Apple Launches M6 Mac mini and Mac Studio with 512GB Unified Memory

Apple has unexpectedly announced an update to its professional desktop lineup, introducing the new Mac mini and Mac Studio. The highlight is the debut of the latest M6 chip, featured first in the compact Mac mini, alongside the release of the M5 Ultra, described as the “most powerful chip ever.”

Mac mini with M6 Chip

The new Mac mini makes a significant performance leap thanks to the M6 processor, built on a 2nm process. The chip features a 12-core CPU architecture: 2 performance cores, 4 efficiency cores, and 6 high-efficiency cores. Graphics are handled by a 12-core GPU with neural accelerators in each core, plus two 16-core NPUs. Total memory bandwidth reaches 170 GB/s.

Compared to its M4-based predecessor, the new model delivers up to 40% higher overall performance, with graphics power doubled. Configurations with 16GB or 32GB of unified memory are available. The device supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, 2.5 Gbps Ethernet via the Apple N1 controller, and retains three Thunderbolt 4 ports. An M5 Pro version (24GB RAM / 512GB storage) has also been introduced.

Mac Studio with M5 Ultra Power

The updated Mac Studio is designed for peak workloads. The flagship M5 Ultra chip fuses two M5 Max dies via Apple’s UltraFusion interface. The maximum specs are impressive: 36 CPU cores, 80 GPU cores, and up to 512GB of unified memory with a bandwidth of up to 1.2 TB/s. The graphics core is 40% more efficient compared to the M3 Ultra generation.

The computer features Thunderbolt 5 ports with speeds up to 120 Gbps, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and high-speed PCIe Gen 6 storage. Apple has introduced the ability to link multiple Mac Studio systems for distributed AI tasks.

Release Date and Pricing

All devices are available for pre-order, with the official launch set for September 22, coinciding with the release of macOS 27 Golden Gate. The Mac Studio version with 512GB of unified memory will be available in late October.

Apple’s desktop update marks a significant step forward for both the compact Mac mini and the professional Mac Studio. The M6 makes the entry-level model significantly faster than its predecessor, while the M5 Ultra is aimed at the most resource-intensive tasks, including AI workloads. Meanwhile, the high price point of the top-tier configurations keeps the Mac Studio firmly in the professional workstation category for users who truly need maximum computational power.