Demand for Apple’s compact Mac mini computers is unexpectedly breaking all conceivable and inconceivable records. That makes it all the more interesting to find out when Cupertino will release the next model powered by M5 and M5 Pro chips. In theory, its presentation could happen at WWDC in June 2026, but a shortage of components and high demand from AI developers could push the release to the second half of the year. Recently, Apple removed the cheapest Mac mini from its storefront, and that also hints at upcoming changes. We’ve gathered everything known about the Mac mini M5, what to expect in terms of specs and price, and whether it’s worth postponing a purchase of the current model.
Figuring out what’s better: wait or buy now
When Will the Mac Mini on M5 and M5 Pro Be Released
Apple has not officially confirmed a release date. At the March 2026 “Special Experience” event, the new Mac mini was not shown, although the M5 Pro chip was presented there — the very chip expected in at least one configuration of the next mini.
M5-series chips should become the new heart of the Mac mini
According to Bloomberg, Apple is developing a Mac mini with M5 and M5 Pro chips and has the model on its roadmap for 2026. And in December 2025, mentions of these versions were found in a leak of internal Apple files. There are two realistic scenarios:
- announcement at WWDC in June 2026;
- a shift to the second half of 2026 due to shortages and rumors about the future M6 chip.
Apple has updated the Mac mini irregularly before: the M1 version was sold for almost three years, the M3 generation was skipped entirely, and the M4 came out only at the end of 2024. So a delay is within the usual pattern for the lineup.
Why the Mac Mini M4 Disappeared from Sale
As of May 2026, buying a Mac mini is not easy. Delivery of some configurations has stretched to 10-12 weeks — compared to the usual 3-4 weeks for the base model with 512 GB SSD and 16 GB of RAM. Apple has even removed some configurations with expanded memory from its online store altogether.
During Apple’s quarterly earnings call, Tim Cook acknowledged that the shortage would last several more months. The main bottleneck is limited manufacturing capacity for M-series chips on the most advanced process node. Additional pressure comes from a global RAM shortage: data centers training AI models are competing for the same memory chips.
Multiple Mac minis are combined to increase power
The second factor is demand. The Mac mini turned out to be an excellent machine for running AI models locally: the shared memory pool for the processor and graphics (known as unified memory — a single pool used simultaneously by the CPU and GPU) gives it an advantage over regular PCs with separate RAM and video memory. Developers and small companies are buying up minis as compact AI servers, which accelerates the depletion of stock.
How the Mac Mini M5 Will Differ from the Mac Mini M4
The M5 debuted in October 2025. The architecture remained 3-nanometer, but the main focus was on graphics and artificial intelligence tasks: the new GPU received dedicated blocks for AI computations. The M5 Pro launched in March 2026 and is built on “Fusion Architecture” — two dies combined into a single chip. It has an 18-core processor: 6 “super-cores” and 12 performance cores.
What this means in practice:
- graphics are approximately 10-30% faster than the M4, depending on workload;
- a noticeable improvement in local image generation and language model processing;
- SSD speeds on the M5 Pro and M5 Max are up to twice as fast as the previous generation in some scenarios;
- CPU performance gains are more modest — about 10-15% in single-core benchmarks.
In short: the main improvements will be felt by those who work with graphics and AI, not those who just need a fast office desktop.
What Specs Will the Mac Mini M5 Get
There are no confirmed specifications, but based on the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air updates in March 2026, the following can be expected:
- starting from 16 GB of RAM for the M5 and from 24 GB for the M5 Pro;
- base SSD of 512 GB instead of 256 GB, up to 4 TB for M5 and up to 8 TB for M5 Pro;
- Thunderbolt 4 for the standard version and Thunderbolt 5 for M5 Pro;
- Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 — in line with the spring laptops.
The Mac mini M5 design will remain unchanged compared to the M4 version
The case will most likely remain the same: the 5-by-5-inch square introduced in 2024 is designed to last several years. The port selection also stays the same: two USB-C on the front, a headphone jack, three Thunderbolt ports on the back, HDMI, and gigabit Ethernet (with a 10 Gbit/s option).
How Much Will the Mac Mini M5 Cost in Russia
Apple has not yet announced prices, but the starting price will most likely increase. Already in May 2026, the most affordable M4 version with 256 GB at $599 disappeared from the online store — now the base configuration is considered the 512 GB version at $799, which in Russia comes to approximately 80,000 ₽.
It will be very interesting to see what happens with the price of the new Mac mini
For reference, the previous M4 lineup looked like this:
- $599 — M4, 16 GB, 256 GB SSD (discontinued) — approximately from 60,000 ₽ in Russia;
- $799 — M4, 16 GB, 512 GB SSD — approximately from 80,000 ₽ in Russia;
- $999 — M4, 24 GB, 512 GB SSD — approximately from 100,000 ₽ in Russia;
- $1,399 — M4 Pro, 24 GB, 512 GB SSD — approximately from 140,000 ₽ in Russia.
Logically, Apple could either keep $799 as the new base with 512 GB, or choose an intermediate option — around $699 (approximately from 70,000 ₽ in Russia) with the same amount of memory. Prices are under pressure from rising component costs, memory shortages, and potential tariffs. Apple plans to assemble some future Mac minis at the Foxconn plant in Texas, which removes some tariff risks but adds other expenses. There’s also a counter-argument: the Mac mini has historically been positioned as Apple’s most affordable desktop, and the company may deliberately avoid raising the price tag to preserve that reputation.
Which Mac Mini to Choose
