How much does the new M6 Mac mini cost?

The M6 Mac mini starts at $899, or $799 for education pricing. It ships with 16GB of unified memory standard, configurable up to 32GB, and includes three Thunderbolt 4 ports.

What is the difference between the M6 and M5 Pro Mac mini?

The M6 model has a 12-core CPU, 12-core GPU and three Thunderbolt 4 ports, starting at $899. The M5 Pro model offers up to an 18-core CPU, 20-core GPU, up to 64GB of memory, and three Thunderbolt 5 ports, starting at $1,699.

How much is the new Mac Studio?

The Mac Studio starts at $2,499 with an M5 Max chip. The M5 Ultra configuration starts at $5,499 and can be configured up to $18,299 with 256GB of memory and a 16TB SSD.

When does the new Mac mini and Mac Studio ship?

Both are available to order now and begin arriving to customers on September 22, 2026. The Mac Studio's 512GB memory option is the exception, arriving separately in late October.

Is the M6 chip a big upgrade over the M4?

Apple says the M6 Mac mini delivers up to 40 percent faster CPU performance, about 4x faster AI performance, and roughly double the graphics and storage speed compared with the M4 model. It is also Apple's first chip built on a 2-nanometer process.

Apple's M6 Mac Mini and M5 Ultra Mac Studio: Price, Specs

M6 is Apple's first 2-nanometer chip

The base Mac mini now ships with the M6, built on TSMC's 2-nanometer process. It packs a 12-core CPU and 12-core GPU, two more of each than the outgoing M4, plus what Apple calls the first dual Neural Engine in a Mac: two 16-core engines instead of one. Apple claims up to 40 percent faster CPU performance, roughly 4x faster AI workloads, and double the graphics and storage speed compared with the M4 Mac mini. Memory bandwidth reaches 170GB/s, with 16GB of unified memory standard and 32GB as the ceiling.

A step up, the M5 Pro Mac mini starts at $1,699 and comes in two configurations: a 15-core CPU with 16-core GPU, or an 18-core CPU with 20-core GPU. It supports up to 64GB of memory, 307GB/s of bandwidth, and swaps the M6 model's three Thunderbolt 4 ports for three Thunderbolt 5 ports. Both mini configurations keep the same silver enclosure, add Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, and support up to three external displays.

Mac Studio adds a 512GB memory option

The Mac Studio gets its own refresh. The $2,499 entry model runs on an M5 Max with an 18-core CPU and up to 40-core GPU, supporting as much as 128GB of unified memory. A fully loaded M5 Max configuration with 128GB of memory and an 8TB SSD runs $8,899.

At the top, the $5,499 M5 Ultra model is what Apple calls its most powerful chip yet, with up to a 36-core CPU and 80-core GPU. Apple says it can handle real-time 8K color grading. Memory scales up to 512GB, though that top tier will not ship until late October — everything below it is available with the September 22 launch. A maxed-out M5 Ultra Studio with 256GB of memory and a 16TB SSD costs $18,299. Both Studio configurations use Thunderbolt 5 and PCIe Gen 6 storage, which Apple says is up to twice as fast as the previous generation.

Pricing and availability

Mac mini (M6): $899 ($799 for education)
Mac mini (M5 Pro): $1,699 ($1,599 for education)
Mac Studio (M5 Max): from $2,499
Mac Studio (M5 Ultra): from $5,499, 512GB memory configuration arrives late October

Both lines are open for pre-order now in 30 countries, including the United States, and start shipping September 22. All four configurations ship running macOS 27, which we covered in beta with its redesigned traffic light buttons, along with Apple Intelligence and Siri's AI features built in.

Why this launch is different

Reports earlier this week suggested a new Mac mini was close, timed to arrive before Tim Cook's expected final launch cycle as CEO. That leak turned out to be accurate on timing but understated the scope: Apple updated both desktops at once, rather than the mini alone, and led with a new chip generation instead of a modest internal refresh.

If you're due for a Mac replacement and don't need the absolute newest silicon, the price gap is worth noting: the base M6 mini at $899 undercuts the M5 Pro model by $800 while still promising a real generational jump over the M4. For anyone weighing a trade-in on an older machine, Apple's recent trade-in value increase also applies to Mac hardware.