- Desktop Refresh: Apple has announced an M6 iMac desktop with performance gains for local AI and photo editing, starting at $1,499.
- Familiar Hardware: Its 24-inch 4.5K display and 16GB memory/256GB storage starting configuration remain unchanged from M4.
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 arrive, while two-port and four-port configurations still separate the models.
- Release Dates: Preorders are scheduled for October 28, with customer availability starting November 6.
Apple has announced an M6 version of its iMac all-in-one desktop, promising faster work on local AI models and photos while retaining the 24-inch screen. For people running AI models on their own computer, Apple claims up to five times faster prompt processing in the local AI app LM Studio than on the M4 iMac.
The new entry model pairs a 10-core CPU for general computing with a 10-core GPU for graphics work. That is up from eight cores each in the 2024 M4 model. The higher configuration moves from ten to twelve cores each. Both M6 versions add a dual 16-core Neural Engine for AI processing and Neural Accelerators in each graphics core.
Where Apple Claims the Gains
Apple also claims up to 1.5 times faster performance in apps such as Microsoft Excel, up to twice the graphics performance for tasks such as photo editing in Affinity, and up to twice the gaming performance with ray tracing, all against M4.
Those figures come from in-house testing. Its Excel, photo-editing and gaming comparisons identify an M4 iMac with a 10-core CPU and GPU, 32GB of memory and a 2TB SSD as the baseline. The LM Studio comparison leaves the AI model and prompt length unspecified.
What Stays Inside the All-in-One
The iMac still combines its computer with a 24-inch, 4480-by-2520 display rated at 500 nits. That 4.5K format already featured on the 2023 M3 iMac. The new model retains the M4 generation’s 12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View, six-speaker audio and seven colors.
Both M6 configurations retain the M4 generation’s starting capacities: 16GB of unified memory, shared by the computer’s processors, and a 256GB SSD for files and applications. Nano-texture glass, which reduces screen reflections, remains an option on the higher model.
While the M6 iMac offers in local AI and creative work, its unchanged display and design may let existing iMac owners let hesitate to upgrade.
Connections Still Depend on the Model
Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 replace Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 on the previous base model. Wired Ethernet rises from Gigabit to 2.5Gb, with the connection optional on the entry M6 iMac and included on the higher version. The two-port versus four-port split remains, so the processor choice also determines room for wired accessories and additional monitors.
M6 iMac Configuration Limits
| Configuration | Thunderbolt 4 Ports | External Displays at 6K/60Hz | Maximum Memory | Maximum SSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10-core CPU/GPU | 2 | 1 | 24GB | 1TB |
| 12-core CPU/GPU | 4 | 2 | 32GB | 2TB |
The higher model also includes a Magic Keyboard with Touch ID for fingerprint authentication. The entry model includes a plain Magic Keyboard; adding Touch ID requires the numeric-keypad version.
A Different Desktop Choice
The M6 Mac mini offers a compact computer for a separate display and input devices. It supports up to three external monitors through Thunderbolt and HDMI, and provides three Thunderbolt 4 ports plus two front USB-C ports.
In its September M6 Mac mini review, Tom’s Guide timed a Handbrake conversion of a 25GB video from 4K to 1080p at 2 minutes 45 seconds, against 4 minutes 42 seconds on the M4 mini. The tested mini had a 512GB SSD; its memory configuration is unclear.
The M5 Pro mini offers greater memory and storage capacity, starting with 24GB of memory and 512GB of storage, with options reaching 64GB and 8TB. It has three rear Thunderbolt 5 ports. The higher iMac tops out at 32GB and 2TB, but includes its display, camera, keyboard and mouse.
Apple’s Mac mini pricing starts at $899 for M6 and $1,699 for M5 Pro. Both have been available since September 22. The M5 Pro mini and higher iMac share a $1,699 starting price, with the mini’s display and input devices purchased separately.
Prices and Preorders
The M6 iMac starts at $1,499 for the 10-core model and $1,699 for the 12-core version in the US. Education prices start at $1,449 and $1,599, respectively.
There is also a new $50 charge for replacing the Magic Mouse with a Magic Trackpad, a substitution that was free on the previous iMac versions.
Preorders are scheduled to open at 10:10 a.m. Pacific Time on October 28. Apple schedules customer deliveries and store availability for November 6 in 35 countries and regions, including the US.
