Apple Unveils Mac mini With M6 and M5 Pro Chips: First 2nm Processor and 4x Faster AI Performance
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25.08.2026 16:37
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2 min read
Apple has officially updated its compact desktop computer, the Mac mini, introducing configurations powered by the new Apple M6 chip and the high-performance M5 Pro. The device retains its 12.7 × 12.7 cm footprint while delivering four times the performance in local AI tasks, along with Wi-Fi 7 support and high-speed Thunderbolt 5 ports.
Official sales of the new model will start on September 22, 2026.
M6 Processor Built on a 2nm Process
The flagship highlight is the Apple M6 chip, manufactured using an advanced 2nm process. The processor combines a 12-core CPU, a 12-core GPU with integrated Neural Accelerators, and a dual 16-core Neural Engine. Unified memory bandwidth reaches 170 GB/s.
According to Apple, CPU performance has increased by up to 40%, while processing speeds for local language model queries in LM Studio are up to 4.8 times faster compared to the M4 generation. The GPU subsystem, featuring hardware-accelerated ray tracing, is now twice as fast.
The base Mac mini with the M6 chip includes 16GB of unified memory and a 256GB SSD, starting at $899 (the maximum RAM configuration for this model is 32GB).
Powerful M5 Pro and Thunderbolt 5 Ports
The higher-end configuration features the M5 Pro processor (up to an 18-core CPU and 20-core GPU) with 307 GB/s memory bandwidth and support for up to 64GB of unified memory. This model is optimized for professional video editing, 3D rendering in Blender, and running neural networks in local compute clusters. Pricing for this version starts at $1,699.
As reported by The Verge, both configurations come standard with Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and a 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port, with an option to upgrade to 10 Gbps.
The rear panel of the M6 version features Thunderbolt 4 ports, while the M5 Pro model upgrades to Thunderbolt 5 with bandwidth up to 120 Gbps and support for driving up to three 6K displays.
The desktop computers run macOS 27 Golden Gate, featuring deep integration with Apple Intelligence tools. Pre-orders are now open on the official Apple website.
