Apple’s iMac with M6 arrives promising a ‘huge leap’ in AI performance
Apple has announced an updated 24-inch iMac with its M6 processor, claiming substantial gains in graphics, productivity and on-device AI performance over earlier models. The launch matters as Apple positions the desktop to run its next generation of Apple Intelligence, including a more capable Siri integrated with Spotlight.
The M6 configuration offers up to a 12-core CPU and GPU, a 16-core Neural Engine and 170GB/s memory bandwidth; memory starts at 16GB, with 24GB and 32GB options. Apple says it is up to twice as fast in graphics as the M4 iMac, up to 50 per cent faster in Excel, and up to five times faster for some on-device AI tasks. The 4.5K 24-inch display remains unchanged, while Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 are new. Pre-orders begin on 28 October, with prices starting at $1,499.
In short
- Apple has launched a 24-inch iMac powered by its M6 chip.
- Apple claims up to five times faster on-device AI than the M4 model.
- US prices start at $1,499, with pre-orders from 28 October.
Explained simply
The iMac is Apple’s all-in-one desktop computer, with the screen and computer built into one unit. Its processor, called the M6, is designed by Apple and handles everyday work as well as demanding tasks such as graphics and artificial intelligence.
Apple Intelligence is the company’s name for AI features built into its devices. Running these features directly on a computer can reduce the need to send some requests to remote servers, while Siri is Apple’s voice assistant and Spotlight is the search tool on its devices.
The iMac sits within Apple’s Mac range, alongside laptops and other desktop computers. Its performance and memory options matter to people choosing a computer for work or creative tasks, while its unchanged display and starting price help define what buyers get for the cost.