Apple Skips M5 With New M6 iMac: What’s Changed

Apple’s iMac just leapfrogged an entire chip generation without changing a thing about its looks.

Apple on Tuesday announced an updated 24-inch iMac powered by the new M6 processor, bypassing the M5 generation entirely to give the desktop its first revision in two years.

The refreshed desktop keeps its slim design and seven-color lineup while adding faster storage, Apple’s N1 wireless networking chip, and an optional 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet connection.

“iMac is the world’s best all-in-one, and today it raises the bar yet again,” Shelly Goldberg, Apple’s vice president of Hardware Engineering, said in a statement.

Apple is positioning the M6 iMac as an upgrade for everyday computing, creative work, and on-device AI. In its announcement, the company highlighted the new processor’s performance gains, expanded connectivity, and support for macOS 27.

Silicon overhaul and expanded networking

The leap to the 2-nanometer M6 processor introduces significant architecture changes, first seen when the silicon debuted in the Mac mini in August. The chip incorporates a dual 16-core Neural Engine, doubling the core count of the M4 predecessor, and adds Neural Accelerators directly inside each GPU core. Memory bandwidth also climbs to 170GB/s, up from 120GB/s on the M4 model.

Apple says the configuration delivers up to 40% faster CPU speeds, up to double the graphics capabilities, and up to 5x faster on-device AI performance compared to the M4. For users migrating from older Intel-based hardware, Apple claims compute speeds jump up to 18x.

Wireless connectivity also transitions to Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 via the Apple-designed N1 chip, up from Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, according to 9to5Mac. The power adapter can now support 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet, offering up to 2.5 times faster wired transfer speeds than the prior generation’s standard Gigabit port.

Pricing, specs, and everyday impact

The M6 iMac starts at $1,499, matching the price of the previous version. Preorders open Wednesday, Oct. 28, with retail store availability and shipments beginning Friday, Nov. 6.

For everyday users, the M6’s additional processing power could make the iMac more capable of handling AI-assisted tasks, creative applications, and local language models.

The faster Neural Engine and increased memory bandwidth may improve performance for supported on-device AI workloads, although results will depend on the application and model being used. Some Apple Intelligence features may still rely on cloud processing, so users should not assume every AI task runs entirely on the computer.

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The entry-tier feature gap

Apple has kept the iMac’s starting price at $1,499, but buyers will need to consider the differences between its configurations.

The entry-level model includes 256GB of storage and two Thunderbolt ports, with 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet available as a $30 upgrade. The $1,699 configuration adds more processing power, four Thunderbolt ports, and standard multi-gigabit networking.

For users who primarily browse the web, work with documents, and use everyday applications, the base model may be sufficient. Those working with large media files, external devices, or more demanding applications may benefit from the higher-tier configuration.

The M6 iMac looks like a more substantial upgrade for owners of older Intel-based machines than for those already using an M4 model. Buyers should weigh the performance gains against their existing hardware, storage requirements, and connectivity needs before upgrading.

In other news: Apple has unveiled its 14-inch M6 MacBook Pro, featuring faster graphics, improved on-device AI performance, and Wi-Fi 7 connectivity.