Apple M6
The chip in the base Mac mini. With 16 to 32 GB of unified memory at 153 to 170 GB/s (the 256 GB storage model has the lower figure), it runs small models well and suits an always-on AI agent that uses cloud models, but it cannot hold large models.
Specifications
- Processor
- 12 cores (2 super + 4 performance + 6 efficiency)
- Graphics
- 12-core Apple GPU
- Memory
- Unified memory, up to 32 GB
- Memory bandwidth
- 153 to 170 GB/s (theoretical peak)
What it can run with 32 GB
Estimated writing speed with an 8K-token conversation. Estimates, not our tests; see how we estimate.
| Model (4-bit) | Tokens/s |
|---|---|
| Gemma 4 E4B 4.59 GB | 30-39 |
| Llama 3.1 8B 4.92 GB | 20-25 |
| Qwen3.5 9B 5.68 GB | 19-25 |
| Gemma 4 12B 7.12 GB | 15-19 |
| gpt-oss 20B 12.11 GB | 38-49 |
| Qwen3.8 27B 16.46 GB | 6-8 |
| Qwen3 Coder 30B-A3B 18.56 GB | 44-56 |
| Qwen3.6 35B-A3B 22.13 GB | 37-48 |
| Llama 3.3 70B 42.52 GB | Doesn't fit |
| gpt-oss 120B 63.39 GB | Doesn't fit |
Machines with the Apple M6
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| Machine | Memory | Bandwidth | NPU | Price | Status | Store |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Mac mini (M6, 16 GB) Apple M6, 12-core CPU | 16 GB unified | 153 GB/s | None | $899list price | Researched, not tested | Check Apple |
Sources
- Apple Mac mini technical specifications, checked Sep 25, 2026