Apple is automatically upgrading some customers who recently ordered the previous-generation Mac mini with M4 to the newly announced Mac mini with M6 at no extra cost.
According to MacRumors, Apple has contacted some customers whose M4 Mac mini orders had not yet shipped, telling them that their purchase has been upgraded to the equivalent new M6 model following this week’s Mac mini announcement.
In an email to customers, Apple said that because their order had not yet shipped, it had “automatically upgraded” them to the new Mac mini “at no additional cost.”
The move means some customers are effectively receiving Apple’s latest Mac mini while paying the older price. In the United States, the new Mac mini now starts at $899, compared with the $799 starting price of the outgoing M4 model, giving affected customers the equivalent of a $100 saving.
Image: Apple
For some buyers, the free upgrade has also improved delivery timing. One customer reportedly said their order was moved from an October delivery estimate to September after Apple switched them to the new model.
However, the change has not been welcomed by everyone. MacRumors says one student complained that their delivery estimate was pushed back by several weeks because of the automatic upgrade, despite needing the Mac urgently for studies. The customer said Apple did not give them the option to keep their original M4 order instead.
Apple announced the new Mac mini with M6 and M5 Pro this week alongside the updated Mac Studio with M5 Max and M5 Ultra. Both new Macs are available to pre-order now, with availability beginning September 22.
The previous M4 Mac mini launched in November 2024 and has now been replaced by the new M6 model, which Apple says delivers up to 4x faster AI performance, up to 2x faster graphics and storage, and 40% faster CPU performance compared with the previous generation.
