Apple may give the Mac mini 16GB of base memory

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Apple is reportedly preparing one of the Mac mini line’s rarer updates for 2026. The compact desktop is expected to move to two new chip options while also receiving more memory and storage in its base configurations. That could improve the entry-level specifications, but the starting price may rise as well.

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple plans to offer the Mac mini with the M6 and M5 Pro. The company is not expected to release Mac mini versions with the M6 Pro or M6 Max, making this a targeted refresh rather than a broader expansion of the lineup.

Expected Mac mini configurations

Rumored specifications include:

• M6 for the base Mac mini, with 16GB of unified memory
• M5 Pro for the more powerful version, with 24GB of memory
• 512GB SSD in the entry-level configuration, up from 256GB
• Thunderbolt 4 on the M6 model and Thunderbolt 5 on the M5 Pro version
• Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.0

Apple appears to be gradually removing 256GB storage from its more expensive computers. On Intel- and AMD-based mini PCs, 16GB of memory and a 512GB SSD are already common base specifications, so the changes would bring the Mac mini closer to prevailing hardware configurations.

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The price question is less favorable. Apple already raised the Mac mini’s US starting price from $600 to $800 last year. If that level remains in place or increases, the computer may no longer be the least expensive way to enter macOS. Instead, it could serve as a compact alternative to the Mac Studio for users who do not need its higher performance ceiling.

Apple has not announced a release date, leaving 2026 as the only current timeframe. Gurman also reports that Apple is working on a new Mac Studio with the M5 Max and M5 Ultra. If those plans hold, both of Apple’s desktop lines could be updated in the next hardware cycle.

Marta Barinova is an editor in the news department specializing in software analysis, streaming services, and policy changes at global technology platforms. She has written more than 140 articles covering Windows updates, changes to Spotify and Google, and antitrust regulation of app stores.