# Apple Releases New Mac Mini and Mac Studio With M6 and M5 Chips

**Published:** 2026-08-28T08:08:27.007Z  
**Topic:** Apple News  
**Sentiment:** neutral  
**Publisher:** TrendWatcher — https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/18b549d5-d279-4b79-ac96-c9ac32c1b48c

Apple launched new Mac mini and Mac Studio models featuring M6 and M5 Ultra chips. The Mac mini starts at $899, while the Polishing Cloth price drops to $9.

Apple has refreshed its desktop lineup with the introduction of new Mac mini and Mac Studio models, marking the company’s first August hardware announcement since 2020 [1]. The release, which includes the debut of Apple's first 2-nanometer M6 processor, signals a strategic push to capture the growing market of users deploying AI agents [2, 4].

| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| M6 Mac mini starting price | $899 |
| M5 Ultra Mac Studio starting price | $5,499 |
| Polishing Cloth price | $9 |
| M6 AI performance vs M4 | 4x faster |

## Upgraded silicon and desktop performance
The new Mac mini retains its compact form factor but integrates the M6 chip, which Apple claims delivers up to 40% faster CPU performance and double the graphics speed compared to the previous M4 generation [4]. Designed for intensive workloads, the M5 Ultra-powered Mac Studio features up to 36 CPU cores and an 80-core GPU, which the company describes as its most powerful graphics processor to date [2, 4]. Both desktop lines now include Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 connectivity as standard [2, 4].

These updates come as Apple faces a global memory crisis, leading to price adjustments across its hardware portfolio [2]. The M6 Mac mini starts at $899, while the M5 Pro configuration begins at $1,699—both representing a $100 increase over their predecessors [2, 4]. The Mac Studio, which saw its base pricing adjusted earlier in June, now starts at $2,499 for the M5 Max model, with the M5 Ultra variant priced at $5,499, a $200 increase from the prior version [2].

## Hardware refinements and accessory pricing
Alongside the desktop updates, Apple quietly reduced the price of its Polishing Cloth from $19 to $9 [1, 3]. While the product retains its original nonabrasive material description, early users report the new version is thinner and softer, drawing comparisons to the cloth included with the Vision Pro headset [1]. Additionally, Apple updated its Magic Keyboard line, replacing text-based key labels with glyphs to align with the design language of its current laptop lineup [1, 2].

| Model | Starting Price | Key Chip |
|---|---|---|
| Mac mini (M6) | $899 | M6 |
| Mac mini (M5 Pro) | $1,699 | M5 Pro |
| Mac Studio (M5 Max) | $2,499 | M5 Max |
| Mac Studio (M5 Ultra) | $5,499 | M5 Ultra |

## What to watch
*   **Delivery timelines:** Pre-orders for the new Mac mini and Mac Studio are currently open, with initial deliveries scheduled to begin September 22 [4].
*   **Memory expansion:** While the M5 Ultra Mac Studio currently supports up to 256GB of RAM, Apple has indicated that a 512GB configuration will become available in late October [2, 4].
*   **Fall keynote:** Market observers are monitoring whether these mid-quarter releases indicate that Apple’s upcoming September event will focus exclusively on the expected iPhone Ultra and other mobile hardware [2].

The quiet August rollout suggests Apple is prioritizing its professional and AI-focused desktop segment ahead of a potentially monumental fall product cycle. Whether these price hikes and performance gains will sustain demand in a constrained memory market remains the primary question for the company's hardware division.

## Sources
1. MacRumors — [Apple's Latest Product is Just $9](https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/27/apples-latest-product-is-just-9-dollars/)
2. Lifehacker — [Apple Just Made Its First Product Announcements of the Season](https://au.lifehacker.com/apple/119453/apple-just-made-its-first-product-announcements-of-the-season)
3. The Verge — [Apple’s ‘new’ polishing cloth is the same except $10 cheaper](https://www.theverge.com/tech/984353/apple-polishing-cloth-cheaper)
4. Benzinga — [Apple Unveils New Mac mini and Mac Studio With M6 and M5 Ultra Chips—There’s a S...](https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/26/08/61426957/apple-unveils-new-mac-mini-and-mac-studio-with-m6-and-m5-ultra-chips-theres-a-surprising-9-twist-too)

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Cite as: TrendWatcher, "Apple Releases New Mac Mini and Mac Studio With M6 and M5 Chips", https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/18b549d5-d279-4b79-ac96-c9ac32c1b48c