WIRED's latest Mac desktop buying guide argues that the Mac Mini and Mac Studio have been repositioned as always-on local AI machines after long-awaited chip refreshes. The Mac Mini now starts at $899 with the M6 chip, $300 more than the previous base price, but with higher specs and a new focus on running AI locally. The Mac Studio offers M5 Max and M5 Ultra options, with the Ultra capable of running a foundation-tier LLM entirely on-device in testing.
The guide recommends the M6 Mac Mini for most people, citing strong GPU performance and enough power for creative applications. It says the M5 Pro Mini is only worth considering for professionals doing heavy video editing, 3D modeling, or rendering. The Mac Studio's main advantages are graphics and memory: the M5 Max can be configured up to 128GB, while the M5 Ultra can reach 256GB, but prices climb quickly—WIRED's tested M5 Ultra cost over $11,000.
WIRED advises against buying the current iMac right now, saying the once-iconic all-in-one has been downplayed in Apple's desktop lineup. It also flags availability issues: the M6 Mac Mini can be picked up same-day, while M5 Pro Mini orders may take up to four weeks, and some Mac Studio configurations can take up to four months to ship. For business buyers, the takeaway is that Apple's desktop strategy now centers on AI-ready performance, with clear trade-offs in price and lead time.