Apple's (AAPL) Mac Mini and Mac Studio have quickly become must-haves in the AI world, so much so that certain models have become increasingly hard to find in stores.
On Tuesday, the company debuted new versions of each pint-sized desktop with more performance aimed at AI developers.
The Mac Mini gained traction among AI enthusiasts and engineers thanks to its relatively low cost and ability to operate without a display. That made it ideal for running AI agents that handle tasks for developers, who can control them on the go from their smartphones or laptops.
The Mac Studio also drew engineers who didn't necessarily need a display, as well as for its powerful chips.
The latest Mac Mini launches with Apple's all-new M6 processor or the M5 Pro chip. The M6 version can be outfitted with up to 32GB of memory, while the M5 Pro gets up to 64GB. The Mac Studio gets Apple's M5 Max and new M5 Ultra processors.
Apple promises big leaps in overall AI performance for both systems, as well as improved capabilities around gaming and video editing.
Apple's Mac business brought in $33.7 billion in 2025, making it the company's fourth-largest business by revenue. The iPhone, Apple's largest segment, brought in $209.5 billion of the company's $416.1 billion in overall revenue.
Like all tech companies, Apple is dealing with the ongoing global AI-driven memory and storage shortage. That has forced the iPhone maker to raise prices on several of its Mac and iPad products and is expected to lead to a price increase for its upcoming iPhone 18.
As a result, the Mac Mini, which previously started at $799, now starts at $899. The Mac Mini with the M5 Pro starts at $1,699, compared with the prior M4 Pro, which started at $1,599.
The base Mac Studio still starts at $2,499. The M5 Ultra version will cost you $5,499. The prior generation with Apple's M4 Ultra chip started at $5,299.
Demand for the current generation of Mac Mini and Mac Studio remains high. As of Monday, if you ordered a base Mac Mini, it wouldn't arrive for more than a month. The Mac Studio would take an even longer 10 to 12 weeks to show up at your door.
Email Daniel Howley at dhowley@yahoofinance.com. Follow him on X at @DanielHowley.
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