Apple Packs New M6 Silicon Into the Same Tiny Mac Mini

Apple just rolled out a fresh Mac mini that keeps the same small aluminum box everyone already knows while loading it with new processors built for heavier local AI work and everyday computing.

This new model comes in two flavors. The base model employs Apple’s latest M6 processor. That processor contains a 12-core CPU with two high-performance super cores, four performance cores, and six efficiency cores, as well as a matching 12-core GPU, but what’s most exciting is that each graphics core now includes a neural accelerator. Right next them, a couple of 16-core Neural Engines are quietly beginning to work. This model’s memory starts at a decent 16 GB and can increase all the way up to 32 GB, which is sufficient, especially considering the memory bandwidth of 170 GB per second. Storage options start at 256 GB and go up to 2TB. Apple claims that the storage on this model is twice as fast as the previous model, which is no small feat.

Of course, the top-tier model employs the M5 Pro. Buyers can select between an 18-core CPU and a 20-core GPU, both of which include neural accelerators. This model’s RAM starts higher and can go all the way up to 64 GB, giving you plenty of processing capability, while the bandwidth reaches an astounding 307 GB per second. This model’s storage options can go up to 8 TB. In addition to the greater power, this variant includes Thunderbolt 5 ports.

Apple claims that the M6 will provide up to 40% faster CPU performance than the previous Mac mini, four times the AI throughput, twice the graphics speed, and twice the storage speed. They also highlight a specific test in which huge language model prompt processing in LM Studio was roughly five times faster on the new model than on the previous M4 computer. Meanwhile, gaming with ray tracing in Cyberpunk 2077 witnessed an astonishing twofold increase. The M5 Pro, on the other hand, goes a step further, particularly when it comes to multithreaded work, complicated 3D scenarios, ProRes RAW editing, and running larger diffusion models completely on the device.

Another thing that hasn’t changed is the size of the Mac mini, which remains a five-inch square, two-inch tall gadget weighing about a pound and a half and, of course, only available in silver. In terms of connectivity, there are still two USB-C connectors on the front, as well as a headphone socket capable of handling high impedance headphones. Meanwhile, there are HDMI and Ethernet ports in the back, but the Ethernet port is now a rather remarkable 2.5 gigabit standard, with a 10-gigabit alternative available if necessary. This model also supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, owing to Apple’s new N1 chip. As before, you can connect three external screens and sync them to your camera feed using genlock if necessary.

Pre-orders opened today, and the machines will begin shipping on September 22. The M6 configuration will start at $899, while the M5 Pro will start at $1,699, a significant increase over the previous iteration. However, education discounts will knock $100 off the price of each model. In terms of software, macOS 27 Golden Gate will come preinstalled, with the most recent wave of Apple Intelligence features, including deep integration with Siri, which can now draw on your personal context from conversations, email, and images. The Mac mini is intended for continuous usage as a home machine, a studio workhorse, or simply a silent box that can keep local AI agents operating without having to reconnect to the cloud.