Macworld
Apple’s next iMac could be just days away. Nearly two years after the M4 iMac launched, Apple is reportedly preparing to introduce a new model powered by its M6 chip, potentially at the end of October 2026.
The good news is that the M6 promises a substantial performance upgrade, with a faster CPU and GPU, improved memory bandwidth and significant advances in AI processing. The less exciting news is that Apple isn’t expected to make major changes to the iMac’s design, although new colors could be on the way.
On October 19, Apple announced a media event, dubbed “Pro and Tell” on October 28, 2026. This is expected to be the introduction of new Macs, including the M6 iMac.
Here’s everything we know about the M6 iMac, including its expected release date, design, specifications and price.
M6 iMac release date: When will it launch?- Expected release date: October 28, 2026
On October 19, Apple announced a media event, dubbed “Pro and Tell” on October 28, 2026. This is expected to be the introduction of new Macs, including the M6 iMac.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman previously indicated that another Apple product launch was planned for Tuesday, October 27, so an announcement could still take place the day before the media gathering.
The M6 iMac is among the products expected to make an appearance, alongside new MacBook Pro M6 models, a touchscreen MacBook Pro, and an updated iPad mini.
The prospect of an imminent iMac launch follows earlier reporting from Gurman. In the Q&A section of his August 23 Power On newsletter, Gurman indicated that the M6 iMac was close to launch and that customers should be able to buy one before the end of 2026.
An earlier July 2026 report also identified two iMac models, codenamed J833 and J834, among a wave of new Macs Apple was preparing.
The current M4 iMac arrived in fall 2024, making it nearly two years old. Apple appears to have skipped an M5 iMac altogether, as it previously skipped the M2 generation, meaning the next model should move directly from M4 to M6.
M6 iMac design: Will there be new colors?- Expected: The same 24-inch design, potentially with new color options.
Apple
Anyone hoping for a completely redesigned iMac may be disappointed. According to Gurman’s August reporting, Apple is not preparing a major overhaul of its all-in-one desktop for 2026.
The iMac has retained essentially the same ultra-thin, colorful design since Apple introduced the 24-inch M1 iMac in 2021. Although the M4 iMac update in 2024 introduced some refinements, the overall appearance remained largely unchanged.
Gurman expects the M6 iMac to follow a similar pattern, with the new chip representing the most significant upgrade. However, he has suggested that new colors could be introduced.
Apple currently offers the iMac in seven colors: blue, green, pink, silver, yellow, orange and purple. These options have been available since 2021, although Apple refreshed the shades with the M4 model.
A more substantial iMac redesign could still arrive in a future generation, but there is currently little evidence to suggest that Apple is planning one for the M6 iMac.
M6 iMac display: Will it have a larger screen? Will Apple ever bring back the iMac Pro with a larger screen?Foundry
- Expected: A 24-inch 4.5K Retina display, similar to the current model.
The current model features a 24-inch 4.5K Retina display, with a resolution of 4,480 by 2,520 pixels. It uses LED-backlit LCD technology and supports up to 500 nits of brightness. The M6 iMac is likely to retain a similar screen.
There have been rumors about Apple developing a larger iMac with more advanced display technology. In 2023, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted a higher-end 32-inch iMac with a mini-LED display, potentially arriving in 2025. However, that product never materialized, and there is no reliable indication that it will launch alongside the M6 iMac.
M6 iMac specs and performance: How much faster will it be?- Expected: M6 chip, improved CPU and GPU performance, faster memory and a substantial AI upgrade.
The M6 iMac may not look very different from its predecessor, but the processor could make it a considerably more powerful computer.
Apple introduced the M6 chip in August 2026, with the new M6 Mac mini going on sale in September. That means we already have a useful indication of the technology the next iMac could include. You can read about how the Mac mini M6 chips compare to other Macs in our Best Mac guide.
The M6 is Apple’s first chip manufactured using a 2-nanometer process, replacing the 3-nanometer technology used by the M4. The smaller manufacturing process allows Apple to improve transistor density, performance and power efficiency.
The M6 used in the Mac mini features:
- A 12-core CPU.
- A 12-core GPU with Neural Accelerators in every core.
- A Dual 16-core Neural Engine for AI and machine-learning tasks.
- 16GB of standard unified memory, configurable up to 32GB.
- Memory bandwidth of up to 170GB/s.
- Improved storage performance compared with the M4 generation.
The M4 iMac currently offers an 8-core or 10-core CPU and an 8-core or 10-core GPU, depending on the configuration. Moving to the M6 could therefore bring a particularly noticeable performance improvement, especially for buyers upgrading from the entry-level M4 model.
Apple claims that the M6 Mac mini delivers up to 40 percent faster CPU performance, twice the graphics performance and four times the AI performance of the M4 Mac mini in its specified tests.
We can’t assume that the M6 iMac will achieve identical results, but these figures demonstrate the potential benefits of moving from the M4 to the M6 generation.
Improved AI performance
One of the biggest improvements could be the M6’s new AI-processing architecture.
Previous M-series chips used a single 16-core Neural Engine. The M6 introduces a Dual 16-core Neural Engine, supported by Neural Accelerators in each GPU core.
Together, these changes should make the M6 iMac significantly better equipped for demanding AI workloads, including running local language models, processing images and using AI-powered creative tools.
For everyday users, the benefits may be less immediately obvious. However, the additional processing capabilities could become increasingly useful as macOS and third-party applications adopt more sophisticated on-device AI features.
More memory and faster connectivity
The M6 supports up to 32GB of unified memory and memory bandwidth of 170GB/s. Whether Apple offers the same memory configurations in the iMac remains to be seen.
The new Mac mini also includes Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, so these connectivity improvements seem likely to arrive on the M6 iMac as well.
It’s unknown if Apple will update the iMac’s Thunderbolt ports, storage options or other hardware features.
M6 iMac price: How much will it cost?- Expected starting price: Around $1,499.
When Apple introduced the M4 iMac in 2024, prices started at $1,299 for the entry-level model with an 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU and 256GB of storage. The higher-end version, featuring a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, started at $1,499.
However, Apple increased the prices of the M4 iMac in June 2026. The entry-level model now starts at $1,499, while the four-port version starts at $1,699.
These price increases make it difficult to predict what Apple will charge for the next generation.
Apple could retain the current starting prices, particularly if the M6 update introduces relatively few changes beyond the processor. Alternatively, the higher cost of components and memory could result in further increases.
For now, $1,499 is a reasonable starting point for expectations.
Should you buy an M4 iMac or wait for the M6?- Our recommendation: Wait for the M6 iMac if you can.
With the next iMac potentially arriving before the end of October, we’d recommend holding off on buying the M4 model at full price.
The current iMac remains an excellent all-in-one desktop for everyday computing, home working, students and families. Its 24-inch Retina display, compact design and M4 processor make it more than capable of handling most people’s needs.
However, the M6 looks set to bring a meaningful increase in performance. The move from M4 to M6 should provide improvements to CPU and GPU performance, while the upgraded Neural Engine could make a difference as AI features become more demanding.
Waiting will also allow you to compare the new iMac’s pricing and specifications with those of the outgoing model. Even if you ultimately choose an M4 iMac, its replacement could make discounted older models more appealing.
There are reasons to buy now. If you need a new Mac immediately and find a substantial discount on an M4 iMac, it could still be a sensible purchase. But for anyone buying a new iMac at full price, waiting for Apple’s next announcement is the better option.