JPack
macrumors P6
Apple has never taken the full 12-months to implement a new base chip in any Mac refresh. That's what October 2026 instead of WWDC26 would mean. But there's a first for everything.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
The new Mac mini is almost certainly coming
- Thread starter GabrieleR
- Start date
-
- Tags
- mac mini new mac mini
- Sort by reaction score
Apple has never taken the full 12-months to implement a new base chip in any Mac refresh. That's what October 2026 instead of WWDC26 would mean. But there's a first for everything.
Very low. I would say June 10% (at most), October-ish 50%, next year 40%. If not June, we then need ask whether M5 or M6.
Problem is if they stick to an October release that’s pretty much when m6 lands in the laptops.
Having said that, like the staggered m5 launch, a revamped mini m6 might benefit from binned processors and the range might cut out the m6 pro processors if they repeat the staggered launch as with m5 pro.
If the m6 pro comes out at the same time as m6 max (with m5 ultra as top model) then it makes sense to package it together into Mac Studio SKUs.
And leave various specs of m6 for the mini - maybe binned versions with an option to upgrade to full fat ones.
If being cheeky a base model with a19 pro and 12/512 instead of 16/256 could replace the equivalent m4.
Leaving m6 binned as a 16/512 sku followed by a 16/1tb and then a 24/1tb top model.
Replace the m4 pro with a full fat m6 32gb/1tb
Launching before October (eg any time between April and July) only makes sense if they had a full m5 range ready to go but were impacted by supply chain issues and had to pause full manufacturing to make sure the Neo and other laptops got out ok.
Maybe there is no fall m6
Apple Will Make You Wait To Upgrade To Its Redesigned M6 MacBook Pro Lineup, As DRAM & SSD Shortage Could Delay Launch To 2027
DRAM and SSD shortages mean Apple might not unveil its M6 MacBook Pro lineup earlier, with the launch potentially happening in 2027
wccftech.com
Well, except the M3 Mini which never existed.
I don't think there's any specific evidence that the Mini will skip the M5 completely, but it wouldn't be unprecedented.
Yes but I’d have thought the m5 would be cheaper to make than the m6 in terms of process so if anything Apple might prefer to do a full refresh with m5 series chips in due course rather than get involved in choking up supply chain with the m6 where supply may be tight and then worry about a possible gap in availability with m6 pro models like there has been with m5 pro.
Wasn’t m3 relatively expensive to make on a bit of a dead end process?
depends if the whole line gets delayed or if the intention was to go with m5 but for delays in supply chain recently
...or. if manufacturing capacity is the bottleneck, it might make more sense to consolidate everything on the M6 (and whatever RAM it uses) rather than have to juggle M6 and M5 manufacture. Without detailed insider knowledge, who knows?
I just don't think you can predict it with numerology based on past product cycles - these circumstances haven't happened before.
I do (sadly) think that Apple can survive for quite a while with no Minis and Studios on the shelf, and their main priority will be to keep the laptops - which outsell desktops by a large margin, and provide Mac's most visible products, flowing.
finally somebody gets it!
Shipping times for some MacBook Airs variants are hitting 3-4 weeks
MacBook Pro starting to slip as well
Bottom line: if you need a computer buy it now. Waiting out theoretical future products could leave you waiting a long time
amancalledsun
macrumors 6502
This has always been the case. People have started to get comfortable with Apple having a predictable release schedule since the M1 and with yearly iPhone refreshes every September, resulting in misleading expectations. It was not always so predictable nor does it need to be; buy the computer you need when you need it, not when you think Apple is going to put out the latest greatest that is almost certainly coming.
At the moment though, M6 Pro/Max chips might be 2027 at this rate if the M5/Pro situation is an example to follow - and they might not want to put M5/M6 Pro chips into a Mini anyway if they think they can make more profit putting them in a laptop - or a Mac Studio.
And yes, I think they'd be ok with leaving M4 Minis and Studios in shortage mode for the rest of the year if they need to. The laptops are much more profitable.
Totally Bored
macrumors regular
lol ... I want a M4 Mac Mini with 24 or 32 GB Ram and 1 TB SSD.
All gone nothing available 🙁
I have that. Thinking of putting it on eBay for 5K or so, LOL! Problem is, I love it SO MUCH! Best computer I ever had, and I had some beauties.
I’m seeing 10 weeks shipping for that
If I would you I would order now and sign up for a refurb store tracker
If your config comes up sooner and cheaper refurb then cancel the new
Worst case you have a new computer in 10 weeks
gigatoaster
macrumors 68000
I have a mini M1 16GB / 2TB and since day-1 it has worked flawlessly. It’s so reliable!
I’m kind of disappointed because I really want a M5 with 10 Gbit/s but the mini M1 just don’t want to die…
I’m kind of disappointed because I really want a M5 with 10 Gbit/s but the mini M1 just don’t want to die…
Totally Bored
macrumors regular
I’m not in a hurry.
Using a 2014 iMac 27” that works great but not for the internet. I want to replace that. I have a monitor, keyboard extra mouse all ready to go.
Meanwhile I have a MBP M2 that does everything I want.
When they’re eventually available M4 or M5, I’ll buy one.
I’m also in the market for a mini but I want to wait for the update.
There’s no rush
My M1 iMac is good enough still
There’s no rush
My M1 iMac is good enough still
yellowhelicopter
macrumors regular
Delighted with my decision, MBP is on a vertical stand, small footprint on desk, blazing fast compared to my Mac mini and a great laptop when used as such.
Time89
macrumors member
Exactly the same happens to me. Decided Enough of that win 11 BS - after 34 yrs- Mac mini my next desktop computer before my retirement- and now a Mac drama with M4 versus M5, and dropping 256gb version and now refurbished is a gold dust- I can’t handle this with out Stolichnaya.
1st-Replicant
macrumors newbie
Same question for me.
These are my thoughts:
- I wait until WWDC
- If an Mac mini M5 16/512, 16/1TB or 24/1TB is announced (and available directly) at an affordable price, I will order it
- If the Mac mini M5 is more expensive than the MBP M5 (Apple refurbished Store) with similar specs, I will order an MBP M5.
MBP 2025 M5 16/512 for 1.300 €
MBP 2026 M5 16/1TB for 1.460 €
MBP 2026 M5 24/1TB for 1.650 €
Last edited:
opeter
macrumors 68030
I have a strange feeling, that the Mac mini wont see any updates this year.
Populus
macrumors 604
I have the feeling that they had the M5 Mac mini designed (the device identifier even appeared in the macOS 26.4 beta code), with the components ready for the launch… but they put it on hold for several reasons: Supply chain constraints on the M5 chip manufacturing, as well as the well known constraints on RAM and NAND, added to the agentic AI craze making people buy the M4 Mac mini in large amounts, scared them to be left without M5 chips for more profitable products such as the MacBook Air or the MacBook Pro.
Given the constraints, they just decided to prioritize the laptops and put on hold the desktops, until they accumulate enough M5 chips, plus memory plus storage. And I’m quite sure they are recalculating the price tag as well as cost cutting.
We’ll see… I’ll keep waiting for the M5 Mac mini because that’s the machine I wanted from the beginning, but if there’s no M5 mini at sight, or the price increase is substantial, I am more and more ready to get an M5 MacBook Air. Despite of the disadvantages already quoted by @JPack (a more fragile machine), if I want it to perform almost like a fan cooled Mac, I can always dock it with a good dissipation system. I mean, that’s the alternative.
What I’m quite sure is that it’s not worth the risk of waiting for the M6 gen due to how prices are going to rise. In my opinion, it is a now or never situation, so maybe I’ll wait until the back to school promo and get what I need then. If it’s not too late, as a price increase could happen at any time…
As for the iPhone, I think I can afford to wait one more year, and if Apple decides to cut costs using the ****** QLC NAND for the iPhone 18/18e storage, I can always get a used/second hand/refurbished 17e. Even one with a broken display will serve me, as I’m going to replace the screen for an Incell LCD one.
But, yeah, now is definitely the time to upgrade for those of us who have been waiting and use our devices for 8-10 years straight.
Last edited:
mastercoin
macrumors newbie
IF you need to lose your Mac mini, today, I am more than capable to find it a loving home 😎👍
Populus
macrumors 604
The coming of the M5 Mac mini is… uncertain.
So… I’ll tell you what. Whenever the back to school promo kicks in, I’ll buy my Mac. If the M5 Mac mini is still on the air… I’ll grab a MacBook Air, and put it into a cooling stand (with the thermal pad modification) so that the M5 MBA doesn’t get fried and die in a few years.
So… I’ll tell you what. Whenever the back to school promo kicks in, I’ll buy my Mac. If the M5 Mac mini is still on the air… I’ll grab a MacBook Air, and put it into a cooling stand (with the thermal pad modification) so that the M5 MBA doesn’t get fried and die in a few years.