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    Apple unveils new Mac mini, featuring M6 and M5 Pro, delivers a massive leap in AI performance-UPDATED

    ByRSS Feed

     

    Users can do it all with the ultracompact Mac mini featuring the all-new M6 or powerful M5 Pro — from advanced productivity to running AI models on device, and more.

    Apple today announced the new Mac mini with the all-new M6 and powerful M5 Pro, delivering a dramatic boost in performance and even more versatility in its supersmall desktop design. With M6, Mac mini now delivers up to 4x faster AI performance, 2x faster storage and graphics, and 40 percent faster CPU performance. Everything on Mac mini with M6 feels incredibly fast, from everyday productivity tasks to agentic AI workflows. Mac mini with M5 Pro delivers even more pro-level performance to breeze through demanding projects, from video production to game development. And this new level of performance takes on business workflows with ease whether Mac mini is being used as a primary desktop or for always-on, deskside agentic computing. Both Mac mini models include Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, as well as upgraded 2.5Gb Ethernet, with a 10Gb option available. Combined with the power of macOS 27 and the next generation of Apple Intelligence, including Siri AI, the new Mac mini is a tremendous upgrade for existing and new-to-Mac users. The new Mac mini is available for pre-order starting today, with availability beginning September 22.

    “Mac mini has always been our most versatile Mac. Whether it’s being used as a home computer, powering a professional studio, or as an always-on agentic device, it’s the little Mac that can do it all,” said Johny Srouji, Apple’s chief hardware officer, in a statement. “Today, we’re taking this versatility even further. With a more powerful CPU and graphics, Neural Accelerators in the GPU, and higher memory bandwidth, Mac mini with M6 delivers a whole new level of AI performance. And with up to an 18-core CPU and 20-core GPU, Mac mini with M5 Pro is an ultracompact powerhouse for complex pro workflows. We can’t wait to see all the incredible ways people will use it next.”

    Mac mini with M6 can power through everything from productivity tasks to creative projects, the latest AI workflows, and more. M6 features a 12-core CPU — two more cores than before — with the world’s fastest single-threaded performance, so everything feels extra snappy and responsive. A 12-core GPU, also with two more cores than before, now includes Neural Accelerators in each core for the first time on Mac mini, resulting in up to 4x faster AI performance and 2x faster graphics than Mac mini with M4. In addition, the all-new Dual 16-core Neural Engine delivers up to 2x faster performance than the previous generation, and combined with the advanced GPU, Mac mini is a powerhouse for all things AI. And with 16GB of standard unified memory configurable up to 32GB, as well as higher memory bandwidth up to 170GB/s, multitasking is faster than ever.

    Mac mini with M6 delivers massive performance gains with the world’s fastest CPU core, a next-generation GPU featuring Neural Accelerators, and the Dual 16-core Neural Engine, making it a powerhouse for AI.

    • Up to 13.5x faster LLM prompt processing in LM Studio when compared to Mac mini with M1, and up to 4.8x faster than M4.

    • Up to 2.3x faster spreadsheet calculations in Microsoft Excel when compared to Mac mini with M1, and up to 1.5x faster than M4.

    • Up to 2x faster gaming performance with ray tracing in Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition when compared to Mac mini with M4.

    Mac mini with M5 Pro redefines what’s possible on such a small desktop, enabling pro users to take on demanding workflows like app development, video rendering, scientific simulations, and more. M5 Pro features up to an 18-core CPU with remarkable multithreaded performance and up to a 20-core GPU with an enhanced shader core and third-generation ray tracing for complex work in 3D design, VFX, and game development. With Neural Accelerators in each GPU core, M5 Pro also delivers significant gains in AI compute compared to the previous Mac mini, allowing users to tackle more advanced AI workflows like photo and video upscaling, and running large diffusion models faster than ever. Mac mini with M5 Pro supports up to 64GB of unified memory with 307GB/s of memory bandwidth, enabling users to run even larger local AI models, work with complex 3D scenes, edit ProRes RAW files, and load large custom datasets for research. And with industry-leading performance per watt, Mac mini with M5 Pro is quiet, efficient, and ideal as an always-on desktop for AI agents or creative workflows.

    M5 Pro supercharges Mac mini with a next-generation up-to-20-core GPU with Neural Accelerators, faster unified memory, and Thunderbolt 5, delivering serious performance for creative and technical workflows.

    • Up to 8.5x faster LLM prompt processing performance in LM Studio when compared to Mac mini with M2 Pro, and up to 4x faster than M4 Pro.

    • Up to 4.5x faster rendering performance with ray tracing in Blender when compared to Mac mini with M2 Pro, and up to 1.4x faster than M4 Pro.

    • Up to 2.1x faster image processing in Affinity when compared to Mac mini with M2 Pro, and up to 1.5x faster than M4 Pro.

    The new Mac mini with M6 and M5 Pro now supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, as well as 2.5Gb Ethernet for faster wired connectivity, with 10Gb available. On its front are two USB-C ports that support USB 3 and a headphone jack with high-impedance headphone support for convenient access. On the back, there are three Thunderbolt 4 ports on Mac mini with M6, and three Thunderbolt 5 ports on Mac mini with M5 Pro, along with HDMI and Ethernet. Thunderbolt 5 also allows users to cluster multiple Mac mini systems together to run large AI models entirely on device. And newly added genlock support through USB-C enables precise synchronization between a display and camera, including iPhone 17 Pro.

    With a wide array of connectivity, the new Mac mini with M6 and M5 Pro now supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, as well as 2.5Gb Ethernet for faster wired connectivity, with 10Gb available to configure.

    The new Mac mini comes to life with the upcoming macOS 27, which includes Siri AI, a profoundly more capable and personal assistant; helpful Apple Intelligence features across everyday apps; and an expansive set of improvements that make the Mac even more responsive and reliable. Siri AI can draw on personal context to help users find what they need in the moment across their messages, emails, and photos; answer questions about virtually any topic; and get things done across apps. Siri AI is integrated into Spotlight and systemwide context menus, and users can ask Siri about what’s on their display with Visual Intelligence using a dedicated keyboard shortcut. Users can also write and edit with Siri almost anywhere they type.

    Additionally, Apple Intelligence makes apps smarter and more useful with new ways to tailor and organize browsing in Safari, easily create an automation in Shortcuts by simply describing it, and tap into advanced photo editing in the Photos app. Features users already rely on get even better with improvements to performance and search. Refinements to Liquid Glass improve readability, and add uniform toolbars, edge-to-edge sidebars, and updated window shapes and menu bar icons, enabling users to further personalize its appearance.

    • Customers can pre-order the new Mac mini with M6 and M5 Pro starting today, August 25, on apple.com/store and in the Apple Store app in 30 countries and regions, including the U.S. It will begin arriving to customers, and in Apple Store locations and Apple Authorized Resellers, starting September 22.8

    • Mac mini with M6 starts at US$899 and $799 for education. Additional technical specifications are available at apple.com/mac-mini.

    • Mac mini with M5 Pro starts at $1,699 and $1,599 for education. Additional technical specifications are available at apple.com/mac-mini.

    • Additional technical specifications, configure-to-order options, and information on Studio Display, Studio Display XDR, and Magic accessories are available at apple.com/mac.

    • macOS 27 is available for testing in public beta through the Apple Beta Software Program at beta.apple.com, with availability as a free software update this fall. For more information, visit apple.com/macos. Features are subject to change. Some features may not be available in all regions or in all languages.

    • With Apple Trade In, customers can trade in their current computer and get credit toward a new Mac. Customers can visit apple.com/shop/trade-in to see what their device is worth. With year-round education pricing — available to current and newly accepted college students and educators — customers can save on Mac mini, along with a wide range of products and services through the Apple Store online and in stores. See Apple’s Education Store for details. Customers in the U.S. who shop at Apple using Apple Card can pay monthly at 0 percent APR when they choose to check out with Apple Card Monthly Installments, and they’ll get 3 percent Daily Cash back — all up front.10 More information — including details on eligibility, exclusions, and Apple Card terms — is available at apple.com/apple-card/monthly-installments.

    • AppleCare delivers exceptional service and support, with flexible options for Apple users. Customers can choose AppleCare+ to cover their new Mac, or, in available markets, AppleCare One to protect multiple products in one simple plan. Both plans include coverage for accidents like drops and spills, battery replacement service, and priority support from Apple Experts. For more information, visit apple.com/applecare.

    • Every customer who buys directly from Apple gets access to Personal Setup. In these guided online sessions, a Specialist can walk them through setup or focus on features that will help them make the most of their new device. Customers can also learn more about getting started and going further with their new device with a Today at Apple session at their nearest Apple Store.

    Now we get a feel for the new RAMageddon pricing.

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    Source link: https://macdailynews.com/2026/08/25/apple-unveils-new-mac-mini-featuring-m6-and-m5-pro-delivers-a-massive-leap-in-ai-performance/

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    Apple paid 40% of global taxes to Ireland last year

    ByRSS Feed

    Tim Cook teases a 'big week ahead' starting Monday

    In a striking illustration of how corporate tax structures and long-running legal battles can reshape national revenues, Apple paid Ireland $17.1 billion in income taxes during its fiscal year ending September 2025. That sum represented roughly 40% of the company’s worldwide total of $43.2 billion in income taxes for the period, according to a company filing detailing country-by-country liabilities.

    The Irish figure was “significantly higher” than the taxes Apple accrued for the year in that jurisdiction. The difference stemmed primarily from the release of escrowed funds tied to a European Union state-aid case: approximately €13 billion (about $15.18 billion at then-prevailing exchange rates) in back taxes that the EU’s top court ordered Apple to pay Ireland in 2024.

    The roots of this payment stretch back nearly a decade. In 2016, then-European Commission competition chief Margrethe Vestager ruled that Ireland had granted Apple illegal tax benefits through selective tax rulings dating to the 1990s and 2000s. These arrangements allegedly allowed the company to achieve effective tax rates far below Ireland’s standard 12.5% corporate rate (sometimes under 1%) on profits booked through Irish subsidiaries, diverting investment and tax base from other EU countries.

    Ireland and Apple fought the decision vigorously for eight years. Ireland’s government defended its low-tax regime as essential to attracting U.S. multinationals and the substantial direct and indirect economic benefits they bring, including jobs, research activity, and ongoing tax receipts. The money was held in escrow while appeals proceeded. In September 2024, the Court of Justice of the European Union sided with the Commission, upholding the recovery order and clearing the way for the funds to reach the Irish state.

    Apple has long maintained that it complied fully with Irish law and that the profits in question derived primarily from intellectual property developed in the United States, arguing they should be taxed there rather than in Ireland.

    These details emerged under the EU’s relatively new country-by-country reporting requirements for large multinationals (those with global revenues exceeding €750 million). The filings require public disclosure of revenues, profits, employees, and taxes paid across jurisdictions, offering unprecedented visibility into how companies allocate their tax base.

    Beyond the headline numbers, the disclosures highlight the concentration of Apple’s European activity in Ireland. The company reported roughly $213.5–213.6 billion in revenues assigned to its Irish operations and pre-tax profits of about $34.6 billion there. It employs 5,575 people in Ireland (home to its European headquarters) translating to pre-tax profits on the order of $6 million per employee. By comparison, figures for other markets, such as Germany (around 4,089 employees), show far lower profit-per-employee metrics and much smaller tax payments relative to the overall total.

    Across 22 specified countries (including 18 EU member states plus others such as Norway, Vietnam, Russia, and Turkey), Apple paid about $17.6 billion in taxes. The remaining $25.6 billion went to all other jurisdictions, which include the United States. Apple’s U.S. federal income tax charge for the same period was reported at $11.5 billion. Over the past five years, the company has paid EU member states a cumulative $34 billion in taxes.

    Apple has emphasized that it is consistently one of the world’s largest taxpayers and that these corporate income tax figures focus on where assets and profits are booked, rather than consumption taxes such as VAT that are collected where customers are located.

    Ireland’s 12.5% corporate tax rate has long made it a preferred European base for U.S. technology and pharmaceutical giants. The strategy has delivered outsized results: in 2024, just three companies (widely identified as Apple, Microsoft, and Eli Lilly) accounted for nearly half of Ireland’s total corporate tax receipts, according to analysis by the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council. This concentration brings both bounty and risk; a shift by even one major payer could significantly affect public finances.

    The timing coincides with broader international efforts to curb profit shifting, including the OECD’s Pillar Two global minimum tax of 15%. Ireland has adapted its rules accordingly, and some of Apple’s recent payments already reflect elements of this framework. Yet the Apple case underscores persistent tensions: while the EU has used state-aid rules aggressively to challenge preferential arrangements, low-tax jurisdictions continue to attract investment, and companies continue to structure operations around intellectual property and holding entities.

    For Ireland, the $17.1 billion infusion is a one-time boost rather than a new normal. Stripping out the back taxes leaves a more conventional annual payment closer to the accrued figure of around $4.8 billion (an effective rate near 13.8% on the year’s Irish-booked profits). Still, the episode reinforces the country’s central role in the European operations of major American firms.

    The disclosures also fuel ongoing debates about fairness in the global tax system. Critics of low-tax regimes argue they erode the tax bases of larger economies; defenders point to the real economic activity, employment, and innovation hubs that such policies help create. Apple’s filings make one point unambiguous: when a decade-old legal dispute finally settles, the cash impact can be enormous, and highly concentrated in a single small EU member state.

    As more multinationals release similar country-by-country data under the new EU rules, expect sharper scrutiny of where profits are booked versus where value is created and where workforces are located. For now, Apple’s 2025 numbers stand as a vivid snapshot of the intersection of corporate strategy, national tax policy, and European competition enforcement.

    Apple doesn’t pay taxes, Apple’s customers do.

    Corporations do not pay taxes, we do. For every dollar or tens of dollars taxed and regulated onto companies, whether it be Apple, Coke or Bob’s Deli, we pay those costs. In reality, companies pay zero taxes, as they simply pass those costs down the line to the consumers of their products. Thus, we pay every dime of every regulation and tax bestowed onto corporations, every – single – dime. – Mark Reschke, “Taxing Apple Just Taxes You,” T-GAAP, May 24, 2013

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    Source link: https://macdailynews.com/2026/08/24/apple-paid-40-of-global-taxes-to-ireland-last-year/