In a move timed just ahead of its September 9th iPhone and Apple Watch event, Apple has refreshed its compact desktop Mac lineup with new chips, faster connectivity, and, given the ongoing memory shortage, higher prices. The Mac mini gets the new M6 chip and M5 Pro, while the Mac Studio gains the M5 Max and the new M5 Ultra. Both are available for pre-order now and ship September 22nd.
Mac mini Gets M6 and M5 Pro
Skipping the M5 at the base level, the Mac mini debuts Apple’s new M6 chip, the first to use a 2-nanometer manufacturing process that promises better performance and power efficiency. The M6 features a 12-core CPU (two more than before) and a 12-core GPU with Neural Accelerators in each core, a first for the Mac mini. Apple claims up to 4x faster AI performance compared to the M4 model, along with 2x faster graphics and storage. 16 GB of unified memory is standard, with 24 GB and 32 GB options available.
For users who need more headroom, the Mac mini with M5 Pro offers a 15-core or 18-core CPU and a 16-core or 20-core GPU, with 24 GB of memory standard and support for up to 64 GB. The M5 Pro model also steps up to Thunderbolt 5 ports instead of the M6’s Thunderbolt 4.
Both models gain Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, Thread, and upgraded 2.5Gb Ethernet, with 10Gb available as an option. New genlock support through USB-C enables precise synchronization between a display and camera, including iPhone 17 Pro, which is useful for video professionals who need frame-accurate capture. The front panel keeps its two USB-C ports and headphone jack.
Pricing continues to climb. The M6 Mac mini starts at $899, up $100 from post-June M4 pricing and $300 more than the original M4 launch price. The M5 Pro model starts at $1,699, up $100 from the June adjustment.
Mac Studio Adds M5 Max and M5 Ultra
The Mac Studio gets the M5 Max and the new M5 Ultra, Apple’s most powerful chip to date. The M5 Ultra uses a quad-die architecture, combining four smaller dies rather than two larger ones, which improves manufacturing yields while delivering significant performance gains.
The M5 Max model offers an 18-core CPU, a 32-core or 40-core GPU, and 36 GB to 128 GB of unified memory, plenty for most professional workflows.
When that’s not enough, the M5 Ultra steps it up further with a 30-core or 36-core CPU, a 64-core or 80-core GPU with Neural Accelerators, and 96 GB to 512 GB of unified memory with 1.2 TB/s of bandwidth. Apple claims up to 4.3x faster AI performance compared to the M3 Ultra and 1.8x faster graphics. For teams running large AI models locally, multiple Mac Studio systems can be clustered via Thunderbolt 5 and RDMA to create a shared memory pool.
Both Mac Studio models gain Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. Storage performance doubles thanks to a new SSD architecture. Genlock support through USB-C also carries over from the Mac mini for frame-accurate camera and display synchronization.
The M5 Max Mac Studio starts at $2,499, unchanged from the June price. The M5 Ultra starts at $5,499, up $200 from June and $1,500 more than the pre-June price. The 512 GB memory configuration won’t ship until October.
Should You Upgrade?
For M1 or M2 Mac mini users, the performance gains here are substantial enough to make a strong case for upgrading. Those on M4 Mac minis can probably wait unless the M6’s improved AI capabilities or the M5 Pro’s extra memory and Thunderbolt 5 are specifically useful to you. If you’re still running an Intel-based Mac mini for anything performance-sensitive, the answer is simple: upgrade now. The difference is significant.
Mac Studio users face a different calculation. The M5 Max and M5 Ultra offer meaningful improvements for professionals working with large-scale video, complex 3D rendering, or AI inference. For those workflows, upgrading from even an M4 Max or M3 Ultra machine may well be worth it.
The memory shortage isn’t going away anytime soon, so prices are unlikely to drop. If you need a new desktop Mac and one of these fits your budget, they’re all excellent options.
If you’re not sure which configuration makes sense for your needs, we’re happy to help you figure it out.
(Featured image by Apple)
