Apple’s new M6 Mac mini went on sale today, September 22, and it’s the first Mac ever built on a 2-nanometer chip. If you just want the short version: it starts at $899, it’s noticeably faster than last year’s M4 model, and it arrived alongside a refreshed Mac Studio running M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips.
Both machines were announced back in August and have been up for pre-order since August 25. Today is when they actually start shipping to customers and appearing on store shelves.
- Release date: September 22, 2026 (today)
- M6 Mac mini price: starts at $899 for 16GB/256GB
- Mac Studio price: $2,499 (M5 Max) to $5,499 (M5 Ultra)
- What’s new: Apple’s first 2nm chip, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6
- Catch: the mini jumped $300 over its original M4 starting price
What’s Actually New in the M6 Mac Mini
The headline feature isn’t a new port or a redesigned case. It’s the manufacturing process. The M6 is built on a 2-nanometer node, a first for any Apple chip, and it shows up directly in benchmark numbers.
Leaked Geekbench results published by MacRumors on September 15 showed the M6 scoring around 4,071 single-core and 22,783 multi-core. That’s roughly 12% faster single-core and 27% faster multi-core than the M5. For context, the multi-core score already beats the old M1 Ultra desktop chip from 2022.
The M6 packs a 12-core CPU (two super cores, four performance cores, six efficiency cores), a 12-core GPU, and a dual 16-core Neural Engine. Apple says that combination delivers up to four times the AI compute of the outgoing M4 mini. Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 round out the upgrade, replacing the M4’s Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3.
Mac Studio Now Ships With M5 Max or M5 Ultra
The Mac Studio skips the 2nm chip for now and sticks with the M5 family, but it’s still a meaningful jump from the previous generation. The base configuration uses an M5 Max with an 18-core CPU and up to a 40-core GPU, starting at $2,499 for 36GB of memory and 512GB of storage.
Step up to the M5 Ultra and you get up to a 36-core CPU, an 80-core GPU, and memory bandwidth of 1.2TB per second — roughly double the Max model. That configuration starts at $5,499 for 96GB of memory. A 512GB unified memory option is coming, but not until late October.
Mac Mini vs Mac Studio: Specs Compared
If you’re trying to decide between the two, the real differences come down to memory ceiling and GPU power rather than day-to-day speed. Here’s how the three configurations stack up side by side.
| Spec | Mac mini (M6) | Studio (M5 Max) | Studio (M5 Ultra) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $899 | $2,499 | $5,499 |
| CPU cores | 12-core | 18-core | Up to 36-core |
| GPU cores | 12-core | Up to 40-core | Up to 80-core |
| Max unified memory | 32GB | 128GB | 512GB |
| Best for | Everyday desktop use | Video and photo editing | AI and 3D rendering work |
For most people who just want a fast, quiet desktop for browsing, email, and office work, the mini is the obvious pick. The Studio only makes sense once your workload genuinely needs the extra GPU cores or memory headroom.
Why Mac Prices Keep Climbing
That $300 jump on the Mac mini isn’t just an Apple markup. Memory chip prices have been climbing across the entire PC industry this year, and we covered how bad it’s gotten in our RAM price crisis breakdown. Apple’s unified memory isn’t immune to the same supply squeeze hitting every other laptop and desktop maker.
It’s a reasonable bet that this won’t be the last price increase tied to memory costs. If you were already planning to buy a new Mac this year, waiting for prices to drop probably isn’t the safer move right now.
Should You Upgrade From an M4 or M2 Mac?
If you bought an M4 Mac mini last year, the M6 isn’t a must-have upgrade. A 12% single-core gain is real but not something you’ll feel in day-to-day use like web browsing or spreadsheets.
If you’re still on an M1 or M2 machine, though, this is a much easier call. You’re looking at a genuinely faster chip, better wireless standards, and a machine that will get macOS updates for years longer. Both new machines ship running macOS 27 Golden Gate, Apple’s current release, so you’re also getting the latest Siri overhaul out of the box.
One more thing worth knowing: this is also the generation where Apple quietly moved on from supporting new Intel Macs with certain features, so if you’re still running older Intel hardware, that gap is only going to widen from here.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the M6 Mac mini release?
The M6 Mac mini started shipping and appearing in stores on September 22, 2026, after being up for pre-order since August 25.
How much does the M6 Mac mini cost?
It starts at $899 for the 16GB memory and 256GB storage configuration, which is $300 more than the M4 mini’s original launch price.
Is the M6 chip a big upgrade over the M5?
Benchmarks point to roughly 12% faster single-core and 27% faster multi-core performance. It’s a solid gain, but not a dramatic leap if you already own an M5 machine.
What’s the difference between the M5 Max and M5 Ultra Mac Studio?
The M5 Ultra roughly doubles the M5 Max’s CPU cores, GPU cores, and memory bandwidth. It costs $5,499 versus $2,499 for the Max, and it’s aimed at heavier AI and rendering workloads.
Can I still buy the M4 Mac mini?
Apple typically pulls the previous generation from its online store once a new model ships, so M4 mini stock will likely only be available through third-party retailers while supplies last.
The M6 Mac mini is the better machine, full stop — but it’s also a reminder that “better” now comes with a higher price tag attached. If you need a new desktop today, buy it with confidence. If your current Mac is still doing the job, there’s no shame in letting this generation pass you by and waiting for the price gap to settle.
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