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Apple is preparing a new Mac mini that could arrive within days, according to people familiar with its plans. The desktop would receive its first update in almost two years. Apple has reportedly tested machines with M5 and M6 chips, though the company has not publicly confirmed the final processor.
The release could take place before Apple’s expected September iPhone presentation. Demand for the Mac mini has grown among users who run artificial intelligence software locally. Meanwhile, limited memory-chip supplies have made configurations harder to obtain.
Sources said Apple could introduce the new Mac mini “as soon as the coming days". That schedule would place the launch before the company’s next iPhone event, which reports expect on September 9. Apple did not immediately respond to comment on the reported desktop launch.
The company has tested versions using both M5 and M6 processors. The models, prices and release date remain unknown. Apple introduced the current Mac mini in October 2024 with M4 and M4 Pro chip options.
That model brought a smaller five-by-five-inch design. Apple said its M4 processor offered up to 1.8 times the CPU performance of the M1 model. The M4 Pro version added Thunderbolt 5 and supported up to 64GB of unified memory.
Interest in local AI tools has increased demand for the compact computer. Users can run some AI models on the machine instead of relying entirely on remote servers. Its design and Apple silicon have helped attract developers and other buyers.
At the same time, memory-chip shortages have disrupted availability. Reports said deliveries have taken weeks or months in some cases. Apple has not said whether the expected upgrade will improve availability or shorten the reported delivery delays.
Apple has also linked the Mac mini to its American manufacturing plans. The company confirmed that production will begin at its Houston site later in 2026. Apple has not said whether workers there will assemble the model expected shortly.
In August, Apple opened an Advanced Manufacturing Center at the same Houston campus. The company said the site already produces and ships AI servers. Mac mini production will expand the campus later this year.
The reported Mac mini forms one part of Apple’s late-2026 product schedule. Reports also point to Apple Watch models, AirPods 5 and an iPad mini with an OLED display. Apple has not publicly confirmed their launch dates or specifications.
The company could introduce AirPods 5 during its September event. The entry-level earbuds last received an update in 2024. Reports place camera-equipped AirPods in 2027. They would support AI features that use visual information.
Apple is also preparing more Macs, according to the report. The list includes an iMac with new colors and an updated entry-level MacBook Pro using an M6 chip. Apple is also developing touch-screen MacBook Pro models in 14-inch and 16-inch sizes, with OLED displays and redesigned cases.
Other planned devices reportedly include a smart home product with a screen, a new Apple TV and an updated HomePod mini. An OLED iPad mini could arrive by the end of October. Apple has not announced these products, so their timing may change before release.
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