Apple refreshes iMac and MacBook Pro with M6 chip
Apple has refreshed both the 24-inch iMac and the 14-inch MacBook Pro with its in-house M6 processor, introducing higher memory bandwidth, faster neural processing, and extended battery life across its portable lineup, ITdaily reported. The hardware updates roll out as Apple expands the deployment of the M6 architecture it initially unveiled in late August for the Mac mini.
M6 Chip Increases AI Power and Memory Bandwidth
The M6 chip introduces two additional CPU cores and two additional GPU cores compared to its predecessor, alongside Neural Accelerators integrated into every GPU core. According to ITdaily, the memory bandwidth increases to 170 GB/s, up from 120 GB/s on the M4. Bright notes that each core contains dedicated Neural Accelerators, which collaborate with a new Neural Engine to double AI computing power and improve local processing of large language models.
For the 24-inch iMac, Apple claims performance gains up to 1.5 times faster in Excel, twice as fast in image editing, and up to five times faster for prompt processing in LM Studio when compared against the M4 model. However, ITdaily points out that these maximum figures derive from comparative tests pitting a new system equipped with 32 GB of RAM against an older computer running on 8 GB of RAM. Techpulse adds that users transitioning from an older Intel-based iMac might experience speed improvements of up to 18 times in specific workloads.
Updated iMac Features New Colors and Pricing Tiers
The updated 24-inch iMac retains its 4.5K Retina display with a 500-nit brightness rating and P3 color gamut, while adding support for up to two external 6K displays. The desktop is available in blue, green, pink, yellow, purple, orange, and silver. ITdaily details that the 10-core CPU and GPU configuration starts at 1,819 euros and features two Thunderbolt ports. The 12-core configuration starts at 2,019 euros, providing four Thunderbolt 4 ports, an optional 2.5 Gbps ethernet port, and a bundled Magic Keyboard with Touch ID, which remains optional on the 10-core tier.
The 14-inch MacBook Pro features a 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with a sustained brightness of 1,000 nits and a peak of 1,600 nits for HDR content. According to iCulture, the laptop retains its 1.55-kilogram aluminum chassis in space black and silver, while upgrading wireless connectivity from Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 to Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. Bright reports that the machine delivers up to 24 hours of battery life on a single charge, supported by a 96W adapter that restores 50 percent capacity in 30 minutes. The base model includes 16 GB of RAM—expandable to 32 GB—and provides three Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI port, an SDXC card slot, a MagSafe 3 connection, and a headphone jack. The 16-inch MacBook Pro remains available exclusively with M5 Pro or M5 Max processors.
Pre-Orders Begin October 28 with November 6 Delivery
Both machines become available for pre-order on October 28, with official store availability and customer deliveries scheduled to begin on November 6. The 14-inch MacBook Pro starts at 2,329 euros including VAT.