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Apple has released updated versions of two of its desktop computers, the Mac Mini and Mac Studio, both of which are built around Apple's own processor chips rather than parts made by outside suppliers such as Intel. These new versions use the latest generation of Apple's chips, including a brand-new model called the M6 and a more powerful variant called the M5 Ultra, which combines several processors into one unit to boost performance.

These machines are aimed largely at professionals with demanding computing needs, such as those working with artificial intelligence, 3D graphics or high-resolution video editing, since more processing power lets them handle bigger, more complex tasks more quickly. Apple regularly updates its computer chips on a roughly yearly cycle, and each new generation typically brings faster performance and other technical improvements, though the outward design of the computers often stays much the same.

The update matters because it shows how Apple continues to develop its own chip technology to compete with rivals, and because changes like these affect what professional and business customers can expect to pay for high-performance computing equipment.