The first reviews of the new Mac mini, which offers M6 and M5 Pro chip options, appeared ahead of the computer’s launch this Tuesday.
Mac mini performance and pricing
Reviewers largely agree that the new Mac mini is extremely capable — including for AI workloads — but criticize a $300 price increase. The model now starts at $899 in the U.S., up from $599 for the previous model when it first launched.
Reviewer Luke Larsen said it is “still a good deal” because of the impressive performance of the M6 and M5 Pro options, but, to borrow a famous Steve Jobs phrase, it “just might not be such an ‘insanely great’ deal anymore.”
That trade-off between strong performance and higher cost is the central point of most reviews published today: the machine’s capabilities have improved, yet the higher entry price is seen as unfortunate.
Apple said it has raised prices on many products due to the ongoing memory chip shortage, with the company passing on the skyrocketing prices of RAM and storage chips to customers.
Other reviews of the Mac mini were published by Tom’s Guide, CNET, Engadget, 9to5Mac, and Six Colors.
