Apple iMac M6 and 14-inch MacBook Pro M6 Keep Starting Prices

Apple’s M6 refresh puts its latest chip in the iMac and entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro while keeping both models’ starting prices at the same level as their predecessors. The headline changes are faster graphics and on-device AI processing, alongside Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. The iMac starts at $1,499 / £1,499 / AU$2,399, while the MacBook Pro starts at $1,999 / £1,999 / AU$3,199.

The M6 is Apple’s first 2nm chip, and it had already appeared in the Mac mini earlier this year. Apple is now using it in two Macs with different jobs: an all-in-one desktop with a familiar colorful design, and a portable 14-inch laptop. For buyers, the practical question is whether the chip’s claimed gains matter to their work enough to make these refreshes worth considering.

iMac keeps its look and starting price

The iMac M6 retains the colorful design of the M4 generation. Apple’s main change is inside: the new chip includes a dual 16-core Neural Engine, for 32 cores in total, and a GPU configurable with up to 12 cores. Apple says each GPU core includes a Neural Accelerator, which the company positions as a way to improve graphics work as well as AI tasks.

Apple claims the iMac M6 is up to five times faster than the M4 model for on-device AI tasks. That figure is a company comparison, and the source doesn’t provide a test method or independent results to show how it translates to particular apps. Still, it points to the kind of work Apple expects the new chip to handle more quickly, with processing done on the computer itself.

Graphics performance is another focus. Apple says the iMac M6 can be up to twice as fast in tasks such as photo editing. The company also says its storage is up to twice as fast as the previous model’s. These figures may matter most to people who regularly work with large image files or AI features; the source doesn’t specify storage capacities or provide additional test results for those workloads.

The base configuration starts with a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU. Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 are included, adding newer wireless standards to the refresh. Buyers who are satisfied with the previous iMac’s design may find the M6’s processing claims and connectivity more relevant than any visible change: the source describes the exterior as unchanged.

Pre-orders for the iMac begin October 28. Its starting price remains $1,499 / £1,499 / AU$2,399, matching the previous generation’s starting level. The source gives no shipping date for the iMac, so buyers can use the pre-order date and listed price to compare configurations, but shouldn’t assume a delivery schedule from the information provided.

MacBook Pro gains M6 graphics and AI claims

The 14-inch MacBook Pro gets a similar internal refresh. Apple says the M6’s 12-core GPU delivers 30% faster graphics performance than the M5 in the previous base MacBook Pro. It also claims a 25% improvement in on-device AI processing versus that M5 model.

The chip’s dual 16-core Neural Engine is another part of Apple’s case for the upgrade. Apple says it offers up to 1.9 times the performance of the M5’s Neural Engine, working alongside the GPU on AI tasks. The examples given include creating images and upscaling to improve game frame rates. Those are manufacturer claims; the source doesn’t include independent benchmarks or name specific apps used to measure them.

Apple describes the M6 as power-efficient and says the new MacBook Pro can deliver up to 24 hours of battery life. That’s the company’s figure, and the source doesn’t give a usage breakdown or test conditions. Battery life can depend on workload, so buyers comparing that claim with their own routine will need details beyond the headline number.

Like the iMac, the MacBook Pro adds Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, and Apple has kept its starting price in line with the previous M5 model. The $1,999 / £1,999 / AU$3,199 entry price applies to the configuration with 16GB of RAM. Pre-orders begin October 28, with shipping expected to start November 6.

For current M4 iMac and M5 MacBook Pro owners, the case for upgrading rests on whether Apple’s claimed graphics and AI gains match the work they do. For buyers already shopping for either model, the unchanged starting prices make the M6 versions easier to compare with their predecessors. The clearest next step is to weigh the listed configuration and price against the performance claims, then consider whether those gains address a real need.