Apple is gearing up to release two major desktop Macs tomorrow, Tuesday, September 22, bringing fresh chipsets, upgraded networking, and higher base pricing for its smallest and most pro-oriented machines. The new models follow their August announcement and have been available for pre-order since then.
What’s New: Chips, Performance, and Features
The revamped Mac mini now offers two distinct chip options: the new M6 chip, and the M5 Pro, already seen earlier this year. The M6 version includes a 12-core CPU and 12-core GPU, dual 16-core Neural Engines, and memory bandwidth of up to 170GB/s. Compared to the old M4 chip, this translates to about 40% faster CPU performance, up to 4× improvements for AI tasks, and roughly double the graphics and storage speed. The M5 Pro configurations, meanwhile, come in two flavors: one with a 15-core CPU / 16-core GPU, and a higher-tier version sporting an 18-core CPU / 20-core GPU. Both support Neural Accelerator in each GPU core. The memory and storage caps differ: M6 models can go up to 2TB of SSD and 32GB of RAM; M5 Pro versions reach up to 8TB SSD and 64GB RAM. All new Mac minis gain Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, an Ethernet port now standard at 2.5Gb (with optional 10Gb), and upgraded Thunderbolt ports depending on chip choice. The entry-level M6 mini starts at $899 (education pricing lower). The M5 Pro model starts at $1,699. The M4 mini originally launched at $599 but had been repriced to $799; the new base mark is $899.
The Mac Studio refresh arrives with Apple’s most powerful chips yet: the M5 Max and new M5 Ultra. These models bring massive gains for pro workflows and AI. The M5 Max config features an 18-core CPU and up to 40 GPU cores, while the M5 Ultra houses up to a 36-core CPU (12 super, 24 performance cores) and up to an 80-core GPU. Unified memory scales up to 512GB with 1.2TB/s bandwidth. Graphics features such as third-generation ray tracing, more shader cores, and hardware support for formats including AV1 make this appealing to 3D artists, VFX, and AI researchers. The Mac Studio’s storage system uses next-generation SSD architecture, and connectivity is upgraded: Thunderbolt 5, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and support for multiple display configurations. The model with 512GB memory will ship later in October.
Launch Timing & Pricing Details
Both updated Macs—the Mac mini and Mac Studio—start arriving tomorrow, September 22, and are available in Apple Stores, through Authorized Resellers, and online. Pre-orders began August 25. The Mac Mini (M6) base starts at $899 (education $799), the Mini M5 Pro at $1,699 (education $1,599). The new Mac Studio with M5 Max begins at $2,499 (education $2,299), and the M5 Ultra version begins at $5,499 (education $5,099). The highest-end 512GB memory option for Studio lands in late October and is expected to carry premium pricing.
