Apple is refreshing two of its most important desktop systems with the new Mac mini M6 and M5 Pro and the most powerful Mac Studio with the M5 Ultra. The new versions bring significant increases in CPU, GPU and AI performance, faster connectivity and more features for professionals working in video editing, post production, motion graphics, 3D, music production and AI workflows.
For creative professionals, the new series now covers a very wide range of needs: from a compact workstation that fits almost anywhere to a high-end desktop designed for 8K video, VFX and large local AI models.
Mac mini with M6: more power in the same compact desktop
The new Mac mini with M6 it retains the ultra-small form factor, but gains significantly more powerful Apple silicon. The M6 features a 12-core CPU and 12-core GPU, with Neural Accelerators within the GPU cores and increased memory bandwidth.
Apple claims up to 40% higher CPU performance, up to 2x faster graphics and up to 4x faster AI performance compared to the Mac mini M4. For photographers, designers, content creators and editors who want a small but fast desktop for Adobe Creative Cloud, DaVinci Resolve and everyday professional production, the new Mac mini becomes an even more compelling option.
Mac mini M5 Pro for video editing and demanding post production
For those who need more power, the Mac mini with M5 Pro significantly raises the bar. It can be configured with up to 18-core CPU and 20-core GPU, offering more performance for workloads such as multicam editing, color correction, motion graphics, software development and 3D.
The M5 Pro is of particular interest to editors and small post production studios who want workstation-class performance without the hassle of upgrading to a larger desktop. Combined with fast external Thunderbolt storage and 10Gb Ethernet, it can form the basis of a very powerful shared-storage or network-based creative workflow.
New connectivity for professional setups
Both new Mac minis get Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and 2.5Gb Ethernet as standard, with the option to upgrade to 10Gb Ethernet.
This change is especially important for video professionals. In environments with NAS, SAN or shared media storage, faster Ethernet enables more efficient editing of large files and collaboration across multiple workstations. Combined with Thunderbolt peripherals, docks and high-speed storage, Mac mini can now function as a true compact production workstation.
Mac Studio M5 Ultra for 8K, VFX and high-end AI workloads
At the top of the new series is the Mac Studio with M5 Ultra, designed for the most demanding professional workflows. The M5 Ultra can feature up to 36-core CPU, 80-core GPU and up to 512GB unified memory, creating a desktop system with massive computing power in an extremely compact design.
Apple positions the new Mac Studio for workflows such as real-time color grading of uncompressed 8K video, complex VFX simulations, 3D rendering and local AI processing. For post production houses, colorists, VFX artists and creators working with extremely large media files, the M5 Ultra is clearly the solution for workloads where performance is a priority.
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