a 12-core GPU, and a Dual 16-core Neural Engine.
• Apple says the Dual 16-core Neural Engine delivers up to 2x the peak compute of previous generations.
• The new M6 Mac mini starts at $899 with 256GB of storage.
• The M5 Pro Mac mini starts at $1,699 and supports up to 64GB of unified memory.
• Mac Studio now comes with M5 Max and M5 Ultra options.
• Mac Studio pricing starts at $2,499 with M5 Max and $5,499 with M5 Ultra.
• M5 Ultra can be configured with up to 36 CPU cores and 80 GPU cores.

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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.