Apple Inc. on Tuesday unveiled a new generation of silicon and refreshed two desktop computers, introducing its first processor built on a 2-nanometer process and raising prices for its entry-level Mac mini.
The company launched the M6 chip, which features a 12-core CPU, a 12-core GPU, and a dual 16-core Neural Engine. The processor supports up to 32 gigabytes of unified memory and delivers up to 170 gigabytes per second of memory bandwidth, a 10% increase over the M5 chip. Apple’s vice president of Silicon Engineering Group, Sri Santhanam, described the M6 as combining a new CPU complex, additional cores, and higher memory bandwidth to improve energy efficiency and performance.
Apple also updated the Mac mini and Mac Studio with new chip configurations. The Mac mini now starts at $899, up from a previous entry price of $799 set in May and its original launch price of $599. The system ships with either the M6 chip or an M5 Pro processor, standard 16 gigabytes of memory, and retains the compact design introduced with M4 and M4 Pro models in 2024. The M5 Pro variant can be configured with up to 64 gigabytes of memory.
The Mac Studio lineup now includes models powered by the M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips. The M5 Max-based system starts at $2,499, while the M5 Ultra model begins at $5,499. Fully configured M5 Ultra configurations can reach up to $18,299. The M5 Ultra uses a quad-die architecture that connects two dual-die M5 Max chips through UltraFusion technology, delivering up to a 36-core CPU, an 80-core GPU, and a maximum of 512 gigabytes of unified memory. Apple states the M5 Ultra provides 1.2 terabytes per second of unified memory bandwidth, a 50% increase over the M3 Ultra chip.
Both computers feature Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 connectivity and ship with the new macOS 27 Golden Gate operating system. Preorders began on Tuesday, with in-store availability set for September 22. The broader macOS 27 update is scheduled for release this fall.
Apple’s pricing adjustments for the Mac mini follow industrywide memory chip shortages linked to artificial intelligence demand, which have constrained supply and increased costs.
