Last week we learned that Apple plans to release new M5 Mac mini and Mac Studio models next year, but now thanks to a new report we have a much better idea of when to expect each launch.
M5 desktop Macs expected in “the middle of the year”
Yesterday in his Power On newsletter, Mark Gurman offered an expanded timeline of when Apple plans to launch new M5 Macs next year.
We were already expecting the M5 MacBook Air early in the year alongside the MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max. However, now the launch timing for Apple’s new M5 desktop offerings has been revealed.
Mark Gurman writes at Bloomberg:
The middle of the year will bring the M5 and M5 Pro Mac mini, in addition to M5 Max and M5 Ultra versions of the Mac Studio.
If this launch timing proves true, it’s a curious move on Apple’s part for two main reasons.
First, the Mac mini presumably won’t be delayed by hardware-related factors.
The Mac mini got a major redesign just last year, so we’re not expecting design changes again. And since the M5 Pro chip will be available earlier in the year, Apple silicon can’t explain the delay.
With the Mac Studio, the introduction of the M5 Ultra chip might very well hold up the product’s release until mid-year. But that same argument doesn’t apply to the Mac mini.
Second, the mid-year timing seems odd in that Apple reportedly has two Mac displays launching early in 2026. Those seem like the perfect products to time with the Mac mini and Mac Studio releases.
Perhaps in reality though, the Mac mini and Mac Studio are niche enough that there’s no need to perfectly align the stars for their launches. The products’ customers will likely buy them at any time of year, with little need for a big marketing push tied to new display options.
Ultimately, I still suspect Apple might ship one or both of these products earlier than Gurman believes—closer to the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro debuts. But in any case, releases by mid-2026 seem likely either way.
What new features do you hope to see in a new M5 Mac mini or Mac Studio? Let us know in the comments.
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