Apple announces launch of new Mac Mini and Mac Studio
Recently, Apple's refreshed Mac mini and Mac Studio hit the store shelves, both of which are built around the company's latest silicon and aimed squarely at different ends of the desktop market. Mac mini, which Apple is positioning as its most versatile Mac, now comes in M6 and M5 Pro configurations, while Mac Studio, Apple's most powerful desktop, steps up to M5 Max and an all-new M5 Ultra chip. Pricing starts at $899 for the base Mac mini and $2,499 for the entry-level Mac Studio, with the top-tier M5 Ultra configuration starting at $5,499. Both machines are available now through Apple Store locations, Apple’s website, and the Apple Store app, with the 512GB unified memory Mac Studio configuration arriving in late October.
The new Mac mini leans into its do-it-all reputation, now packing a 12-core CPU with what Apple calls the world's fastest single-threaded performance, a 12-core GPU with Neural Accelerators in every core, and a new dual 16-core Neural Engine. With the M6 chip, Apple is claiming up to 4x faster AI performance, 2x faster graphics and storage, and 40 percent faster CPU performance compared to the previous M4 generation. The higher-end M5 Pro configuration pushes further with up to an 18-core CPU and 20-core GPU, aimed at more demanding creative and technical workloads, while both versions gain Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and upgraded Ethernet options.
Mac Studio, meanwhile, is squarely targeting professionals with heavier compute needs. The M5 Max configuration offers up to a 40-core GPU and 128GB of unified memory, while the new M5 Ultra chip scales up to an 80-core GPU and a massive 512GB of unified memory with 1.2TB/s of memory bandwidth, enough, Apple says, to color-grade uncompressed 8K footage or run large language models entirely on-device. Thunderbolt 5 support also enables a notable new trick: clustering multiple Mac Studio units together via Remote Direct Memory Access for up to 3x faster distributed AI inference compared to a single machine, a clear nod toward local AI workloads that once required cloud infrastructure.
Software plays a big role in the pitch as well. Both machines ship with macOS 27, which brings Siri AI, Apple's more capable, personal assistant, system-wide, along with Apple Intelligence features baked into apps like Safari - automatic tab organization, restock and price-drop alerts, and Shortcuts - automations built from plain-language descriptions. Visual Intelligence lets users ask Siri about whatever's on their screen via a keyboard shortcut, and a refined Liquid Glass interface now includes a customizable slider so users can adjust its look from fully tinted to ultra clear. Beyond the hardware and software specs, Apple is also emphasizing the buying experience, with trade-in credit, education pricing, and — notably for Mac Studio — new leasing options through its Apple Upgrade program starting under $50 a month.