Apple has officially unveiled the new generation of the Mac Mini desktop computer, built on the M6 and M5 Pro processors. The announcement, which took place at the end of August 2026, became one of the most anticipated events in the Mac ecosystem: the device is positioned not simply as a compact desktop, but as a local platform for running complex artificial intelligence agents. Pre-orders are already open, and official retail shipments will begin after September 22, 2026.
M6 Processor: Architecture and Performance Gains
The base configuration of the new Mac Mini is equipped with the M6 chip, which features a 12-core central processor and a 12-core graphics accelerator — two more CPU cores and two more GPU cores than its M4-based predecessor. According to the developers, performance in artificial intelligence tasks has increased fourfold compared to the previous generation, while storage and graphics subsystem speeds have doubled. The device integrates a dual 16-core Neural Engine, and memory bandwidth reaches 170 GB/s. According to data from the source dgl.ru, the Mac line has for the first time been moved to a 2-nanometer process, which ensures a significant reduction in power consumption while increasing computational power.
M5 Pro Configuration for Professional Tasks
For users working with heavy computational loads, Apple has released a Mac Mini modification based on the M5 Pro processor. The base version of the chip contains 15 CPU cores and 16 GPU cores, while the maximum configuration offers 18 CPU cores and 20 GPU cores. This version supports up to 64 GB of unified memory with a bandwidth of 307 GB/s. The starting price of the configuration with a 512 GB storage drive and 24 GB of RAM is $1,699 USD.
Connectivity, Interfaces, and Memory
Both versions of the new Mac Mini support the Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 standards, as well as a 2.5Gb Ethernet port with the option to upgrade to 10 Gb for faster wired connectivity. Among the interface differences: the M6 model is equipped with three Thunderbolt 4 ports, while the M5 Pro version features the faster Thunderbolt 5 interfaces. The device runs on the new macOS 27 operating system, which integrates extended features of the Siri AI voice assistant.
Local AI Agents and the macOS 27 Ecosystem
The new Mac Mini quickly gained popularity among tech enthusiasts thanks to its ability to run local AI agents, such as OpenClaw and Hermes, without the need for cloud computing. The fourfold performance boost in AI tasks and the high memory bandwidth make the device attractive for developers working with large language models and multi-agent systems directly on the desktop.
Mac Studio and Store Availability Dates
In addition to the Mac Mini, Apple presented updated Mac Studio workstations based on the M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips, priced in the range of $2,499 to $5,499 respectively. Pre-orders for all the new products are already open on the company's official website. Official shipments and the appearance of the devices in retail stores are scheduled for the period after September 22, 2026, which coincides with Apple's traditional fall announcement cycle.
