Key facts
- Apple launched new Mac Studio and Mac mini desktop computers.
- The new machines are powered by the M6 and M5 Ultra chips.
- The M5 Ultra chip is designed for intensive AI workloads with up to 512GB of unified memory and 1.2TB/s bandwidth.
- The M6 chip features a 12-core CPU and 12-core GPU, with up to 32GB of unified memory.
- Both models include support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, with faster storage.
- The Mac mini comes standard with 2.5Gb Ethernet.
Apple has introduced updated versions of its Mac Studio and Mac mini desktop computers, featuring new M6 and M5 Ultra chips. The company is emphasizing the machines' capabilities for local AI inference, a use case that has grown in popularity among developers and researchers. The M6 chip, Apple's first 2nm chip for Macs, offers a 12-core CPU and 12-core GPU with up to 32GB of unified memory. The M5 Ultra chip, designed for more demanding AI workloads, features a significantly larger configuration with up to 512GB of memory and 1.2TB per second of unified memory bandwidth. This focus on local AI inference is driven by the increasing cost of cloud-based models and the desire for greater control and privacy in AI development workflows. The new desktops also include faster storage, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and improved Ethernet connectivity on the Mac mini. Pricing for the new models starts at $899 for the M6-equipped Mac mini and goes up to $5,499 for M5 Ultra configurations of the Mac Studio. Preorders are open now, with shipping beginning September 22.