Apple launched a new Mac mini today, August 25, and this one is a significant jump from what came before.
The new Mac mini comes in two configurations: one with the all-new M6 chip and one with the M5 Pro, delivering what Apple describes as a massive leap in AI performance for always-on agentic computing.
The M6 chip brings a 12-core CPU and 12-core GPU, up from a 10-core CPU and GPU in M5, and features the first-ever dual Neural Engine with two 16-core engines, doubling the neural processing capacity of previous chips. That dual Neural Engine is the part Apple is most excited about. It is the foundation for running local AI agents, processing on-device Gemini and Siri requests, and handling the kind of background AI work that is becoming standard in macOS Golden Gate.
On top of the chip upgrade, the new Mac mini gains storage that is up to twice as fast, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, 2.5Gb Ethernet, and USB-C genlock support.
On pricing, Apple has raised the starting price by a further $100 from the June level, putting the M6 Mac mini at $899. Pre-orders are open today through the Apple Store, with units beginning to arrive to customers and appearing in Apple Store locations from September 22.
For creatives, developers, and small studios in Uganda and across East Africa who use Macs for production work, the Mac mini remains the most affordable entry point into Apple Silicon. At $899, it is still not cheap by local standards, but the performance jump and the Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 upgrades make this the most capable small desktop Apple has made.
