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Apple Mac mini (M6 or M5 Pro) vs Apple Mac Studio (M5 Max or M5 Ultra)

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

AppleMac mini (M6 or M5 Pro)AppleMac Studio (M5 Max or M5 Ultra)
Overview
ReleasedSeptember 2026September 2026
Performance
ProcessorApple M6 or Apple M5 ProApple M5 Max or Apple M5 Ultra
CPU cores12, 15 or 1818, 30 or 36
Graphics12-core GPU, 16-core GPU or 20-core GPU32-core GPU, 40-core GPU, 64-core GPU or 80-core GPU
Memory16 GB, 24 GB, 32 GB, 48 GB or 64 GB36 GB, 48 GB, 64 GB, 96 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB or 512 GB
Storage256 GB to 8 TB512 GB to 16 TB
CPUM6: 12-core CPU with 2 super cores, 4 performance cores and 6 efficiency cores; M5 Pro: 15-core CPU with 5 super cores and 10 performance cores, or 18-core CPU with 6 super cores and 12 performance coresM5 Max: 18-core CPU with 6 super cores and 12 performance cores; M5 Ultra: 30-core CPU with 10 super cores and 20 performance cores, or 36-core CPU with 12 super cores and 24 performance cores
GPUNeural Accelerators; hardware-accelerated ray tracingNeural Accelerators; hardware-accelerated ray tracing
AI engineDual 16-core Neural Engine (M6); 16-core Neural Engine (M5 Pro)16-core Neural Engine (M5 Max); 32-core Neural Engine (M5 Ultra)
Memory type–Apple’s current specification table lists 256GB and 512GB with the 36-core CPU / 80-core GPU M5 Ultra; its configure-to-order section only explicitly restricts 512GB. Current UK store configurator lists memory options up to 256GB, so the maker-confirmed 512GB option is not claimed as currently selectable there.
Memory bandwidthM6: 153GB/s with 16GB, 170GB/s with 24GB or 32GB; M5 Pro: 307GB/sM5 Max: 460GB/s with the 32-core GPU, 614GB/s with the 40-core GPU; M5 Ultra: 1.2TB/s
Storage typeSSDSSD
Media engineHardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes and ProRes RAW; video decode engine; video encode engine; ProRes encode and decode engine; AV1 decodeHardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes and ProRes RAW; AV1 decode; M5 Max: video decode engine, two video encode engines and two ProRes encode and decode engines; M5 Ultra: two video decode engines, four video encode engines and four ProRes encode and decode engines
Display
ScreenNone built inNone built in
Connections
Ports3 × Thunderbolt 4, 2 × USB-C, HDMI, Ethernet, headphone jack4 × Thunderbolt 5, 2 × USB-C, 2 × USB-A, HDMI, Ethernet, SD card slot, headphone jack
Ethernet2.5 Gb/s10 Gb/s
External displaysUp to 3Up to 5
Wi-FiWi-Fi 7Wi-Fi 7
Bluetooth66
Front ports2 × USB-C with USB 3 (up to 10Gb/s); 3.5 mm headphone jack with advanced support for high-impedance headphonesM5 Max: 2 × USB-C (up to 10Gb/s); M5 Ultra: 2 × Thunderbolt 5 (up to 120Gb/s); SDXC card slot (UHS-II)
Back portsM6: 3 × Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) with Thunderbolt 4 and USB 4 (up to 40Gb/s) and DisplayPort; M5 Pro: 3 × Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C) with Thunderbolt 5 (up to 120Gb/s), USB 4 (up to 40Gb/s) and DisplayPort; HDMI with multichannel audio output; 2.5Gb Ethernet (RJ-45), configurable to 10Gb Ethernet4 × Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C) with Thunderbolt 5 and USB 4 (up to 120Gb/s), USB 3 (up to 10Gb/s) and DisplayPort 2.1; 2 × USB-A (USB 3, up to 5Gb/s); HDMI 2.1 with multichannel audio output; 10Gb Ethernet (RJ-45); 3.5 mm headphone jack with advanced support for high-impedance headphones
External displaysM6: up to three (two at up to 6K 60Hz or 4K 165Hz, plus a third at up to 5K 60Hz over Thunderbolt or 4K 60Hz over HDMI), or two (one at up to 8K 60Hz, 5K 120Hz or 4K 240Hz, plus one at up to 5K 60Hz over Thunderbolt or 4K 60Hz over HDMI); M5 Pro: up to three at up to 6K 60Hz or 4K 165Hz, or two (one at up to 8K 60Hz, 5K 120Hz or 4K 240Hz, plus one at up to 5K 120Hz or 4K 200Hz); VRR and HDR supportedM5 Max: up to five (four at up to 6K 60Hz or 4K 165Hz, plus a fifth at up to 5K 60Hz over HDMI), or three (two at up to 8K 60Hz, 5K 120Hz or 4K 240Hz, plus a third at up to 5K 60Hz over HDMI); M5 Ultra: up to eight at up to 6K 60Hz or 4K 165Hz, or four at up to 8K 60Hz, 5K 120Hz or 4K 240Hz; up to four over a single Thunderbolt port; VRR and HDR supported
SpeakersBuilt-in speakerBuilt-in speaker
MicrophonesNone built in; Apple says an external microphone or headset is needed for callsNone built in; Apple says an external microphone or headset is needed for calls
Design and power
TypeCompactCompact
Weight0.67 kg2.7 kg
Width × depth × height127 × 127 × 50 mm197 × 197 × 95 mm
Operating systemmacOSmacOS
Power supplyBuilt-in; 100–240V AC; 155W maximum continuous powerBuilt-in; 100–240V AC; 480W maximum continuous power
Power useM6 with 16GB and 256GB: 4W idle, 70W maximum; M5 Pro with 64GB and 8TB: 6W idle, 145W maximumM5 Max with 32-core GPU, 36GB and 512GB: 7W idle, 200W maximum; M5 Ultra with 36-core CPU, 80-core GPU, 512GB memory and 16TB: 9W idle, 385W maximum (Apple wall-power test)
Noise5 dBA sound pressure at idle (operator position); declared to ECMA-109 as 1.3 B sound power and 4 dB sound pressure at idle and wireless web (M5 Pro, 18-core CPU, 20-core GPU)Declared to ECMA-109 as 1.5 B sound power and 7 dB sound pressure at the operator position, at idle and wireless web (M5 Ultra, 30-core CPU, 64-core GPU)
Materials100% recycled aluminium enclosure; 50% recycled content overall100% recycled aluminium enclosure; 35% recycled content overall
ColoursSilverSilver
In the boxMac mini, power lead (1.8 m)Mac Studio, power lead

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