Mac mini M6 launched today, here's what makes it Apple's biggest upgrade yet

Apple has introduced a refreshed Mac mini, now powered by its all-new M6 chip and the more powerful M5 Pro, delivering substantial performance improvements while retaining the device's compact desktop form factor, the company announced. According to Apple, the M6-equipped Mac mini offers up to four times faster AI performance, twice the storage and graphics speed, and a 40 per cent boost in CPU performance compared to its predecessor.

The company said this translates into noticeably faster performance across everyday tasks and more advanced agentic AI workflows alike. Meanwhile, the M5 Pro variant is designed to handle demanding professional workloads, from video production to game development, and is positioned as suitable both for use as a primary desktop and as an always-on device for deskside agentic computing in business settings.

New connectivity and software features

Both new Mac mini models come equipped with Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and upgraded 2.5Gb Ethernet, with an optional 10Gb Ethernet configuration also available. Apple said these hardware upgrades, paired with macOS 27 and the next generation of Apple Intelligence, including Siri AI, make the new Mac mini a significant upgrade for both existing Mac users and newcomers to the platform.


Pre-orders for the new Mac mini opened today, with availability set to begin on September 22.

Apple executive highlights versatility

Speaking about the launch, Apple's chief hardware officer Johny Srouji said, "Mac mini has always been our most versatile Mac. Whether it's being used as a home computer, powering a professional studio, or as an always-on agentic device, it's the little Mac that can do it all. Today, we're taking this versatility even further. With a more powerful CPU and graphics, Neural Accelerators in the GPU, and higher memory bandwidth, Mac mini with M6 delivers a whole new level of AI performance. And with up to an 18-core CPU and 20-core GPU, Mac mini with M5 Pro is an ultracompact powerhouse for complex pro workflows. We can't wait to see all the incredible ways people will use it next."

M6 chip specifications

According to Apple, the M6 chip is built for tasks ranging from everyday productivity to creative work and the latest AI workflows. It features a 12-core CPU, two additional cores compared to the previous generation, which the company says delivers the fastest single-threaded performance in the world, contributing to a more responsive overall experience.

The chip also includes a 12-core GPU, similarly expanded by two cores, which for the first time on Mac mini incorporates Neural Accelerators within each core. Apple said this results in performance gains of up to four times faster AI processing and twice the graphics speed compared to the Mac mini with M4. The new Dual 16-core Neural Engine offers up to twice the performance of its predecessor, and combined with the upgraded GPU, positions the Mac mini as a strong performer for AI-related tasks, according to the company.

The new Mac mini ships with 16GB of standard unified memory, configurable up to 32GB, alongside increased memory bandwidth of up to 170GB/s, which Apple said enables faster multitasking than previous models.