Apple introduced a new generation of its iMac all-in-one desktop on Tuesday, moving the computer to M6 chips. The refresh gives the desktop a performance boost using the same chipset Apple launched with the Mac Mini in August. Prices start at $1,499. The announcement came ahead of Apple’s “Pro and Tell” event, which is scheduled for Wednesday.
The M6 is Apple’s first 2nm chip and includes a dual 16-core Neural Engine for on-device AI tasks. According to Apple’s press release, the M6 iMac delivers up to 5x faster on-device AI performance than the M4 model. The update arrives two years after Apple overhauled the iMac with M4 chips, skipping the M5 series on this hardware entirely.
Configurations with a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU start at $1,499, the same price as the 8-core CPU M4 iMac. A 12-core CPU and 12-core GPU version starts at $1,699. Preorders open at 1:10PM ET on October 28th, with full availability beginning November 6th.
Beyond the chip, the hardware changes are limited. The new iMac adds Apple’s N1 wireless networking chip, and Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 now come on the base model rather than only the higher-spec variant. It keeps the same Thunderbolt limitations as the M4 iMac, with two ports on the 10-core version and four on the 12-core upgrade.
Some configuration options now carry new restrictions and fees. Choosing a Magic Trackpad instead of a Magic Mouse adds $50, a switch that was free on the previous iMac. Ethernet moves from 1 gigabit to 2.5 gigabit but now costs a $30 premium over a Wi-Fi only configuration. Apple also will not offer a Magic Keyboard with Touch ID but without a numeric keypad, despite showing an image of that keyboard on the new iMac announcement page.
Buyers hoping for new colors will not find them. Apple is offering the same color variants as the M4 generation, even reusing some marketing imagery with updated content. The M6 chip provides a notable performance gain, but otherwise the update is a small spec bump for Apple’s colorful all-in-one. For US customers, the $1,499 starting price matches the previous entry model despite the added cores.
More hardware news from TechManNews.
