Apple has launched its next-generation desktop silicon: the M6, the company’s first 2-nanometer chip, and the M5 Ultra, a new high-end powerhouse built on a four-die UltraFusion design. Both chips arrive in updated Mac mini and Mac Studio models that keep the same external design while delivering meaningful gains in CPU, GPU, memory bandwidth, and on-device AI performance.
The M6 targets everyday creators, developers, and mainstream users who want strong single-thread speed and improved efficiency. The M5 Ultra is aimed at professionals running heavy 3D work, multi-stream video, scientific computing, and large local language models.
Specs Comparison: Previous Generation vs New
| Feature | Previous Base (M5) | New M6 | Previous Ultra (M3 Ultra) | New M5 Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Process Node | 3nm | 2nm | 3nm | Advanced multi-die |
| CPU Cores | 10-core (4P + 6E) | 12-core (2 Super + 4P + 6E) | Up to 28-core | Up to 36-core (12 Super + 24P) |
| GPU Cores | 10-core | 12-core | Up to 60-core | Up to 80-core |
| Neural Engine | 16-core | Dual 16-core | 32-core | 32-core |
| Max Unified Memory | Up to 32 GB | Up to 32 GB | Up to 192 GB | Up to 512 GB |
| Memory Bandwidth | ~153–160 GB/s | 170 GB/s | ~800 GB/s | 1.2 TB/s |
| Inter-die Bandwidth | N/A | N/A | High (dual-die) | >4.4 TB/s (quad-die) |
| Key Performance Claims | — | World’s fastest single-thread; ~1.2× multi-thread vs M5; ~30% faster GPU/AI rendering | — | Up to 1.3× multi-thread vs M3 Ultra; ~40% better graphics; up to 4.5× AI acceleration |
M6 brings a more efficient 2nm process and a new three-tier CPU design that adds “Super Cores” optimized for single-threaded work. The dual Neural Engine roughly doubles peak AI capacity compared with the prior generation, while the 12-core GPU adds hardware ray tracing and faster Dynamic Caching. Memory bandwidth rises modestly to 170 GB/s, which helps with multitasking and lighter on-device AI models.
M5 Ultra is the bigger leap for pros. Apple’s UltraFusion technology now stitches four dies together with more than 4.4 TB/s of inter-die bandwidth, letting the chip act as one unified processor. The result is a maximum 36-core CPU, 80-core GPU, and a massive 512 GB of unified memory at 1.2 TB/s bandwidth — enough headroom for very large local models and demanding creative workloads. Hardware-accelerated AV1 decoding and enhanced ProRes support further strengthen its video credentials.
Pricing and availability
- Mac mini with M6: starts at $899 (16 GB / 256 GB)
- Mac mini with M5 Pro: starts at $1,699
- Mac Studio with M5 Max: starts at $2,499
- Mac Studio with M5 Ultra: starts at $5,499 (fully loaded configurations climb much higher)
Both systems add Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thunderbolt 5. Pre-orders are open now, with shipping scheduled to begin September 22, 2026. The highest 512 GB Mac Studio configuration is expected later in October.
The external designs of the Mac mini and Mac Studio remain unchanged, so the real story is inside: a more efficient mainstream chip and a dramatically more powerful pro chip that push Apple’s desktop silicon further into high-end AI and creative territory.