Apple introduces M6 and M5 Ultra for a big leap in performance and AI compute
Apple introduced the M6 and M5 Ultra chips, featuring advanced 2 nm and quad-die architectures, respectively, to enhance desktop performance and AI capabilities in new Mac mini and Mac Studio models.
Apple unveiled the M6, its first 2 nm chip, in the new Mac mini, featuring a 12-core CPU, 12-core GPU, and a Dual 16-core Neural Engine. The chip delivers up to 1.2x faster multithreaded performance than M5 and supports up to 32GB of unified memory with 170GB/s bandwidth. It is designed for everyday tasks, coding, and on-device AI workflows, offering improved energy efficiency and faster model execution.
The M5 Ultra, introduced in the new Mac Studio, uses a quad-die architecture with UltraFusion technology, connecting two dual-die M5 Max chips for the first time. It includes up to a 36-core CPU and 80-core GPU, with 1.2TB/s of unified memory bandwidth and support for up to 512GB of memory. The chip targets professionals handling complex workloads like 3D rendering, AI models, and high-resolution video editing.
Apple highlighted the M6’s Dual 16-core Neural Engine, which provides up to 2x peak compute over previous generations, enabling faster on-device AI tasks. The GPU includes Neural Accelerators, delivering nearly 30% more peak GPU compute for AI compared to M5. The chip also supports hardware-accelerated ray tracing and Dynamic Caching for improved graphics performance.
Apple emphasized the M5 Ultra’s capabilities for AI and graphics-intensive workloads, including a 32-core Neural Engine and next-generation GPU with Neural Accelerators. The chip’s 1.2TB/s memory bandwidth and 512GB unified memory support allow running large AI models locally. Developer tools like Core AI, Core ML, and Metal are optimized to leverage these advancements for on-device AI and graphics processing.