Apple has refreshed its colorful all-in-one desktop with a major performance upgrade. On October 27, 2026, Apple announced a new iMac powered by its M6 chip, delivering faster performance, improved graphics, and more powerful AI capabilities.
The updated model continues Apple’s focus on combining powerful hardware with a slim design and a simple all-in-one desktop setup. It starts at $1,499, with pre-orders opening on October 28 at 10:10 a.m. PT (1:10 p.m. ET) and availability from November 6.
New iMac gets Apple’s powerful M6 chip
The biggest upgrade is Apple’s M6 chip, which improves computing and graphics performance while supporting more demanding AI workloads. Built on a 2-nm process, it features up to a 12-core CPU, a 12-core GPU, and a Dual 16-core Neural Engine, with support for up to 32GB of unified memory and up to 170GB/s of memory bandwidth.
Compared with the M4-powered iMac, which offers up to a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, the M6 model delivers a significant performance boost. Apple claims up to 1.5x faster performance in apps like Microsoft Excel, twice as fast graphics, and 5x faster on-device AI performance.
These improvements could benefit demanding apps, video editing, and AI-powered tools. For people who have an M4 iMac, this update will be most noticeable when handling graphics- and AI-heavy tasks. Users coming from older Macs will have a better experience altogether.
Familiar all-in-one design with a 4.5K Retina display
Apple has retained the iMac’s distinctive slim design rather than introducing a dramatic redesign. It features a 24-inch 4.5K Retina display, designed to deliver sharp text, detailed images, and vibrant colors.
Apple is offering the iMac in seven colors: blue, green, pink, yellow, purple, orange, and silver.
The all-in-one format remains one of the iMac’s biggest advantages. Users can set up their workspace without needing a separate desktop tower and monitor, making it a convenient choice for home offices, students, and people who prefer a clean desk setup.
Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and faster SSD performance
Beyond the processor, Apple has improved connectivity and storage in the new iMac.
The M6 model includes an N1 wireless chip that supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. The 12-core models also offer optional 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet with “up to 2.5x faster wired connectivity than the previous generation” for users who prefer a wired network connection.
Apple says the new iMac also delivers up to twice as fast SSD read and write performance compared with the M4 model. Faster storage can help with file transfers, loading applications, and workflows involving large files.
These upgrades may be particularly useful for creative professionals who regularly work with large photo libraries, video projects, and other storage-intensive content.
iMac M6 price and pre-orders
The new M6-powered iMac starts at $1,499 in the US for the base configuration with a 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB of unified memory, 256GB of storage, and two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports. Apple also offers a higher-end configuration with a 12-core CPU, 12-core GPU, and four Thunderbolt 4 ports, starting at $1,699.
On the 12-core model, users can choose up to 32GB of unified memory and up to 2TB of storage.
With education pricing, the two models start at $1,449 and $1,599. In India, the iMac with M6 starts at ₹1,74,900 for the 10-core model and ₹1,99,900 for the 12-core model.
Pre-orders for the new iMac begin on October 28, 2026, and it will be available from November 6, 2026, at Apple Store locations and authorized resellers.
