Earlier this year, Apple removed the $599 base version of the 2024 Mac mini. The decision came after the model began facing long delays for purchases, likely due to ongoing RAM shortages, which have affected nearly every sector of the tech industry, although computers have been hit hard. However, we now know that Apple is bringing an updated model to the Mac mini family, following up the much-loved 2024 Mac mini with two new chip options. But choosing to upgrade to the new Mac Mini, scheduled for release in September, isn’t exactly easy.
Sure, the upgrade may look great on paper thanks to more cores and promises of efficiency, but a price hike could make the new device less attractive to users, especially if they already own the 2024 Mac mini. But does that mean you shouldn’t upgrade to the 2026 Mac mini? To answer this question, we need to look at several things.
First, we need to address the elephant in the room. If you’re already using the Mac mini 2024, you have one of two versions. The base version included Apple’s M4 chip, which sports a 10-core CPU and GPU, as well as a 16-core Neural Engine, making the 2024 Mac mini a beast of a computer, especially at its original price. Even now, two years later, Apple’s early M chip models still work great, and if you’re just looking to upgrade to the base 2026 model, which sports an M6 chip with two additional cores, then this upgrade probably isn’t worth it, especially at Apple’s much higher asking price of $899.
There’s not much new here
As for what’s actually new here, there’s not much change. The new Mac mini will have the same storage options, as well as the same ports. The 2026 model appears to be physically identical to the 2024 model. Both of these computers have three Thunderbolt ports, although the version may differ depending on which processor you decide to use. There’s also an HDMI output, as well as an Ethernet jack and two USB-C ports for additional connections.
You’ll find a small upgrade on the 2026 model, thanks to its inclusion of Wi-Fi 7 support, as well as upgraded Ethernet supporting connections up to 2.5Gbps. The 2024 model, on the other hand, only supports Wi-Fi 6E and Gigabit Ethernet connections. Both minis can be upgraded to 10Gbps, although most people probably won’t need it.
Although the storage has remained the same (you can upgrade from 256GB to 8TB depending on configuration), the actual RAM bandwidth in the 2026 models has seen a slight upgrade. You can still choose between 16 and 64 GB, but bandwidths now start at 170 Gbps compared to 120 Gbps of the 2024 model. Additionally, maximum bandwidth has increased, with the Mac mini 2026 model offering up to 370 Gbps compared to the higher 273 Gbps of the 2024. These are solid upgrades, but if you own one of the Mac minis High-end M4, you probably won’t notice a huge difference in daily use. So when is upgrading worth it?
Here’s when the 2026 Mac mini upgrade is probably worth it
If you’re not using the 2024 Mac mini and want the best from Apple in terms of raw performance on paper, then the Mac mini 2026 model is definitely a great option, especially if you don’t mind splurging on the high-end M5 Pro chip, which comes with five more cores than the base 2024 model.
However, if you already own the top-of-the-line 2024 variant and want to upgrade to the 2026 model, the upgrade is worth much less. Of course, more cores can generally mean improvements, but the base 2026 model comes with the same number of cores as the M4 Pro version of the 2024 Mac Mini, and only three additional cores for the M5 Pro chip variant. If you’re using the base 2024 Mac Mini and want the five extra cores of the 2026 model with the M5 Pro chip, the upgrade might be worth it.
It’s important to remember, though, that you’re looking at around $1,699 before taxes or additional fees for this upgrade. If you spend a lot of time working with AI or intensive programs, this upgrade could definitely be worth it, as these chips are designed for AI. It’s hard to say exactly how much it’s worth right now, as the 2026 Mac mini isn’t expected to be released for a few weeks. This means we have no real performance to compare it to the 2024 Mac mini. Deciding whether or not to upgrade might become easier once we do.
