Apple is expanding its desktop lineup with the new Mac mini and Mac Studio , paving the way for the next generation of Macs powered by the company’s latest chips . Pre-orders are now available through the Apple Store and the Apple Store app in the United States and in 30 other countries and regions .
The first shipments are expected to begin on Tuesday, September 22, a date on which the new models will make their appearance in physical Apple Stores, as well as in the network of authorized resellers.
See also: What will the new Apple Mac Mini design be like?
The new Mac mini is more expensive
The new generation of Mac mini comes with increased prices compared to the original pricing of the models it replaces. This development is significantly linked to the general pressure created by the explosive development of artificial intelligence infrastructure.
The increased demand from data centers for memory and storage , has affected the component market, with the effects gradually passing through to the final products. Indicatively, Apple had already increased the price of the Mac mini with M4 Pro to $1,599 in June from$1,399 when it was initially released in October 2024.
With the new generation, the Mac mini with M5 Pro now starts at $1,699, which is $100 higher than the previous price.
The prices of the new models
The base Mac mini with M6 costs $899 and offers 16GB of memory and 256GB of storage. The M5 Pro configuration starts at $1,699 and features 24GB of memory and 512GB of storage.
In the case of the Mac Studio, the M5 Max version starts at $2,499, with 36GB of memory and 512GB of storage, while the top-of-the-line M5 Ultra goes for $5,499, offering 96GB of memory and 1TB of storage.
For students, educational prices are lower, at $799 for the basic Mac mini, $1,599 for the Mac mini with M5 Pro, $2,299 for the Mac Studio with M5 Max, and $5,099 for the version with M5 Ultra.
M6 goes to 2nm
At the heart of the new Mac mini is the M6, which Apple is calling its first chip to be built on a 2nm process. The change is a significant step forward in the evolution of processors, as it could contribute to better energy efficiency and higher performance.
See also: M4 Mac Mini: What we know about Apple's new computer
The M6 features a 12-core CPU and 12-core GPU, and incorporates a dual 16-core Neural Engine. This architecture reflects Apple's strategy of placing increasing emphasis on AI tasks directly on the device.
This is particularly important for applications based on machine learning, image processing, creative software, and productivity tools that leverage AI without requiring constant data upload to the cloud.
Mac mini stays small, but gets more powerful
Despite its small size, the Mac mini has become one of Apple's most versatile offerings for those who want a powerful desktop computer without a lot of hardware. The new version continues that philosophy, offering different processing power options depending on the user's needs.
The M6 is aimed more at everyday productivity, creative work, and demanding applications, while the M5 Pro targets professionals who need more resources for video editing, software development, and complex tasks.
See also: Mac Mini and Mac Studio shipments delayed due to RAM shortage
Later the new Mac Studio
For the Mac Studio, Apple has already introduced the M5 Max and M5 Ultra, but a specific configuration with 512GB of integrated memory is not expected to be released before the end of October. The company has not yet announced the price of this specific version.
With the new models, Apple is attempting to cater to a wide range of users, from those looking for a relatively affordable desktop Mac to professionals who need top-notch processing power.
The price increases, however, indicate that the PC market is entering a new era, where demand for computing power and AI-related components is increasingly driving the cost of end devices. The new Mac mini and Mac Studio are not just a hardware upgrade, but also a sign of how the desktop computing landscape is changing in the age of artificial intelligence.
