Apple refreshes the iMac, entry-level MacBook Pro with the M6 chip

You can now purchase Macs with significantly faster AI and graphics performance for demanding creative or computational tasks.

Apple has updated its iMac and entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro with the new M6 chip. The M6 chip comes in two variants for the iMac, offering either a 10-core CPU/10-core GPU configuration or a 12-core CPU/12-core GPU configuration, with RAM up to 24GB and 1TB storage for the former, and up to 32GB RAM and 2TB storage for the latter. The 14-inch MacBook Pro gets a single M6 chip option with a 12-core CPU and 12-core GPU, supporting up to 32GB RAM and 4TB storage. Apple claims significant performance increases over previous generations, including up to 40 percent faster CPU performance and up to double graphics performance for the M6 compared to the M4. The new machines also feature the N1 chip, enabling Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 connectivity. The M6 iMac starts at $1,499 and the M6 MacBook Pro starts at $1,999, with pre-orders opening October 28 and shipments beginning November 6.

The refresh signals Apple's continued aggressive pace in chip development, particularly its focus on on-device AI capabilities which are seeing nearly fivefold performance boosts in some configurations. The company's strategy of rapidly iterating on its silicon, even skipping a generation like the M5 for the iMac, underscores a commitment to pushing performance boundaries in its core product lines. This move aims to solidify its competitive advantage against rivals by offering substantial generational leaps in processing power and graphics, directly impacting the user experience for visually intensive applications and machine learning tasks.

The introduction of the N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 connectivity highlights Apple's effort to standardize next-generation wireless protocols across its ecosystem, ensuring future-proofed connectivity for its devices. While the iMac gains an option for 2.5Gb Ethernet, the continued absence of an Ethernet port on the MacBook Pro may be a point of contention for users requiring wired network performance. These updates position Apple's refreshed offerings to maintain their appeal in a competitive laptop and desktop market, catering to users who demand cutting-edge performance and connectivity.