Apple's new Mac mini may arrive before the end of August — M5 or M6 inside

Apple is set to launch a new Mac mini before its September 9 iPhone event, reports Bloomberg Gurman, putting the release window at "coming days." What remains unresolved is which chip will power it — Apple tested both an M5 and the not-yet-announced M6 — and what it will cost.

The chip question

According to Gurman, Apple has been testing at least two configurations: a base model running the M6 and a higher-end version with an M5 Pro. That's an unusual split, and it means buyers won't know exactly what they're getting until Apple makes the announcement official. The compact 5×5-inch design is not expected to change.

More Mac updates are coming later, Gurman adds — a refreshed iMac in new colors and an entry-level MacBook Pro refresh, both planned around the M6. Those are likely a few months out.

The price outlook

The current M4 Mac mini starts at $599. Per Macworld's pricing analysis, the $599 base configuration is expected to be discontinued, pushing the new entry price to somewhere between $699 and $799. That would mark the first time the Mac mini's starting price has risen above $599 in years. Supply constraints driven by AI developer demand for Apple silicon have contributed to the pressure on both stock and pricing.

UK buyers have already seen the strain — wait times on current M4 stock have stretched beyond three months in some cases.

One more milestone

If the Mac mini ships before August 31, it will be the last product Apple launches under Tim Cook. Cook hands the CEO role to John Ternus on September 1, 2026 — a transition confirmed by Apple's own newsroom earlier this year. It's a low-key way to close out a decade-plus run leading the world's most valuable company.

MacRumors confirms the "within days" framing from Gurman's August 25 report. No regional availability details have been confirmed for the US or UK at launch.