Apple on Tuesday introduced updated Mac mini and Mac Studio desktop computers, featuring new processors designed to handle artificial intelligence (AI) tasks. The launch is expected to be the final product unveiling under Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook before he transitions to executive chairman and is succeeded by John Ternus.
The release follows a period of high demand for hardware capable of running autonomous AI agents locally, which the company noted has previously depleted store inventories. Apple also reported increasing production costs, citing rising memory chip prices driven by global demand from AI data centers.
The new Mac mini starts at $899, a $100 increase over the previous model, and offers a choice between the new M6 chip or the M5 Pro. According to Apple, the 2-nanometer M6 chip provides four times the AI performance and double the storage and graphics speeds of the earlier M4-powered version. The higher-end M5 Pro variant features up to an 18-core central processor and 20-core graphics processor for professional visual effects work.
The refreshed Mac Studio lineup includes versions with M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips, starting at $2,499 and $5,499 respectively. These prices represent an increase from the $1,999 starting price of the previous generation. Hardware head Johny Srouji stated the devices are intended for use as home computers, professional studio tools, or "always-on agentic" devices.
A primary driver for these updates is the growth of local AI processing, which allows users to run autonomous agents like OpenClaw directly on their hardware rather than relying on cloud servers. For a professional user or small studio owner, the transition to the M5 Ultra-powered Mac Studio requires a $5,499 investment, but provides the ability to run large AI models on-device and link multiple systems for intensive computing tasks. This shift toward on-device AI may change how users manage data privacy and subscription costs associated with remote AI services.
The launch also marks a significant milestone in corporate governance as the company concludes a closely watched leadership transition. Investors and employees will see John Ternus take over as CEO following this final release under Tim Cook's tenure. This transition occurs as the hardware market faces ongoing cost pressures from the semiconductor industry, specifically the rising prices of memory chips used in AI data centers. The success of these higher-priced models will serve as an early indicator of consumer willingness to pay a premium for integrated AI capabilities. No specific shipping dates were reported beyond the Tuesday unveiling.