Apple Updates iMac With M6 Chip, Skipping the M5 Generation

Apple has announced a refreshed iMac powered by its new M6 chip, giving the all-in-one desktop a performance lift while leaving most of its hardware untouched. The announcement arrived ahead of Apple's "Pro and Tell" event, which is scheduled for Wednesday. Pricing starts at $1,499.

The update comes two years after the iMac was last overhauled with M4 chips. Because the machine skips the M5 series altogether, the jump in performance should feel more significant for owners of the earlier model. The M6 is the same chipset Apple introduced in the Mac Mini in August.

It is also Apple's first 2nm chip and features a dual 16-core Neural Engine meant to speed up on-device AI work. In its press release, Apple said the M6 iMac "delivers up to 5x faster on-device AI performance" than the M4 version.

Two configurations are on offer. The entry model pairs a 10-core CPU with a 10-core GPU for $1,499, matching the price of the M4 iMac that shipped with an 8-core CPU. A step-up version with a 12-core CPU and 12-core GPU starts at $1,699. Preorders open at 1:10PM ET on October 28, and the computer will be fully available from November 6.

Outside of the processor, hardware changes are modest. The base model now includes Apple's N1 wireless networking chip, along with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, features that were previously limited to the higher-end variant. Thunderbolt connectivity is unchanged from the M4 iMac: the 10-core model has two ports, while the 12-core model has four.

Some configuration options have become more restrictive or more expensive. Choosing a Magic Trackpad in place of a Magic Mouse now adds $50, whereas the swap was free on the previous iMac. Ethernet has moved from 1 gigabit to 2.5 gigabit, but it now costs $30 more than a Wi-Fi-only setup.

Apple also does not allow the M6 iMac to be configured with a Magic Keyboard that has Touch ID but no numeric keypad, even though the announcement page shows an image of that keyboard.

Buyers hoping for fresh finishes will be disappointed. The color lineup is identical to the M4 model, and Apple has reused some of its marketing imagery, updating the on-screen content to look more current. Overall, the M6 iMac is a small specification bump, with the new chip as its main draw.