Apple’s unexpected August update to the Mac mini and Mac Studio has changed the pricing of the models in a big way. Here’s the best desktop Mac you should buy for your budget in fall 2026.
Apple’s current desktop Mac range.
Apple’s current desktop Mac range.
In August, while the world was preparing for the expected launch of new iPhone models in September, Apple had a trick up its sleeve. Without any warning, it launched changes to the Mac mini and Mac Studio near the end of August.
Chiefly, the change was to introduce a new M6 chip generation in the Mac mini, as well as to upgrade the Mac Studio to include M5 Max and M5 Ultra versions. Thanks to the ongoing memory chip crisis, this has also meant changes to the way the models are sold.