Apple unveils M6 Mac Mini starting at $899, boosting local AI capabilities

Apple has refreshed its Mac Mini lineup with the M6 processor, introducing a new entry-level model at $899. This update places a strong emphasis on enhancing local artificial intelligence workloads, a growing area of interest for users.

The base M6 Mac Mini comes equipped with 16GB of memory and 256GB of storage, available for pre-order with shipping expected after September 22. Apple claims the new processor delivers four times the AI performance of the previous M4 generation, while storage and graphics performance have doubled. The M6 version features a 12-core CPU and 12-core GPU, an upgrade from the 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU in the M4 model.

For users needing more power, Apple also introduced a higher-end Mac Mini with the M5 Pro processor. This model starts at $1,699, offering 512GB of storage and 24GB of memory. Its standard configuration includes a 15-core CPU and 16-core GPU, with options to upgrade to an 18-core CPU and 20-core GPU. Both new Mac Mini versions support Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, and include a 2.5-gigabit Ethernet connection, with an optional upgrade to 10-gigabit Ethernet.

The machines are slated to ship with macOS 27 and Apple's latest Siri AI features. This move aligns with increasing interest from developers and tech enthusiasts who prefer running AI models and agents locally, rather than relying solely on cloud services. Apple also updated its Mac Studio range with M5 Max and M5 Ultra processors, starting at $2,499 and $5,499 respectively. The new $899 starting price for the Mac Mini marks a shift, as a previous 256GB model sold for $599 before discontinuation, and an M4 model with 512GB storage later became the base option at $799.