The New M6 MacBook Pro Has a Serious Price Problem
For $1,999, you could own an M6 Mac Mini and an M5 MacBook Air instead, both of which are on sale right now.
The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M6 chip is priced at $1,999, comprising 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage. While Apple has hiked prices across all Macs, the base 14-inch MacBook Pro bears a $300 price hike. The configuration was already seen as impractical, as it utilized the same M5 chip as more affordable MacBook Air models. The M6 upgrade promises some value, particularly with the enhanced GPU performance observed in the M6 Mac Mini, and the dual Neural Engine, which can expedite AI tasks in creative applications. However, a full review awaits after hands-on testing.
An intriguing alternative emerges when comparing prices – the M6 Mac Mini is on sale for $779, $120 less than its regular price, and the 13-inch M5 MacBook Air has been discounted by $150 off its retail price. Together, these models cost the same as a single M6 MacBook Pro. Although you lose the superior Mini-LED display and powerful speakers of the MacBook Pro, it could be an enticing choice for those operating within a $2,000 budget.
This scenario becomes even more appealing when considering the proliferation of Mac Minis as often-on AI agent devices that can be remotely controlled via any MacBook. Combining the M6 Mac Mini with the M5 MacBook Air presents a powerful AI configuration, especially when the Mac Mini is upgraded to 32 GB or 64 GB of memory.
Another option to ponder is the M5 MacBook Pro equipped with an M5 Pro chip, priced $200 higher than the base model but boasting superior performance. The M6 MacBook Pro's arrival remains intriguing, but the price point raises questions about the potential for more cost-effective spending options, even within the Mac ecosystem.
Written by urgent.news from Wired's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
