Apple’s M6 iMac has arrived – here’s what’s changed since the M4

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Apple announced the new M6 iMac, delivering up to five times the performance of the M4.
• The 2026 iMac gets a host of quality-of-life upgrades like Wi-Fi 7 and faster memory.
• The 24.5-inch Retina display supports 4.5K resolution and two external 6K displays.

After a year without a refresh, Apple announced an upgrade to the iMac lineup with the all-new M6 chip, offering a boost in performance, speed, and on-device AI capabilities from the M4, Apple says.

Also: iMac M4 review

Under the hood

The new M6 processor is available in either a 12- or 16-core version for a significant upgrade in power and performance. This enables everything from streaming and web browsing to virtual classes and yes, even gaming.

Also: Forget the touchscreen MacBook – Apple’s new M6 is the laptop I recommend for most people

The neural engine was also upgraded to 16 cores for up to five times the performance over the M4 iMac for AI-powered tasks, of which there are many in MacOS 27. Apple says it also offers twice the AI computation speed of the M4, allowing you to run LLMs directly on your device without sacrificing performance. It also supports better ray tracing performance for better gaming performance.

Apple iMac M4 in orange. Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET

The M6 can be configured with up to a 12-core GPU with Neural Accelerators for twice the graphics processing speed of the previous iMac, making it a good choice for content creators and animation students looking for a powerful all-in-one device instead of shelling out the cash for individual peripherals as would be required for the Mac Mini.

The iMac is still its primary “gateway” device, Apple says, introducing users to Apple’s ecosystem by including everything in one device that couldn’t be easier to set up and use right out of the box. One cable to plug in, with the Magic Keyboard and mouse included.

More power, more upgrades

Along with a more powerful processor, the 2026 iMac boasts a handful of significant refreshes compared to the M4, including Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, previously only standard on the M5 Pro and M5 Max devcices. If you prefer a wired connection, the 2.5Gb ethernet port gives you 2.5 times the speed of the 2024 iMac, making it great for large file transfers and downloads.

When it comes to storage, Apple says the integrated SSD delivers up to twice the read and write speeds of its M4-era sibling, and with up to four Thunderbolt 4 ports, you can connect up to two 6K displays, external storage devices, and specialized peripherals.

Also: Apple’s touchscreen Mac event: 3 things I’m excited for – and my one concern

The 24.5-inch Retina Display delivers 4.5K resolution for ultra-fine details, with a peak brightness of 500 nits, making it comfortable enough on the eyes for all-day use. And with macOS 27, you’ll get support for upcoming Apple Intelligence features, Siri AI, and an updated Liquid Glass experience for customizing the look of your desktop icons and notifications.

Pricing and availability

The M6 iMac base configuration starts at $1,499, making it a solid mid-range option for Apple users who don’t need all the bells and whistles of the Studio and just want a reliable Windows desktop alternative.

Also: Apple’s new OLED iPad Mini is the upgrade I’ve been waiting for – here’s why

You can choose from seven colors (blue, green, pink, yellow, purple, orange, and silver) to match your other Apple devices and accessories or show off your personal style. Pre-orders open October 28, and the retail release is scheduled for Friday, November 6 – just in time for the 2026 holiday shopping season.

Taylor Clemons

Staff Writer

Taylor Clemons is a tech writer and reviewer based near Cleveland, OH. After graduating from Tiffin University in 2011, they spent several years in lawn and garden manufacturing before working on their own (now defunct) game review site, Steam Shovelers. From there, Taylor expanded into writing about consumer technology like televisions, home audio equipment, and smart home devices at Lifewire. Taylor's work can also be found at The Balance, TechRadar, Tom's Hardware, SPY.com, GameSkinny, IndieHangover, The Inventory, and Forbes. See full bio