Apple Updates Mac mini and Mac Studio: New Chips, Same Familiar Design

Apple has unexpectedly unveiled refreshed versions of its Mac mini and Mac Studio desktop computers. On the outside, little has changed — both machines keep their familiar look and compact size. Inside, however, they've been fitted with new, significantly more powerful chips.

Although the Mac mini and Mac Studio may look like similar desktop machines, they're built with very different users in mind.

The Mac mini: Compact but Versatile

The Mac mini remains the smallest and most versatile computer in Apple's lineup. It's now available with the new M6 chip or the more powerful M5 Pro.

According to Apple, the base M6 model delivers up to four times the performance for AI-related tasks compared to the previous generation. Graphics and storage performance have doubled, while CPU performance has improved by 40%.

The Mac mini is suited for everyday work, creative tasks, and coding, as well as running AI models locally on the machine. For those who need more power — for video production or game development, for instance — Apple offers a version with the M5 Pro chip.

Mac Studio: Built for Professionals

The Mac Studio plays in a different league altogether. Its design has barely changed, but under the hood it now houses the M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips — which Apple calls the most powerful chips the company has ever made.

This machine is aimed primarily at professionals who need serious computing power for video editing, visual effects, complex 3D scenes, scientific computation, or large-scale AI models.

In its top configuration with the M5 Ultra, the Mac Studio can be equipped with a 36-core CPU, up to 80 GPU cores, and up to 512GB of unified memory — enough to run massive AI models directly on the device. The Mac Studio also now supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thunderbolt 5 ports for connecting high-speed external drives, monitors, and other professional-grade equipment.

Pre-Orders Are Already Open

Both computers are available for pre-order in Czechia starting Tuesday, August 25, with sales launching on September 22.

Mac Studio pricing starts at 69,990 CZK for the M5 Max version, while the M5 Ultra configuration will set buyers back at least 154,990 CZK.

Source: novinky.cz