Pros & Cons
Elegant, compact design
M6 chip adds performance jolt
Wi-Fi 7 and 2.5GbE networking
256GB of storage is insulting
Gets pricey quickly
iMac wasn’t picked as first Mac with touchscreen display
Design and Hardware
The latest iMac continues a multi-year trend of internal hardware refreshes housed within a consistent, proven design. While the aesthetic remains largely unchanged since the 2021 transition to Apple silicon, the chassis remains highly regarded for its elegance and compact footprint.
The last redesign for the iMac came in 2021 when Apple switched from Intel chips to its own M-series processors. The latest M6 iMac looks no different than the M1 iMac.
The iMac’s overall look remains stunningly elegant and superior to most anything on the Windows side. While some users may desire touch-screen functionality, the current iteration focuses on internal performance rather than form-factor innovation.
The M6 processor adds a couple more CPU and GPU cores for improved performance and doubles the cores of the neural processor for greater local AI capabilities. Memory bandwidth and networking also receive upgrades with the M6 iMac, but the base storage capacity remains a miserly 256 gigabytes.
Pricing stays the same, starting at $1,499. Users are encouraged to spend an additional $200 to double the storage to a 512GB SSD, which is more practical than upgrading the processor for most mainstream workflows.
For most iMac buyers, the 10-core M6 and a pair of Thunderbolt 4 ports will suffice. It is important to get enough internal storage up front because it cannot be upgraded after purchase.
Apple offers two versions of the M6 processor, one with 10 CPU and GPU cores and another with 12 cores each. The M6 can pack more cores and transistors into a same-sized die because it is manufactured on a 2-nanometer process.
The M6 has the same performance and efficiency cores as the M4, but adds a new “super core” to the mix, providing a new tier of processing power for demanding tasks.
Instead of the single 16-core Neural Engine with the M4, the M6 features a dual 16-core Neural Engine designed to handle the integer math calculations required for local AI workloads. The M6 also adds a neural accelerator to each GPU core.
Memory bandwidth has increased from 120GB per second to 153GB per second with 16GB of RAM, and to 170GB per second with 24GB or 32GB.
The solid-state drive offers twice the read and write speeds of the previous model, thanks to the internal storage controller receiving PCIe 5.0 support.
The M6 iMac received Apple’s N1 networking chip, which upgrades wireless networking to Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. Wired networking also gets a bump from Gigabit Ethernet to 2.5Gb Ethernet.
The M6 iMac starts at £1,499 in the UK and AU$2,399 in Australia.
M6 iMac performance
The 12-core M6 iMac shows strong multi-core gains compared with the 10-core M4 iMac. It was 37% faster on the Geekbench 6 multi-core test and 36% faster on the Cinebench 2024 multi-core test. Single-core performance also improved, with a 19% gain on Geekbench 6 and a 26% gain on Cinebench 2024.
The M6 iMac delivered excellent graphics performance, with a score on 3DMark Steel Nomad 66% higher than the M4 MacBook Pro.
The M6 iMac’s score on the Geekbench AI NPU test was 46% higher than the M4 MacBook Pro’s and 40% better than the scores of the M5 MacBook Pro and Air.
Same design, same display
The M6 iMac features the same design with the same 24-inch, 4.5K Retina display in the same seven color choices. The included Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse are color-matched to the system.
Users can trade the glossy finish for Apple’s nano-texture glass that reduces glare and reflections. This upgrade costs $200 with the iMac.
While the source reviewer expressed interest in a touchscreen iMac, the current model continues to rely on traditional input methods.
The large 24-inch display remains a highlight, offering a clear and vibrant workspace for productivity.
The M6 iMac remains a top-tier all-in-one computer, providing a powerful and streamlined desktop experience.
