Today Apple launched a new Mac mini, available in M6 and M5 Pro configurations. Here’s everything new compared to the M4 and M4 Pro Mac mini models.
Chips: M6 and M5 Pro vs M4 and M4 Pro
The new Mac mini is all about improved performance. Both models include a “newly optimized thermal design,” but beyond that, each chip differs significantly. Whether you choose the M6 or M5 Pro though, you’ll get big upgrades.
M6 vs M4
M6 is Apple’s newest chip and the first built on an innovative 2nm process. That means it packs larger than usual improvements. For example, M6 has up to 2x faster storage than M4.
M6 features a 12-core CPU and 12-core GPU, up from 10 cores each in M4. The extra CPU cores are 2 “super cores.”
M6 also packs a dual 16-core Neural Engine, doubling the number of Neural Engine cores for huge AI-related gains.
In summary, Apple says this all translates to “up to 4x faster AI performance, 2x faster storage and graphics, and 40 percent faster CPU performance.”
M5 Pro vs M4 Pro
M5 Pro offers a 15-core CPU (up from 12) that’s configurable up to 18 cores with 6 super cores and 12 performance cores. It also offers an up to 20-core GPU.
Here are some stats from Apple on what these upgrades look like in use:
- Up to 4x faster LLM prompt processing performance in LM Studio compared to M4 Pro
- Up to 1.4x faster rendering performance with ray tracing in Blender compared to M4 Pro
- Up to 1.5x faster image processing in Affinity compared to M4 Pro
Memory upgrades
Memory upgrades in the new Mac mini give you higher memory bandwidth and a higher ceiling for RAM configurations—at least compared to what has recently been available.
Mac mini with M6 offers memory bandwidth up to 170GB/s vs 120GB/s on the M4. With M5 Pro you get 307GB/s memory bandwidth, up from 273GB/s with M4 Pro.
M6 Mac mini is configurable with up to 32GB of RAM, while M4 was only available with a max of 24GB. M5 Pro Mac mini offers up to 64GB of RAM, up from the 48GB available in M4 Pro.
Note: M4 models used to offer comparable max RAM configurations, but those high-end options were removed earlier this year.
Connectivity
Apple has several improvements for connectivity in the new Mac mini.
Its N1 wireless chip that debuted in iPhone 17 is a new addition, which offers two upgrades:
- Wi-Fi 7, up from Wi-Fi 6E
- Bluetooth 6, up from Bluetooth 5.3
2.5Gb Ethernet is now standard in Mac mini, and there’s an optional 10Gb option. Previously, you could only choose from Gigabit or 10Gb.
Genlock support through USB-C is another new connectivity feature. It lets you achieve precise synchronization between a display and camera, including iPhone 17 Pro.
M6 and M5 Pro Mac mini: Pricing and availability
Mac mini with M6 has an $899 starting price, up from $799 for the M4 model. This is also significantly higher than the $599 starting price the M4 Mac mini launched at in 2024.
Mac mini with M5 Pro starts at $1,699, up from the $1,599 latest starting price of M4 Pro.
The new Mac mini is available to pre-order now, and ships starting September 22.
Are you upgrading to the new Mac mini? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments.
*Buy Mac with 15% discount from Apple refurbished
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