Apple unveils new Mac Mini and Mac Studio with AI-focused chips

Published Aug 25, 01:04 PM UTC

Apple announced new Mac Mini and Mac Studio models on Tuesday, featuring updated chips (M6, M5 Pro, M5 Max, M5 Ultra) and enhancements for artificial intelligence applications. The Mac Mini, starting at $899, is the first Apple computer with an M6 chip on a 2-nanometer process from TSMC, and can process large language model prompts 8.5 times faster than older Pro versions. The Mac Studio, starting at $2,499 for M5 Max and $5,499 for M5 Ultra, allows multiple units to be linked for running trillion-parameter AI models. The announcement highlights desktop computers as strategically important for Apple's foothold in AI development, enabling developers to run and fine-tune large AI models locally. Pre-sales begin Tuesday, with shipping on September 22.