Apple unveils new Mac Mini: Key features, pricing, and availability

Apple has officially released its new Mac mini, featuring an all-new M6 chip and the powerful M5 Pro processor, offering a dramatic leap in AI performance and enhanced connectivity in its ultracompact design.

The shipment is available from September 22, marking the first major refresh of the device in nearly two years. The major aim of the redesign is to help everyday users and professionals working on demanding AI workflows.

M6 Chip (Base Model)

• 12-core CPU
• 12-core GPU
• Dual 16-core neural engine
• Up to 4x faster AI performance
• Up to 2x faster graphics
• 40% faster CPU performance
• 16GB standard unified memory, configurable up to 32GB
• Memory bandwidth up to 170GB

M6 Chip

• 12-core CPU
• 12-core GPU
• Dual 16-core neural engine
• Up to 2x faster graphics
• 40% faster graphics
• Memory bandwidth up to 170GB/s

These include Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, as well as 2.5Gb Ethernet (10Gb is an alternative). In addition, there are USB-C ports and a headphone port on the front side, and Thunderbolt 4 and 5 ports depending on the model (M6 or M5 Pro). The Thunderbolt 5 port enables users to group up several Mac mini systems for running AI models locally.

With the release of the new Mac mini comes macOS 27 Golden Gate, complete with Siri AI, which is a smarter virtual assistant that has the ability to use personal context, ask questions, and get work done across various applications.

Mac mini with M6 starts at $899 ($799 for education), and Mac mini M5 Pro starts at $1,699 ($1,599) for education.