Apple has updated its desktop range for 2026, bringing new processors to both the Mac mini and the Mac Studio. The refreshed models adopt the latest generation of Apple’s M-series silicon, positioning them as the most powerful computers in the company’s line-up.
The new Mac mini arrives with the latest-generation M6 chip, built on a 2nm process. It combines a 12-core CPU with a 12-core GPU and a dual 16-core NPU. Apple states the CPU delivers the fastest single-core performance in the world, while the GPU with built-in neural accelerators runs twice as fast for graphics and four times faster for AI workloads than the M4. The NPU offers double the performance of its predecessor.
The M6 model begins with 16GB of unified memory, configurable up to 32GB, and 256GB of storage that can be expanded to 2TB. Buyers can also select an M5 Pro variant, which pairs a 15-core CPU with a 12-core GPU and a single 16-core NPU. This configuration includes 24GB of memory as standard, extendable to 64GB, alongside 512GB of storage that can reach 8TB.
Connectivity has been upgraded to include Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and 2.5Gb Ethernet, with a 10Gb option available. The remainder of the design is unchanged from the previous generation. Pricing for the Mac mini starts at roughly £710 for the M6 model and around £1,340 for the M5 Pro version.
Mac Studio Gains M5 Max and Flagship M5 Ultra
The Mac Studio now features the M5 Max, first seen in the MacBook Pro, along with a new flagship M5 Ultra chip. The M5 Max is offered with either an 18-core CPU and 32-core GPU, or an 18-core CPU and 40-core GPU. Memory begins at 32GB and can be configured up to 64GB for the 32-core GPU chip or 128GB for the 40-core GPU chip. Storage starts at 512GB and can be raised to 8TB.
The M5 Ultra is the most powerful processor Apple currently produces. It joins two dual M5 dies to form a quad-die design, linked by Apple’s UltraFusion interconnect offering 4.4TB/s of bandwidth. The standard configuration provides a 30-core CPU and 64-core GPU, with an option for a 36-core CPU and 80-core GPU. Memory ranges from 96GB up to 512GB on the 80-core GPU model, while storage begins at 1TB and can be expanded to 16TB.
Like the Mac mini, the Mac Studio includes Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, together with six Thunderbolt 5 ports. Pricing starts at approximately £1,970 for the M5 Max model and around £4,340 for the M5 Ultra model. A fully specified configuration currently reaches about £14,440, limited by a maximum of 256GB of memory, as the 512GB option is scheduled to arrive in late October.
Source
Image: gsmarena.com
