Apple may skip M5 in new Mac mini and iMac for M6

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Apple may skip the base M5 for Mac mini and iMac, moving to M6 per Bloomberg and Mark Gurman; development is complete with fall 2026 shipping expected.

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Apple may release new desktop Macs that skip the base M5 chip generation and move directly to M6, according to a report from Bloomberg. This update would affect the Mac mini and possibly the iMac, both of which are currently on M4 hardware.

Mac mini and iMac may jump to M6

Mark Gurman reports that Apple is testing a Mac mini lineup that includes models with M6 and M5 Pro chips. The base M5 chip is not included, suggesting the standard Mac mini may move straight to M6. This approach appears to align with Apple’s internal roadmap and its current desktop release delays.

The report also references the upcoming iMac refresh. While it does not confirm the exact chip, Gurman describes the iMac launching alongside an M6 MacBook Pro, which makes an M6-powered iMac likely. If that happens, both the Mac mini and iMac would bypass the entry-level M5 entirely.

Timing and availability

Development of these machines is reportedly complete, but Apple is not expected to ship them until fall 2026. This schedule follows the company’s current pattern of staggering desktop releases behind its laptop upgrades.

For gamers who use Macs for development or play compatible titles, the jump to M6 could mean higher performance and potentially longer support cycles, especially since M6 appears positioned as a more significant upgrade.