Apple has launched upgraded versions of its Mac mini and Mac Studio desktops as the company responds to rising demand for computers capable of handling Artificial Intelligence workloads locally. The new Mac mini starts at $899 and is available with Apple M6 or M5 Pro chips, while the updated Mac Studio comes with M5 Max and M5 Ultra processors for professional users and developers. The launch places greater emphasis on on-device AI capabilities, with both desktop lines designed to handle increasingly demanding workloads without relying entirely on cloud computing. Apple said the new Mac mini with M6 can deliver up to four times faster AI performance, while also providing improvements in graphics, storage and CPU performance compared with the previous generation. The M6 version is based on a 2 nanometer manufacturing process and delivers up to 40% faster CPU performance, along with up to two times faster graphics and storage performance.
The new Mac mini is available in configurations aimed at both everyday users and customers working with demanding professional applications. The M6 model features a 12 core central processing unit and 12 core graphics processing unit, while the M5 Pro configuration can be equipped with up to an 18 core central processing unit and 20 core graphics processing unit. Apple has also increased the focus on AI processing through its Neural Engine architecture, allowing the compact desktop to handle tasks involving AI models and other computationally intensive workloads. The higher end Mac mini with M5 Pro starts at $1,699, while the base M6 model begins at $899, making the new entry level machine $100 more expensive than its predecessor. Apple is positioning the device for a range of uses, including conventional desktop computing, professional applications and running AI models locally. Preorders have opened, with general availability scheduled for September 22.
Apple has also refreshed the Mac Studio lineup with M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips, targeting developers, creative professionals, researchers and other users who require higher levels of computing performance. The new Mac Studio can support up to 512GB of unified memory and is designed to run large AI models directly on the device. Apple says the updated system delivers up to 4.3 times faster AI performance, up to 1.8 times faster graphics and up to 1.3 times faster CPU performance compared with previous configurations. The Mac Studio with M5 Max starts at $2,499, while the M5 Ultra model starts at $5,499. These prices are higher than the previous generation, with the systems positioned toward professional workloads such as AI development, data science, visual effects and other applications requiring substantial computing resources. The ability to run larger models locally is becoming increasingly relevant as developers and businesses explore alternatives to sending workloads entirely to remote data centres.
The launch comes as demand for local AI computing is contributing to increased interest in high performance desktop hardware. Reuters reported that both the Mac mini and Mac Studio have attracted customers interested in running autonomous AI agents locally, with strong demand affecting inventory availability at some Apple stores. The company is also dealing with higher memory component costs as demand from AI data centres puts pressure on the wider supply chain, contributing to price increases across some Apple products. The new desktops therefore represent more than routine hardware updates, as Apple is increasingly positioning its computers as platforms for running AI applications directly on user devices. The Mac mini provides a smaller and relatively lower cost entry point for users interested in local AI computing, while Mac Studio targets customers requiring considerably more processing power and memory. The launch is also expected to be one of the final major Apple product launches under Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook before he hands leadership to John Ternus, making the new desktop lineup notable both for its hardware focus and its timing within Apple leadership transition.
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