GoKawiil
Tech News
Apple's newly unveiled Mac mini with M6 and M5 Pro chips carries several specs the company didn't spotlight at launch. Memory bandwidth actually varies by RAM configuration, topping out only with the M5 Pro model, and the machine includes an Apple-designed N1 chip enabling Thread smart-home support. Additionally, units will ship with the unreleased macOS Golden Gate already installed.
A worldwide shortage of memory chips, driven largely by demand for AI infrastructure, is squeezing hardware manufacturers just as major companies prepare new product launches. Apple has already unveiled Mac minis and Mac Studios with new M6 chips, with an iPhone event expected in September featuring the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, a foldable iPhone, and new Apple Watches. Makers are responding to rising component costs by either raising prices on devices or reducing memory and storage specifications to keep costs down.
A tech roundup recommends external displays for buyers of Apple's newly released Mac mini and Mac Studio, highlighting Apple's own Studio Display and the newer Studio Display XDR as standout choices. The Studio Display offers a 27-inch 5K panel, a 12MP Center Stage webcam, True Tone technology, and Thunderbolt 5 ports, while the XDR variant adds mini-LED technology and a 120Hz refresh rate.
Apple's Mac mini lineup includes both the newer M6 chip and the older M5 Pro, but the M5 Pro model is priced higher because it targets a different performance tier. The M5 Pro offers more CPU and GPU cores, higher RAM ceilings up to 64GB, and storage options up to 8TB, compared to the M6's maximum 12-core CPU, 32GB RAM, and 2TB storage.
Apple broke a decade-long pattern this week by quietly releasing updated Mac mini and Mac Studio models in late August, even though they won't ship until September 22. This timing suggests Apple needed to clear these updates off its plate before the September 9 'Surprise and shine' event, which is rumored to feature five to nine or more new products.
Apple's Mac Studio, available with M5 Max or the fused-together M5 Ultra chip, offers up to 80 GPU cores, 512GB of RAM and a 16TB SSD, along with more ports than the Mac mini, including four Thunderbolt 5 connections. The Mac mini starts at $899 and covers most everyday needs, while the Mac Studio starts at $2,499 and targets professionals with intensive workloads.
Amazon has opened pre-orders for Apple's new M6 and M5 Pro Mac mini models across several configurations, ranging from $899 to $1,699. Best Buy is separately offering up to $500 off the M6 Mac mini when trading in an older M4 unit, while other current discounts include AirTag 2 at $20, renewed iPhone 17 Pro units up to $220 off, and Apple's official iPhone Air Bumper case down to under $13.
A commentator argues that Apple should introduce a new budget desktop, dubbed the Mac Neo, to replace the entry-level role the Mac mini once played. The suggestion comes as the M6 Mac mini's starting price has risen to $899, well above the sub-$1,000, guilt-free price point the mini has occupied since its 2005 debut at $499. The piece notes that rising memory costs and AI demand have pushed Apple Silicon machines toward power users, leaving casual buyers, students, and hobbyists without an affordable Mac option.
Sonnet has released the Echo 21 Thunderbolt 5 SuperDock, an updated version of its Echo 20 dock that swaps Thunderbolt 4 for Thunderbolt 5 across all its ports. The $499 dock offers nine USB 3 ports, 10Gb Ethernet, 140W power delivery, an M.2 SSD slot for up to 8TB of storage, and support for up to three external displays, all through a single cable connection to a Mac.
Apple has begun reaching out to customers whose M4 Mac mini orders were still backordered when the company unveiled new M6 and M5 Pro models. Those pending orders are being automatically switched to the newer chips while keeping the original price, with some buyers reporting earlier delivery dates and savings of up to $300.
Apple kept the M5 Max Mac Studio's starting price at $2,499, but choosing the 40-core GPU option—listed as a $300 upgrade—automatically bumps memory from 32GB to 48GB, adding another $300. That makes the real cost of the GPU upgrade $600, not the $300 shown next to it. John Gruber flagged the discrepancy while tallying configuration prices for the new lineup.
Apple shared a short Instagram reel showing how its recent Mac mini with M6 commercial was made, featuring animators Justin Rasch and Scott DaRos and art director Josh Mahan. The clip highlights sketches, props, sculptures and stop-motion techniques used to build the ad's practical effects.