Apple announces new M6 Mac mini and M5 Ultra Mac Studio

Rumors of Apple's new Mac devices were quickly confirmed as the company unveiled its refreshed desktop lineup on the same day the news broke. The new Mac mini features the M6 chip, while the Mac Studio boasts the powerful M5 Ultra chip, Apple's most advanced processor yet. Sri Santhanam, Apple's vice president of Silicon Engineering Group, revealed that these new chips represent a significant leap in performance and AI capabilities.

Both Macs also come with an alternative configuration using the existing M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. The M6 Mac mini, with its Dual 16-core Neural Engine, delivers up to twice the performance of its predecessors, enabling efficient handling of everyday AI tasks. Priced starting at $899, it comes with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The M5 Pro version begins at $1,699.

Apple's M5 Ultra Mac Studio, equipped with up to a 36-core CPU and 80-core GPU, and offering up to 512GB of unified memory, stands out as a powerhouse for on-device AI and complex professional workflows. This model starts at an impressive $5,499 and includes 30-core CPU, 64-core GPU, 36GB of memory, and 512GB of storage. The M5 Max version, priced at $2,499, provides additional options for users.

Both new desktops are available for preorder ahead of their scheduled Aug. 22 launch. These announcements precede Apple's annual September hardware event, where the company is anticipated to introduce the iPhone 18 series, a new foldable iPhone, updated smart home devices, and new Apple Watches.