M6 Mac mini: Three things Apple didn’t highlight in the announcement

New Mac Mini Models Introduce Key Specifications Not Highlighted in Apple Announcement

Apple unveiled its latest Mac mini models featuring M6 and M5 Pro chips this week, but several important details were not emphasized during the announcement. These include variations in memory bandwidth, new connectivity features, and the preinstalled operating system.

One notable specification involves memory bandwidth, which varies depending on the configuration. The base M6 Mac mini with 16GB of RAM provides 153GB/s of memory bandwidth. However, upgrading to 24GB or 32GB of RAM increases this to 170GB/s. For maximum memory bandwidth of 307GB/s, users must select the M5 Pro model. While all configurations represent an improvement over the previous M4 models, the differences in performance may influence purchasing decisions.

The new Mac mini also introduces advanced wireless capabilities, including Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, an upgrade from the M4 model’s Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. Additionally, the M6 Mac mini includes an Apple-designed N1 chip, enabling Thread support. Thread, a networking protocol for smart home devices, has been available on iPhones since the iPhone 15 Pro but is now making its debut on the Mac mini.

Another detail not prominently featured in Apple’s announcement is the preinstalled operating system. The M6 Mac mini ships with macOS Golden Gate, a version not explicitly mentioned on Apple’s website. Reports indicate that the company confirmed this to technology journalist John Gruber. Given that the Mac mini will not ship until September 22 and macOS 27 is expected to release around September 14, the inclusion of Golden Gate is not surprising. However, users who prefer to delay software updates should be aware of this.

The M6 Mac mini starts at $899 and is available for pre-order. The new models are set to begin shipping on September 22. For a detailed comparison between the M6 Mac mini and its predecessor, additional resources are available.

Apple’s refurbished store also offers Mac devices at a 15% discount. The new Mac mini models bring incremental improvements, though some key specifications were not highlighted in the initial announcement.