Apple has updated its lineup of Mac desktops with its latest M-series chips. Both the refreshed Mac mini and Mac Studio boast improvements in terms of AI performance, thanks to the new processors.
Mac mini With M6 And M5 Pro
The new Mac mini comes with the freshly announced M6 chip, which is the bitten fruit brand’s first 2nm processor. It features a 12-core CPU comprising two super cores, four performance cores, and six efficiency cores. According to Apple, this setup offers the “world’s fastest” single-threaded performance. Other than that, it packs a 12-core GPU with a Neural Accelerator in each core. Lastly, it sports an updated NPU with a dual 16-core neural engine.
Overall, the M6 Mac mini offers 4x faster AI performance and 2x faster graphics compared to its M4 counterpart. Much like its precursor, the new model features 16GB of RAM to start, with the option to go up to 32GB. As for storage, it starts from 256GB and can be configured up to 2TB.
Those looking for more power can get the desktop with the M5 Pro. This chip needs no introduction, as it launched earlier in the year with the latest MacBook Pro. In any case, it gets a 15-core CPU and a 12-core GPU, as well as a single 16-core NPU. Furthermore, this model features 24GB of RAM, though users can opt for up to 64GB if they so choose. Meanwhile, storage ranges from 512GB to 8TB.
Regardless of the chip, the desktop supports WiFi 7, Bluetooth 6, as well as 2.5Gb Ethernet, with a 10Gb option available. The port selection remains the same, with two USB-C ports and a 3.5mm headphone jack on the front. On the back, you get three Thunderbolt 4 ports for the M6 model, as well as HDMI and Ethernet. The M5 Pro variant features the same layout, but with Thunderbolt 5 ports instead of Thunderbolt 4.
Mac Studio With M5 Max And M5 Ultra
As with the Mac mini, the updated Mac Studio doesn’t bring any design changes. Upgrades come in the form of new processors, namely the M5 Max and the M5 Ultra. The former remains unchanged since its introduction in March. Basically, you get an 18-core CPU with six super cores and 12 performance cores. Depending on the configuration, it comes with either a 32-core or 40-core GPU. Memory options go from 32GB to 128GB, but this does depend on the chosen chip. Meanwhile, storage starts at 512GB and goes up to 8TB.
Of course, the highlight is the M5 Ultra variant. The newly announced flagship processor connects two dual-die M5 Max chips to create a quad-die architecture. Bound by Apple’s UltraFusion tech, it features 4.4TB/s of bandwidth and serves as the brand’s most powerful chip to date. It can be configured with a 30-core CPU and a 64-core GPU, or a 36-core CPU and an 80-core GPU.
According to Apple, the M5 Ultra is capable of 1.25x higher single-threaded performance and 1.3x higher multi-threaded performance compared to the M3 Ultra. It also promises up to 4.5x the peak GPU compute for AI. In any case, the M5 Ultra Mac Studio comes with 96GB of memory to start, going all the way up to 512GB. As for storage, 1TB is standard, with a maximum of 8TB.
Other features include WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 6, thanks to Apple’s N1 network chip. Furthermore, PCIe Gen 6 support allows for faster storage performance. Aside from that, the Mac Studio can connect to up to eight displays, or a maximum of four Apple Studio Display XDR monitors running at 5K/120Hz.
Pricing And Availability
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that these new desktops are pricier than their predecessors. The M6 Mac mini has a starting price of RM3,799. Meanwhile, pricing for the M5 Pro version starts at RM7,499 and RM7,099 for education. As for the Mac Studio, the M5 Max variant gets a starting price of RM10,999, with the M5 Ultra model starting from RM24,999 and RM23,199 for education.
Pre-orders for these products begin tomorrow, 27 August 2026. Those looking to get a hold of them can head over to the brand’s official website. General sales are set to begin on 22 September 2026. It is also worth noting that the 512GB Mac Studio will only be available in late October.
(Source: Apple Newsroom [1], [2])
