Apple's refreshed Mac desktops prioritize on-device AI with new M6 and M5 Ultra chips

Apple unveiled updated Mac Studio and Mac mini models powered by the M6, its first 2nm chip for Macs, and the M5 Ultra, now the most powerful in the lineup. The refresh is primarily a specs bump but highlights local AI inference, building on macOS 26.2's support for low-latency Thunderbolt 5 communication that enables distributed AI workloads. These machines have become popular for running large language models locally, offering an alternative to dedicated Nvidia-based hardware.