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The Best Mac Desktop to Buy (2026): Mac Mini, Mac Studio, or iMac?
MacBooks have taken most of the spotlight away from Mac desktops in recent years. Now that mobile performance and battery life have improved so much, there's less of a reason to buy a desktop that chains you to your office.
But Mac desktops are getting a resurgence. The Mac Mini and Mac Studio were finally refreshed with brand-new chips and a newfound focus on running local AI. But which one should you buy? And where does the iMac land these days? I've been testing Macs for over a decade and have tested all these Mac desktops, so I can recommend what's right for you.
Also check out our complete guide to the Best MacBooks, Best Desktops, and Best All-In-One Desktops.
Apple's lovable mini PC was just upgraded with the M6 chip, and it's a big deal on a couple of fronts. Before the refresh, these little computers were sold out for months, and it has AI to thank.
The Mac Mini isn't the ultra-cheap mini PC it used to be. It's $300 more than in the past, but the base model now has higher specs and a focus on running local AI. If you want a truly affordable little desktop PC for occasional use, you'll have to opt for a Windows machine. The good news is that the Mac Mini remains a compelling offer across its configurations. You can choose between two new models: one with the M6 and one with the M5 Pro. The M6 model is the one most people should buy, especially if you're looking for a fast, reliable Mac desktop.
The new M6 chip is especially fast in terms of GPU performance, an area Apple continues to make strides. If you're a fledgling video editor or designer, the base configuration packs plenty of performance for creative applications. Unfortunately, it's only a couple hundred bucks cheaper than a similarly configured MacBook Air, which makes the buying decision frustrating given how much more versatile a laptop is. But for the first time, the Mac Mini's form factor is a benefit over a laptop. AI enthusiasts get excited about the prospect of an always-on, agentic AI box that sits on their desk and can then be controlled remotely from a MacBook or iPhone. That's exactly what the Mac Mini can do (just be sure to upgrade the memory). And given memory prices across the industry, you won't find many comparable options on Windows or Linux—at least not with this much performance and RAM.
I haven't tested the M5 Pro model yet, but the main difference is in the enhanced graphics. Despite the improvements I mentioned on the M6, you can configure the M5 Pro up to 20 GPU cores, which really come in handy for tasks like gaming, 3D modeling, and video rendering. As the name suggests, I wouldn't consider the pricier M5 Pro config unless you're a professional who sits in front of Final Cut Pro or DaVinci Resolve all day. If you're more of a hobbyist or dabbler, the M6 will likely do you just fine.
Shipping times on the M6 Mac Mini have improved to the point where you can buy one and pick it up today from an Apple Store. The M5 Pro models, however, may take up to four weeks to ship.
Like with the Mac Mini, there are really two distinct versions of the Mac Studio. The base configuration comes with an M5 Max (the same chip in the MacBook Pro), sporting some really impressive GPU performance in particular. And that's the main thing to consider when deciding between the M5 Pro Mac Mini and the M5 Max Mac Studio. Like choosing between those two chips in a MacBook Pro, the main upgrade is in graphics performance. Going with the M5 Max also lets you configure it with up to 128 GB of unified memory, which matters if you plan to run heavy local AI models. On the other hand, this puts you over the $5,000 price point rather quickly.
And then, there's the M5 Ultra. This massive chip is literally two M5 Max dies stitched together, and to my surprise while testing, it sometimes resulted in double the performance, such as in GPU performance. But look, don't even bother considering this unless you know exactly what you intend to use it for. Just so you know