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Mac mini vs Mac Studio: how much power the extra money buys
Mac mini (2026) M6 at $899 vs Mac Studio (2026) M5 Max at $2499.
CPU
230
GPU
327
Mac Studio
Mac Studio (2026)
M5 Max (18-CPU/32-GPU), 36GB, 512GB · $2499
CPU
337
GPU
629
Mac Studio vs Mac mini:
CPU +47%
GPU +92%
Price +$1600
Scores are relative: 2020 M1 MacBook Air = 100, so 200 is about twice as fast. How we score
Verdict
- Most desks
- Mac mini with M6. Fast, tiny, and the cheapest new Mac.
- Heavy CPU work
- Mac mini with M5 Pro. Its top version gets within about 8% of the Studio's CPU for much less.
- GPU, 3D, large local AI models
- Mac Studio. M5 Max roughly doubles the mini's GPU; M3 Ultra (844) is still the fastest GPU MacDiff has tested.
Configurations to compare
| Model | Configuration | CPU | GPU | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mac mini (2026) | M6 (12-CPU/12-GPU), 16GB, 256GB | 230 | 327 | $899 |
| Mac mini (2026) | M5 Pro (18-CPU/20-GPU), 24GB, 512GB | 311 | 455 | $1899 |
| Mac Studio (2026) | M5 Max (18-CPU/32-GPU), 36GB, 512GB | 337 | 629 | $2499 |
| Mac Studio (2026) | M5 Max (18-CPU/40-GPU), 48GB, 512GB | 337 | 776 | $3099 |
| Mac Studio (2025) | M3 Ultra (28-CPU/60-GPU), 96GB, 1TB | 300 | 737 | $3999 |
| Mac Studio (2025) | M3 Ultra (32-CPU/80-GPU), 96GB, 1TB | 325 | 844 | $4999 |
FAQ
Is the M6 Mac mini faster than the M5 Pro Mac mini?
No. M5 Pro leads on CPU (300–311 vs 230) and GPU (411–455 vs 327). M6 wins on price.
Does MacDiff score the M5 Ultra Mac Studio?
Not yet. It ships, but MacDiff has not tested it.
What do the scores mean?
Every Mac is scored against the 2020 M1 MacBook Air = 100. A score of 200 means about twice as fast. These are MacDiff's own relative scores, not Geekbench points.