Apple's new iMac M6 is built for faster on-device intelligence

Published Oct 27, 2026, 10:37 AM EDT Viraj Gawde is a Tech Journalist with bylines at Travel+Leisure India & South Asia, Android Headlines, 91Mobiles, Croma Unboxed, etc. He has written thousands of news pieces, how-to guides, product comparisons, listicles, and op-eds on consumer tech. Currently, Viraj is obsessed with the fast-evolving world of artificial intelligence and how it is reshaping the way we work, create, and use tech. As a curious generalist, Viraj's work extends into a wide range of subjects, formats, and storytelling styles. When away from desk, he is a finance, sports, and travel geek with a constant curiosity for new experiences. Sign in to your How-To Geek account Following the release of the OLED iPad Mini yesterday, Apple has now announced updated MacBook Pro and iMac models. The brand’s all-in-one desktop is arriving almost two years after the M4 model that debuted back in 2024. In between, the M5 generation never made it to the iMac, so the latest jump is bigger than the version number suggests. iMac M6 brings faster performance and AI features Same on the outside, more power inside The new iMac still retains the 24-inch Retina display with 4.5K resolution, a 500 nits peak brightness, and support for P3 wide color gamut. The camera and audio hardware also carry forward several features, including 12MP Center Stage, support for desk view, and a six-speaker sound system comprising two force-canceling woofers and two tweeters. It also has Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos and a three-microphone array to capture clear voice and surroundings. Underneath the hood, the new iMac is powered by the M6 processor that first appeared in the Mac Mini this year. It can be had in two configurations with up to a 12-core CPU and a 12-core GPU. The RAM and storage options top out at 32GB and 2TB, respectively. Apple has added Neural Accelerators to each GPU core, which help the desktop handle AI workloads along with demanding tasks like video editing and production. AI is where the gap widens between the new iMac and its predecessor. Going by Apple’s stated numbers, on-device AI runs up to 5x faster than the M4 variant when running local models. Apple is also touting higher gaming performance with ray tracing compared to the M4. The numbers go up further when compared to the M1-powered iMac. The latest iMac with the M6 chip is sold running AI models locally, while the M4 iMac was sold on Apple Intelligence. Connectivity also gets a proper refresh, with the latest generation desktop coming with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. There is also an optional 2.5Gb Ethernet port that delivers faster transfer speeds, streaming high-resolution content, and better performance while gaming and handling demanding workloads. Beyond the hardware upgrades, the iMac M6 ships with macOS 27 that introduces Apple's next-generation Siri AI and additional Apple Intelligence features. iMac M6 pricing and availability The new iMac M6 with a 10-core CPU and a 10-core GPU starts at $1,499. You get two Thunderbolt 4 ports. The 12-core CPU and 12-core GPU with four Thunderbolt 4 ports carry a starting price tag of $1,699. Apple's latest all-in-one desktop is offered in the same seven color options, including blue, green, pink, yellow, purple, orange, and silver. The iMac M6 will be up for pre-order starting tomorrow, with availability beginning November 6. iMac M6 Brand Apple CPU M6 Memory 32GB Storage 2TB Apple has upgraded the iMac two years after the M4-powered iMac. The new model focuses on running AI models locally. Source: Apple