Apple just did something it rarely does — dropped a major hardware launch in late August, weeks ahead of its usual September iPhone event. The Mac mini has been refreshed with Apple’s brand-new M6 chip, alongside an M5 Pro option, nearly two years after the compact desktop’s last redesign.
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Two Chip Options, Same Compact Design
Externally, nothing has changed — the Mac mini keeps its 5-by-5-inch footprint from the 2024 redesign. The real story is entirely under the hood, with buyers choosing between two very different silicon options.
| Model | Starting Price | Chip |
|---|---|---|
| Mac mini (M6) | $899 | Apple’s first 2nm chip |
| Mac mini (M5 Pro) | $1,699 | Previously launched in other Macs |
For more on Apple’s recent hardware pricing trends, check our Apple news coverage.
The M6: Apple’s First 2nm Chip
The M6 marks a genuine manufacturing milestone — it’s Apple’s first chip built on a 2-nanometer process across its entire lineup. Specs include a 12-core CPU, 12-core GPU, and a first-ever dual Neural Engine setup with two separate 16-core engines for on-device AI processing, up from a single Neural Engine in previous chips. Apple’s VP of Silicon Engineering, Sri Santhanam, called it “the next giant leap in performance and AI compute for Apple silicon.”
Interestingly, despite carrying the newer chip name, the M6 isn’t actually the more powerful of the two options — the M5 Pro variant, with its 15-core CPU and 16-core GPU (upgradeable to 18 and 20 cores for $200 more), remains the performance-focused choice for demanding workloads.
Connectivity and Ports
| Port | Detail |
|---|---|
| Front | 2× USB-C, headphone jack |
| Rear | 3× Thunderbolt, HDMI, Ethernet |
| Ethernet | 2.5 Gigabit by default (up from 1 Gigabit), 10GbE upgrade available |
| Thunderbolt | TB4 on M6 models, TB5 on M5 Pro models |
| Display support | Up to 3 external displays on all models |
Pricing: A New High for the Mac mini
At $899, the M6 model sits noticeably above where the Mac mini has traditionally started — Apple discontinued its cheaper base configuration earlier this year, and this launch confirms the compact desktop is settling into a higher price bracket going forward. The 64GB RAM configuration on the M5 Pro model now costs an additional $1,000 on its own. For the complete configuration options and full specs, check Apple’s official Mac mini page.
When Can You Get One?
Pre-orders are live now, with deliveries and in-store availability beginning Tuesday, September 22, 2026. Given how quickly the previous M4 model sold out — with wait times stretching up to two months near the end of its run — expect similarly high demand for the M6 model at launch.
Keep following our Mac and Apple hardware section for hands-on reviews once the new Mac mini ships.
