Apple is extending its M6 chip beyond the Mac Mini, bringing it to the entry‑level MacBook Pro and 24‑inch iMac. Externally, both machines look the same, but the internals get a meaningful spec bump.
M6 MacBook Pro: more cores, higher bandwidth
The new M6 MacBook Pro features a 12‑core CPU (2 super cores, 4 performance cores, 6 efficiency cores) and a 12‑core GPU. The previous M5 model shipped with a 10‑core CPU and 10‑core GPU.
Apple also doubles the Neural Engine: instead of a single 16‑core NE, the M6 configuration uses a dual 16‑core NE (32 cores total), boosting on‑device AI and machine‑learning workloads.
Memory bandwidth rises from 153 GB/s to 170 GB/s, but only if you configure the laptop with 24 GB or 32 GB of memory; the default 16 GB tier keeps the lower bandwidth.
Connectivity gets an upgrade too, with support for Wi‑Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. The laptop can now drive two external 4K displays at up to 165 Hz, up from 144 Hz. Despite all this, the starting price remains $1,999.
24" iMac: jumping from M4 straight to M6
After nearly two years without an update, the 24‑inch iMac skips the M5 entirely and jumps from M4 to M6. The design is unchanged: a 24‑inch 4.5K Retina display, slim all‑in‑one chassis and the same color options (blue, green, pink, yellow, purple, orange and silver). The $1,499 starting price is also unchanged.
For that $1,499, you now get an M6 with a 10‑core CPU, 10‑core GPU and the dual 16‑core Neural Engine. Previously, the M4 base chip offered 8 CPU cores, 8 GPU cores and a single 16‑core NE.
A $1,699 step‑up model includes an M6 with 12‑core CPU, 12‑core GPU, four Thunderbolt 4 ports instead of two, and built‑in 2.5 Gb/s Ethernet (which is optional on the base model). The older M4 iMac was limited to gigabit Ethernet.
Preorders for both the M6 MacBook Pro and M6 iMac open Wednesday, Oct. 28, with shipping expected to start Friday, Nov. 6.
Source: Gündəm · cnet.com
