Apple’s M6 MacBook Pro and iMac Are Here: Faster On-Device AI, 24-Hour Battery, Same Designs
Key takeaway: Apple has unveiled a new 14-inch MacBook Pro and a new 24-inch iMac, both powered by its latest M6 chip. The MacBook Pro starts at $1,999 and the iMac at $1,499, with pre-orders opening October 28 and availability from November 6 in 35 countries. The headline upgrades are faster on-device AI, longer battery life, and faster connectivity — not new designs.
Apple announced the two machines on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, a day before its “Pro and tell” event in Los Angeles on October 28. The pitch is straightforward: the same Macs buyers already know, with a faster chip inside and a bigger emphasis on running AI tasks on the device itself rather than in the cloud.
What is new in the M6 MacBook Pro?
The 14-inch MacBook Pro moves from the M5 chip to the M6, with a 12-core CPU and a 12-core GPU that includes Neural Accelerators in each core, plus a Dual 16-core Neural Engine for AI work. According to Apple, it delivers up to 30% faster graphics and up to 25% faster AI performance than its M5 predecessor.
Battery life is the other headline: up to 24 hours, which Apple says is the longest ever in a Mac. The machine also gains Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, ships with 16GB of unified memory as standard (configurable up to 32GB), and offers memory bandwidth up to 170GB/s. The design, display, and port layout are unchanged, and pricing starts at $1,999.
What is new in the M6 iMac?
The iMac skips a generation, jumping straight from the M4 chip to the M6. Apple says the new iMac delivers up to 5x faster on-device AI performance than the previous M4 model, and up to 18x faster performance than the most popular Intel-based iMac for buyers still upgrading from older machines.
The base model starts at $1,499 with a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU; a 12-core CPU and 12-core GPU configuration starts at $1,699. The familiar 24-inch 4.5K Retina display stays, as do the seven colour options, and the machine adds Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, up to four Thunderbolt 4 ports, and available 2.5-gigabit Ethernet.
Why on-device AI is the story here
Both machines are built to run local AI models and Apple Intelligence features — including Siri AI — directly on the device. That matters for two practical reasons: tasks like photo editing, transcription, and writing assistance respond faster without a round trip to a server, and more of your data stays on your own machine.
This fits a wider pattern across the industry. Chipmakers and PC brands are all racing to make AI a local, everyday feature rather than a cloud subscription, and Apple’s M6 pitch — Neural Accelerators in every GPU core, a doubled-up Neural Engine — is its version of that argument. For a deeper look at how AI answers are changing what gets cited and found online, see our guide to Google AI Mode and SEO strategy.
How does the M6 compare with the M5 and M4?
For MacBook Pro buyers, the comparison is simple: the M6 is a modest generational step over the M5 — roughly 25–30% faster in Apple’s graphics and AI figures — with the same design and the same $1,999 starting price. For iMac buyers, the jump is larger because the previous model ran the older M4 chip, so the AI and CPU gains are several times bigger, again at the same $1,499 starting price.
What you do not get in this round: there is no M6 Pro or M6 Max chip yet, no 16-inch MacBook Pro update, and no redesign of either machine. Buyers who want the higher-end Pro models should wait and see what Apple announces at the October 28 event.
What it costs, and when you can buy one
Pre-orders for both machines open Wednesday, October 28, in 35 countries and regions including the US, with general availability from Friday, November 6. The 14-inch MacBook Pro starts at $1,999 and the iMac starts at $1,499, with higher configurations — including the 12-core iMac at $1,699 — available at checkout.
Knowns, unknowns, and what to watch
Confirmed: both machines, their chips, prices, pre-order date (October 28), and availability date (November 6). Still unknown: independent benchmark results — all performance figures so far are Apple’s own claims — and real-world battery life outside Apple’s testing. What to watch: the October 28 “Pro and tell” event, where Bloomberg News has reported Apple is expected to show its first touch-screen MacBook Pro, plus any M6 Pro or M6 Max announcements.
Should you buy one?
If you are upgrading from an Intel Mac or an M1/M2 machine, either M6 model is a major step up, and the iMac in particular offers a large jump for the same starting price. If you already own an M4 or M5 Mac, the gains are incremental — worth it if you run heavy AI or creative workloads daily, but not a must-have upgrade. And if you are eyeing a higher-end MacBook Pro, wait one more day: the October 28 event may change the lineup.
Frequently asked questions
When can I buy the M6 MacBook Pro and iMac?
Pre-orders open on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, and both machines go on sale on Friday, November 6, 2026, in 35 countries and regions including the US.
How much do the M6 MacBook Pro and iMac cost?
The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M6 starts at $1,999. The 24-inch iMac with M6 starts at $1,499 for the 10-core configuration, and $1,699 for the 12-core CPU and GPU configuration.
What is new in Apple’s M6 chip?
The M6 chip has a 12-core CPU and a 12-core GPU with Neural Accelerators in each core, plus a Dual 16-core Neural Engine. Apple says it delivers up to 25% faster AI performance than the M5 in the MacBook Pro and up to 5x faster on-device AI than the M4 in the iMac.
Should I wait for Apple’s October 28 event before buying?
If you want a higher-end MacBook Pro, yes — wait a day. Bloomberg News has reported that the October 28 “Pro and tell” event is expected to feature Apple’s first touch-screen MacBook Pro, and M6 Pro or M6 Max chips have not been announced yet.
Do the new Macs look different?
No. Both machines keep their previous designs — the same 14-inch MacBook Pro chassis and the same 24-inch iMac in seven colours. The changes are internal: the M6 chip, faster connectivity with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, and longer battery life on the MacBook Pro.
Sources: Reuters, “Apple launches M6 MacBook Pro and iMac, pitches faster on-device AI” (October 27, 2026); Seeking Alpha via TradingView, “Apple unleashes new iMac and MacBook Pro with M6 chips” (October 27, 2026), quoting Apple’s announcement.
