Apple's M6 chip delivers 2nm process and modest performance boost over M5

Apple introduced the M6 processor, debuting in the Mac Mini, built on a 2nm process with 12 CPU cores and a 12-core GPU. The company claims a 20% improvement in multithreaded performance and faster AI tasks compared to the M5, though the gains are considered respectable rather than revolutionary. The base model includes 16GB of RAM, with options up to 32GB, and prices reflect higher memory costs.

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The M6 marks Apple's first shift to TSMC's 2nm manufacturing node, a transition that accounts for much of the generation's performance gains. The chip's core layout expands to 12 CPU cores—two super, four performance, and six efficiency—paired with a 12-core GPU and a dual 16-core Neural Engine. Apple claims 20% faster multithreaded performance and 30% faster AI workloads, with unified memory bandwidth rising to 170GB/s.

The base Mac Mini configuration starts at 16GB RAM, expandable to 32GB, with pricing reflecting higher memory costs tied to AI-driven demand. Apple removed its