Apple refreshes Mac mini, Mac Studio lineups with new chips

Apple Inc. unveiled four custom processors for its latest Mac mini and Mac Studio computer lineups. The new devices come in two editions each, powered by different processors. The most advanced chip, the M6, will be featured in the Mac mini, marking the first Apple processor to use Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.'s latest two-nanometer node.

This node incorporates SHPMIM capacitors, tiny batteries that enhance chip reliability by storing and releasing energy as needed, addressing the fluctuating power demands of processors. Consequently, the M6's CPU and GPU both feature 12 cores, surpassing the 10 cores in the previous generation. The company also redesigned the cores' architectures, with some optimized for performance, others for power efficiency, and a subset designed specifically for AI tasks with the aid of a Neural Engine.

The Mac mini starts at $899 for the M6-equipped model, equipped with 16GB of memory and 256GB of storage. The Mac Studio, Apple's workstation for professionals, offers two configurations. The entry-level M5 Max edition includes an 18-core CPU, a GPU with up to 40 cores, and a 16-core Neural Engine, priced from $2,499 and featuring 128GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.

For $5,499, users can opt for the M5 Ultra configuration, which comprises two M5 Max chips interconnected by a custom interconnect, doubling the memory to 512GB and quadrupling the storage capacity.