The iMac is getting a chip bump.
Apple today announced the next generation of its all-in-one desktop, powered by the new M6 chip introduced earlier this year in the latest Mac mini.
There’s not a whole lot to talk about outside of that new chip, but let’s take a look at what’s new with the M6 iMac.
New M6 Chip
The M6 iMac is available in two chip configurations: a 10-core CPU/10-core GPU or a higher-end 12-core CPU/12-core GPU configuration. That top end configuration provides an additional two CPU and two GPU cores than you could get with the previous M4 iMac. Apple says the new GPU can deliver up to twice the graphics performance of M4 in certain workloads, while noting that Microsoft Excel performance is up to 50 percent faster.
And for those still holding on to an Intel iMac, Apple says you can expect 18x the performance with the M6 iMac compared to an Intel iMac.
The M6 also includes Neural Accelerators in each GPU core along with a Dual 16-core Neural Engine. Combined with memory bandwidth of up to 170GB/s, that hardware gives the iMac a more capable foundation for on-device AI tasks.
The new iMac is available with up to 32GB of RAM and up to 2TB of internal storage.
Faster Connections, Familiar Display
Beyond the M6, Apple has also added its N1 connectivity chip to the new iMac, unlocking Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. A 2.5Gb Ethernet connection is available as well. Apple also says SSD read and write speeds are up to twice as fast as before.
The iMac continues to offer up to four Thunderbolt 4 ports for docks, external drives, and other peripherals, plus support for up to two external 6K displays. To get all four Thunderbolt ports, you’ll need to opt for the 12-core CPU/12-core GPU chip configuration.
The built-in 24-inch 4.5K Retina display still provides 500 nits of brightness and P3 wide color. Nano-texture glass is an available option.
A 12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View, a six-speaker sound system, and color-matched accessories round out the package.
And yes, the same colors are back: blue, green, pink, yellow, purple, orange, and silver.
Pricing and Availability
The M6 iMac starts at $1,499 with a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. The 12-core CPU and 12-core GPU model starts at $1,699. Education pricing begins at $1,449 and $1,599, respectively.
Pre-orders start October 28, with availability beginning November 6.
