The iMac M6 starts at $1,499 and skips a generation: the all-in-one goes straight from M4 to M6, with no M5 version in between. Seven colours carry over and the 24-inch 4.5K screen is unchanged.
What is new is the split. There are two configurations now, and the $200 between them buys more than extra cores.
Two iMac Configurations, Not One
The $1,499 machine has a 10-core CPU and a 10-core GPU. The $1,699 machine has 12 of each, and it also adds hardware the cheaper model simply does not have.
Only the 12-core model gets four Thunderbolt 4 ports, 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet in the power brick, Touch ID as standard and the nano-texture glass option. On the 10-core machine Touch ID is a configure-to-order extra.
Both run the same screen and the same camera. As an all-in-one the iMac has always sold on the package rather than the parts, and that has not changed.
- $1,499: 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, two Thunderbolt 4 ports
- $1,699: 12-core CPU, 12-core GPU, four Thunderbolt 4 ports, Ethernet, Touch ID
- Both: 24-inch 4.5K display, 12MP Center Stage camera, six-speaker audio
- Colours: blue, green, pink, yellow, purple, orange and silver
iMac M6 Specs for Both Models
| Specification | iMac with M6 |
|---|---|
| Chip | Apple M6 |
| CPU | 10-core or 12-core |
| GPU | 10-core or 12-core |
| Neural Engine | Dual 16-core |
| Memory bandwidth | Up to 170GB/s |
| Display | 24-inch 4.5K Retina, 500 nits, P3 |
| Camera | 12MP Center Stage with Desk View |
| Audio | Two woofer pairs, two tweeters, Spatial Audio |
| Ethernet | 2.5 Gigabit, 12-core model only |
| Thunderbolt | Two or four Thunderbolt 4 ports |
| External displays | Up to two 6K |
| Colours | Seven |
iMac M6 Pricing and Availability
Apple quotes up to five times the on-device AI performance of the M4 iMac, double the graphics throughput, and up to 18 times the speed of the most popular Intel iMac. SSD read and write speeds are up to twice as fast.
Pre-orders opened on October 28 in 35 countries, with availability from Friday, November 6. Full iMac tech specs are on Apple’s site.
- 10-core: $1,499, or $1,449 with education savings
- 12-core: $1,699, or $1,599 education
- Lease: from $28.99 a month over 36 months
- Accessories: colour-matched keyboard and mouse or trackpad, USB-C
Should You Upgrade to the iMac M6?
If you are on an Intel iMac this is the clearest upgrade Apple has released this year, and the 18x figure is the one that actually describes the experience. An M4 iMac owner has no reason to move.
Choose the $1,699 model if the machine sits on a desk permanently, because wired Ethernet and four Thunderbolt ports are worth more over time than two extra cores. Before you replace an older Mac at all, our guide to checking a Mac for malware is worth a pass, and the MacBook Pro M6 covers the portable alternative at a similar price.
- Buy the 12-core if: you want Ethernet, four ports and Touch ID included
- Buy the 10-core if: it is a second machine or a family desktop
- Skip it if: you bought the M4 iMac, which this does not meaningfully beat
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the iMac M6 cost?
$1,499 for the 10-core model and $1,699 for the 12-core. Education pricing is $1,449 and $1,599. Both are US prices before tax.
What is the difference between the two iMac M6 models?
The $1,699 model adds two CPU and two GPU cores, two extra Thunderbolt 4 ports, 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet, Touch ID as standard and the nano-texture glass option.
Is there an M5 iMac?
No. Apple moved the iMac from M4 straight to M6, so there is no M5 generation of the all-in-one.
