Apple's iMac with M6 arrives promising a huge leap in AI performance
It offers more cores and more performance per core than the iMac M4.
Following recent product announcements, Apple is continuing its hardware rollout with the launch of its latest desktop model. Powered by new M6 processors, it promises a major boost in performance and artificial intelligence capabilities thanks to extra cores and dedicated neural accelerators in each core.
The M6 first arrived in compact and desktop systems before expanding to Apple's entry-level iMac line. The chip offers more cores in total with up to a 12-core CPU, 12-core GPU, and dual 16-core Neural Engine. Combined with 170GB/s memory bandwidth, the hardware delivers up to twice the graphics performance of the previous generation, accelerating intensive tasks like photo editing and gaming. Base models start with 16GB of unified memory, with options for 24GB and 32GB.
Productivity and AI Capabilities
Designed for productivity, the new iMac is up to 50 percent faster for spreadsheet tasks compared to the M4 model, and up to 2.5 times faster than the original M1 version. The hardware handles demanding jobs like photo and video editing while offering up to double the ray-tracing gaming performance.
Apple has placed significant emphasis on artificial intelligence capabilities. The hardware delivers up to five times faster on-device AI performance for prompt processing in local applications compared to the M4 model.
This AI performance supports the next generation of Apple Intelligence features integrated into the operating system. Users can interact with an upgraded assistant to search information across personal photos and emails, or query data directly through system search tools.
Connectivity and Display
The 4.5K 24-inch Retina display features 500 nits of brightness and P3 wide color, carrying over from previous generations. However, the system adds Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 support, along with 2.5Gb Ethernet connectivity. It supports Thunderbolt 4 connections and allows users to connect up to two 6K external displays.
Pricing and Availability
Additional hardware includes a 12-megapixel Center Stage camera, a selection of seven color options, and color-matched accessories with Touch ID. Pricing starts at $1,499 for the configuration featuring a 10-core CPU and 16GB of RAM, while a 12-core CPU and 12-core GPU model starts at $1,699.
