Apple has announced a new 24-inch iMac built around its M6 chip. According to Apple’s newsroom, customers can pre-order starting October 28, 2026, and the computer becomes available on Friday, November 6.

The thin all-in-one design carries over, and it still comes in seven colours: blue, green, pink, yellow, purple, orange and silver. Most of the change is inside.

What is new inside

Apple says the M6 offers up to a 12-core CPU and up to a 12-core GPU, two more cores of each than before. Every GPU core now includes a Neural Accelerator, and the chip has a Dual 16-core Neural Engine. Memory bandwidth reaches up to 170GB/s.

Apple’s own comparisons, which come from its testing and not from independent reviews:

  • Up to 1.5x faster than M4 in apps such as Microsoft Excel, and up to 2.5x faster than an M1 iMac
  • Up to 2x faster graphics than M4 for tasks like photo editing, and up to 3.3x faster than M1
  • Up to 5x faster on-device AI performance than M4, and up to 12x faster than M1 for prompt processing in LM Studio
  • Up to 2x higher gaming performance with ray tracing than M4
  • Up to 18x faster than the most popular Intel-based iMac

Connectivity and display

The new iMac adds Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, with optional 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet and storage that Apple says is up to 2x faster. There are up to four Thunderbolt 4 ports. The screen is the same 24-inch 4.5K Retina display.

The Apple Post reports further details: a 12MP Center Stage camera, a six-speaker audio system, a three-microphone array and support for up to two 6K external displays.

Software

The iMac ships with macOS 27 and the next generation of Apple Intelligence. That includes Siri AI, which Apple describes as a more capable and conversational version of Siri built into Spotlight. Apple also points to Visual Intelligence with a dedicated keyboard shortcut, so users can ask about whatever is on screen.

Price

The Apple Post lists $1,499 for the model with a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU and $1,699 for the 12-core CPU and 12-core GPU version. 9to5Mac says the iMac starts at $1,499, the same as the previous model. Neither outlet gives a Canadian price, and the dollar figures are not labelled with a currency.

What it means for you

For Canadian buyers, the sources we reviewed do not include Canadian pricing or retailer details, so check Apple.ca when pre-orders open on October 28. US buyers should look at Apple’s US store for the final price.

Apple pitches the upgrade most strongly at people still on an Intel-based iMac. If you own an M4 model, the gains Apple lists are smaller, and the design and display have not changed.