Apple has launched an updated iMac for the first time since 2024, bringing this longstanding favorite up to the speeds of the latest Mac mini.

If it ain't broke, eventually update it. Apple has released its first update to the all-in-one iMac since the 2024 edition gained an M4 processor.

"iMac is the world's best all-in-one, and today it raises the bar yet again," said Shelly Goldberg, Apple's vice president of Hardware Engineering in a statement. "With the blazing performance and AI capabilities of M6 supercharging every workflow and the next generation of Apple Intelligence with Siri AI — combined with its stunning 24-inch Retina display, its gorgeous design in seven vibrant colors, and macOS 27 — the new iMac has everything users need to run their businesses, manage their lives, and bring their ideas to life."

Announced ahead of the "Pro and Tell" event that's due to feature the revised MacBook Pro, this iMac release is the next to get a new generation of Apple Silicon. As previously expected, there's been no major redesign to the chassis, which remains as it has been since 2020.

That chassis comes in the same seven colors as the previous edition:

  • Blue
  • Green
  • Pink
  • Yellow
  • Purple
  • Orange
  • Silver

There have been a series of upgrades to the iMac's connectivity, though. It now supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, plus Apple says its storage is up to twice as fast as the previous model.

The new iMac with M6 comes in two main configurations:

  • 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, Dual 16-core Neural Engine, two Thunderbolt ports, from $1,499
  • 12-core CPU, 12-core GPU, Dual 16-core Neural Engine, four Thunderbolt ports, 2.5 gigabit Ethernet, from $1,699

In the former, the 10-core CPU has two super cores, three performance cores, and five efficiency ones. The latter 12-core CPU has two super cores, four performance cores, and six efficiency ones.

Both versions start with 16GB RAM and 256GB storage. The base 10-core version can be upgraded to 24GB RAM, while the 12-core edition can go to 24GB or 32GB RAM.

That base model can be upgraded to 512GB storage or 1TB. The 12-core version can also go to 2TB storage.

By default, the 10-core edition does not come with Ethernet at all, but it can be configured with 2.5 gigabit Ethernet for $30. The 12-core version has 2.5 gigabit Ethernet as standard.

To upgrade or not

So an outside observer wouldn't notice any difference, but a user would. The jump from M4 to M6 is not as great as when the iMac went from Intel to Apple Silicon, but it is still noticeable.

It's arguable whether it's noticeable enough to be worth upgrading from the M4 edition. But that will become clearer once this iMac can be tested.

Users of the 2023 M3 edition will of course see more of an improvement. But this iMac is really aimed primarily at the remaining Intel Mac users, plus perhaps those on the original M1 Apple Silicon.

Apple says that typical uses such as photo editing are twice as fast as before, though. Overall AI computing speed has doubled, too, because of the dual 16-core Neural Engine, plus higher memory bandwidth of up to 170GB/s.

Specifically for AI prompt processing in LM Studio, Apple says that the M6 iMac is five times faster than the previous M4 model. It's up to 12 times faster than the M1 iMac.

The new M6 iMac starts at $1,499. Pre-orders open on October 28, 2026, and it will ship on November 6.