Apple gave two Macs a new brain and left everything else alone. It just launched an M6 iMac and an entry-level Apple M6 MacBook Pro, and these are chip swaps, not redesigns. Pre-orders open Oct. 28, and the machines arrive Friday, Nov. 6, according to Apple.
So what do you actually get? The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M6 starts at $1,999, or $1,899 with education pricing, Apple says. Meanwhile, the iMac with M6 starts at $1,499, per CineD’s coverage. I could not find that figure in the Apple text I pulled, so treat it as reported, not confirmed.
What’s actually new in the M6 Macs
Think new engine, same car. The MacBook Pro gets a 12-core CPU and a 12-core GPU. Apple claims graphics are up to 30% faster than M5 and AI workloads up to 25% faster, per Reuters. The Neural Engine is also up to 1.9 times faster.
One catch: those numbers come from Apple’s own testing, which is a bit like grading your own homework. No independent reviews exist yet.
On the spec sheet, the base model packs 16GB of memory and 1TB of storage. You can stretch it to 32GB and 4TB, Thurrott reports. It also adds Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 through Apple’s N1 chip. Otherwise, MacRumors says, it matches the M5 model.
That includes the battery. It is still rated at up to 24 hours of video streaming. And Macworld notes there is no screen upgrade. As for looks, the laptop comes in space black and silver.
The iMac is the same story. It keeps its look, its seven colors, the 24-inch 4.5K display and the 12MP Center Stage camera. In fact, it only gains the N1 chip and faster SSD speeds, MacRumors reports. Both machines ship with macOS 27 and Siri AI.
Why this M6 MacBook Pro is not the big Mac moment
Plenty of headlines make this sound like the big Mac moment. It isn’t.
This is the entry 14-inch model, not an M6 Pro or M6 Max. The touchscreen OLED MacBook Pro is a different machine, and it isn’t part of today’s news.
That one is expected tomorrow. Apple has confirmed an Oct. 28 event in Los Angeles called “Pro and tell,” and Bloomberg reported it will include the first touch-screen MacBook. Macworld says that model is expected to use M5 Pro or M5 Max chips, not M6. Yes, the naming is a bit of a mess.
The event also lands while Apple is in transition, which is why our look at John Ternus, the quiet architect behind Apple’s biggest innovations is worth a read.
What the new MacBook Pro means for your wallet
Here’s the thing: if you own an M5 MacBook Pro, the math is not exciting. A 30% graphics bump is real, but it is not a reason to spend $1,999 on a laptop that looks and lasts the same.
Skip it.
The case gets stronger the older your machine is. Apple says people upgrading from an Intel iMac see up to 18 times faster performance. That is Apple’s claim, but it is plausible given how old those chips are. If you are on an Intel Mac or an M1, this is your window.
One caution on pricing. Tom’s Guide says prices held steady from last generation. Because I could not verify last year’s starting prices, I won’t call it a price hold or a hike. Check Apple’s old pricing before you decide.
Meanwhile, shoppers are still fighting for Apple hardware elsewhere, as Apple’s $1,999 iPhone Duo sold out fast.
The M6 first appeared in the Mac mini in September, per Bloomberg. The iMac is jumping up from M4, and the MacBook Pro from M5. Bloomberg calls the whole run an “end-to-end overhaul” of Apple’s computer line.
What happens next with the M6 iMac and laptop
Pre-orders open Oct. 28 in 35 countries, including the U.S. Deliveries start Nov. 6, so the M6 iMac and the laptop arrive together.
Before you click buy, wait one day. If that touchscreen MacBook Pro shows up tomorrow, your $1,999 might look very different. Why order the opening act when the headliner is on stage in 24 hours?
