Apple announced new Mac Mini and Mac Studio desktop models built with updated custom silicon designed to handle heavy on-device artificial intelligence workloads, according to CNBC. Preorders for the new hardware opened on Tuesday, with units scheduled to ship on September 22.
Mac Mini Performance and Pricing Updates
The updated Mac Mini introduces Apple’s new M6 chip, built on a 2-nanometer process, alongside an M5 Pro configuration option, according to CNBC reporting. Apple states that the M6 chip delivers four times faster AI performance and twice the graphics speed of the M4 model it replaces. Meanwhile, the M5 Pro configuration processes large language model prompts up to 8.5 times faster than the previous M2 Pro version. The entry price for the new Mac Mini starts at $899, representing an increase from the $799 starting price of the prior model, and a roughly 50% jump from its $599 launch price in 2024, as noted by CNBC and Insider Monkey.
Mac Studio Upgrades and Hardware Linking
The redesigned Mac Studio starts at $2,499 equipped with the M5 Max chip, while the configuration featuring the new M5 Ultra starts at $5,499, up from $5,299 for the previous Ultra generation. According to CNBC, multiple M5 Ultra units can be linked together to pool memory resources, allowing developers and power users to run larger AI models locally. Apple stated that these new chips and updated frameworks enable developers to run and fine-tune large AI models directly on their Mac hardware.
Market Response and Industry Context
Financial data shows Apple was held by 169 hedge funds in the second quarter, remaining essentially flat compared to 170 funds in the first quarter. While Mac desktops represent a small fraction of Apple’s overall revenue compared to the iPhone, these hardware updates solidify Apple’s foothold in the local AI development ecosystem.