I tested Apple’s new Mac mini with M6 — 5 reasons to buy and 2 reasons to skip

The newest Apple Mac mini, featuring the M6 chip, has arrived and is a welcome upgrade for those seeking improved performance in a compact form factor. Despite retaining the same external design as its predecessor, this latest iteration showcases significant enhancements beneath the surface. One of the primary benefits is faster single-core and multi-core performance, thanks to Apple's state-of-the-art M6 chip, which has been constructed on a more energy-efficient 2nm process.

This chip features a Dual 16-Core Neural Engine for handling local AI tasks, accompanied by an upgraded 12-core GPU that delivers an unparalleled gaming experience. Despite the increased speed, the Mac mini M6 comes at a higher starting price of $899, and those hoping for a visual redesign or new color options will find the exterior largely unchanged.

If you're considering an upgrade from an older Mac mini or are a first-time Mac buyer, here are five reasons to buy and two reasons you might want to skip Apple's latest mini desktop.

The Mac mini M6 maintains the ultra-compact 5x5-inch design introduced in the previous generation, offering compactness and portability. Its small size, measuring just 5 x 5 x 2 inches, makes it an ideal choice for users looking to minimize their desk space. Additionally, the inclusion of an internal power supply eliminates the need for a bulky power brick, simplifying cable management and enhancing the flexibility of positioning the device.

For an even cleaner desk setup, Bluetooth accessories such as Apple's Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, or Magic Trackpad are recommended. Alternatively, Logitech's MX Master Series can provide a more personalized touch. While the Mac mini M4 was already a substantial improvement over its M2 predecessor, the M6 chip elevates the Mac mini's performance to near-matching levels with the M4 Pro.

In Geekbench 6 CPU benchmark tests, the M6 scored an impressive 4,708 in single-core performance, outperforming the M4 Pro by nearly a thousand points. Although the multi-core results were slightly lower (21,405 compared to 22,661), the M6 still demonstrated a 44% improvement over the base M4. The enhanced speed of the Mac mini M6 makes it a formidable contender for most workflows.

However, for users engaged in more intensive tasks like video editing, it's advisable to allocate an additional $200-$400 for increased storage and RAM when setting up the system. While 16GB of RAM is ample for most purposes, opting for a 512GB SSD instead of the standard 256GB enhances storage bandwidth on Apple Silicon, resulting in faster export times and file transfers.

Connectivity has also seen a boost with the Mac mini M6, primarily due to Apple's custom N1 networking chip. This chip enables wireless and wired downloads to reach new heights. Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, and Thread networking capabilities provided by the N1 chip promise faster downloads and uploads, along with improved Bluetooth distance tracking, reduced power consumption, and lower latency for wireless audio.

Furthermore, Thread support allows the Mac mini M6 to function as a smart home hub, eliminating the need for an external bridge. For users who prefer a wired connection to the internet, the M6 introduces an upgraded multi-gig 2.5 GbE port, providing faster speeds compared to its predecessor's gigabit Ethernet port. Gaming enthusiasts will also find pleasure in the Mac mini M6, thanks to the M-series chip's strides in gaming capabilities.

While older titles performed well on the M4, the M6 now enables the running of modern games directly on your Mac mini. This development is particularly exciting, as it offers a broader range of gaming options for users who opt for the Mac mini as their primary gaming device.