Apple launches new Mac mini and Mac Studio in India: Key differences, prices and much more

Apple has expanded its Mac desktop lineup with newgeneration Mac mini and Mac Studio models bringing upgraded processors faster connectivity and improved performance compared with their predecessorsWhile the Mac mini continues to focus on a compact desktop experience the Mac Studio is aimed at professionals handling demanding creative development and AI workloadsTheir latest devices Mac mini and Mac Studio desktops are now available for sale in IndiaThe Mac mini M6 starts at Rs 99900 while the M5 Pro variant starts at Rs 209900 The Mac Studio with M5 Max starts at Rs 279900 while the M5 Ultra model starts at Rs 629900Are they worth the buyThe latest Mac mini moves to the M6 and M5 Pro chips replacing the previousgeneration M4 and M4 Pro processors The compact desktop retains its 5by5inch footprint which Apple introduced with the 2024 redesignApple says the new M6 Mac mini delivers up to 40 per cent faster CPU performance while graphics and storage performance can reach up to twice that of the previous M4 model In an official note they also highlighted improvements in AIrelated workloads with the new system designed to handle ondevice AI tasks more efficientlyM6 or M5 Pro Which could be a better choiceThe M6 model starts with 16GB of unified memory and can be configured with up to 32GB The M5 Pro version comes with up to an 18core CPU and 20core GPU with support for up to 64GB of unified memoryWhereas the M5 Pro variant is targeted at users who need greater processing and graphics capabilities It supports up to 64GB of unified memory and includes Thunderbolt 5 connectivity allowing users to connect highspeed external storage and other peripheralsThe M6 is aimed at users who want a powerful compact Mac for everyday and moderately demanding workloads while the M5 Pro is built for users whose professional applications can take advantage of additional processing power memory and highspeed connectivityMac Studio gets M5 Max and M5 Ultra chipFor users upgrading from older Macs the difference will depend largely on their existing hardware and workload The new Mac mini is aimed at users seeking a compact desktop with considerably more processing headroom while the Mac Studio remains targeted at professionals whose workflows require highend CPU GPU memory and connectivity capabilitiesThe M5 Ultra variant goes up to a 36core CPU and 80core GPU and can be configured with up to 512GB of unified memory Apple said the system offers up to 12 TBs of memory bandwidthBoth Mac Studio models support Thunderbolt 5 with data transfer speeds of up to 120 Gbs The desktops can also support up to eight displays depending on the configurationmacOS 27 and Apple Intelligence integrationThe upgrades also reflect Apples broader focus on AI processing with both desktop families benefiting from newer Apple silicon architectures and improvements aimed at running demanding AI workloads locallyThe new desktop runs on macOS 27 which includes new Apple Intelligence features and the companys updated Siri AI Apple said ldquoSiri can use personal context to help users find information across messages emails and photos while Visual Intelligence can be accessed through Spotlight and systemwide context menusThe operating system also brings Apple Intelligence features to apps including Safari Shortcuts and PhotosApple said the new Mac mini and Mac Studio will begin arriving at customers and Apple Store locations and authorised resellers from September 22 The Mac Studio configuration with 512GB of unified memory is expected to arrive in late October