Apple's New iMac With M6 Is Here: What's Changed, What Hasn't and When You Can Order

Apple has announced a new iMac today, the first update to its colourful all-in-one desktop in two years, and pre-orders open tomorrow. From the outside it looks just like the last one and comes in the same seven colours, but inside there's a faster chip, quicker Wi-Fi and faster storage. If there's an older iMac on your desk at home and you've been wondering whether it's time to replace it, here's what has changed and what has stayed the same.

What Apple has announced

According to Apple's announcement, the new iMac is built around the M6 chip, which is the "brain" of the computer. MacRumors points out that this is the same chip Apple first put in the Mac mini back in August. Here are the main points Apple has confirmed:

• A faster chip. Up to a 12-core processor and a 12-core graphics chip, which is two more of each than before. More cores simply means the computer can do more at once.
• More power for AI features. A new "Dual 16-core Neural Engine", which is the part of the chip that handles AI tasks like Apple Intelligence. Apple says on-device AI is up to 5 times faster than the previous M4 iMac.
• Faster Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, the newest versions of both.
• Faster storage. Apple says the built-in storage reads and writes files up to twice as fast, so apps and big photo libraries open more quickly.
• Faster wired internet, as an option. A 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet socket is available, which Apple says is up to 2.5 times faster than the previous generation.
• The same screen and design. A 24-inch 4.5K Retina display with 500 nits of brightness, a 12MP Center Stage camera that keeps you in frame on video calls, six speakers and three microphones.
• The same seven colours. Blue, green, pink, yellow, purple, orange and silver.
• macOS 27. It comes with Apple's latest software, including the new Siri AI and Apple Intelligence features.

On speed, Apple says the new iMac is up to 1.5 times faster than the M4 model in everyday apps like Microsoft Excel, and up to 2.5 times faster than the M1 iMac from 2021. For anyone still using an Intel iMac, Apple says it's up to 18 times faster than its most popular Intel model. MacRumors adds that early benchmark tests of the M6 chip in the Mac mini suggest the higher-end iMac should be up to around 40% faster than the M4 model for general processing, which is a useful real-world guide alongside Apple's own figures.

The two models and what comes in the box

MacRumors reports that there are two main versions:

• The standard model has a 10-core processor, 10-core graphics and two Thunderbolt ports (the USB-C shaped sockets on the back for plugging things in).
• The higher-end model has a 12-core processor, 12-core graphics and four Thunderbolt 4 ports, and the faster 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet comes as standard.

Both start with 16GB of memory and 256GB of storage, and MacRumors says you can choose up to 32GB of memory and 2TB of storage when you order. In the box you still get a colour-matched Magic Keyboard with Touch ID (the fingerprint button for unlocking), a Magic Mouse, a power adapter and a USB-C charging cable, and MacRumors notes that the keyboard and mouse haven't changed. If you pick the optional nano-texture screen, which cuts down glare, Apple includes a polishing cloth too.

Prices and when you can order

Apple says pre-orders open tomorrow, Wednesday 28 October, with the new iMac available from Friday 6 November. You can order on Apple's iMac page or in the Apple Store app.

The reports I've read only give American prices. MacRumors says the standard model starts at $1,499 and the higher-end model at $1,699 in the US, and 9to5Mac notes that the starting price is the same as the previous iMac. US prices don't convert neatly into pounds, so do check Apple's UK site for the actual UK price before you decide anything.

What's rumoured

Apple is in the middle of a busy week of announcements, and there may be more to come. MacRumors, reporting Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, says higher-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro laptops with touchscreen OLED displays are expected tomorrow, Wednesday. Gurman has a very strong track record with Apple's plans, and he correctly expected today's iMac, but until Apple announces something it remains a rumour. 9to5Mac also mentions that the iMac pre-orders are expected to open just minutes after that rumoured MacBook Pro announcement.

What it means for you

If you're thinking about replacing an older iMac, there are a few things that might help you weigh it up:

• If you have the M4 iMac from 2024, the new one looks the same and has the same screen, camera and colours, so the differences are the faster chip, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, quicker storage and the faster Ethernet option.
• If you have an M1 iMac or an older Intel iMac, the jump in speed is much bigger, according to Apple's figures above.
• Wi-Fi 7 needs a Wi-Fi 7 router to make the most of it. The iMac will still work perfectly well with your current router, but you'll only see the extra Wi-Fi speed if your router supports the newer standard too.
• Faster Ethernet only helps if you plug your iMac into your router with a cable, and if your broadband and router are fast enough to use it.
• Choose memory and storage when you order, because, as with other recent Macs, you can't add more later. Think about how many photos, videos and files you keep.

If you do decide to order, pre-orders open tomorrow, and the first step is checking the UK price and options on Apple's site.

If you've got a quick question about the new iMac, or about whether your current one is up to the job, you can ask iHelp AI at /chat any time. And if you'd like a hand choosing the right model, moving everything across from your old Mac or getting set up once it arrives, you can book a session with us, either remotely anywhere in the UK or in person here in Dorset.

Alex