Apple unveiled two M6-powered Macs Oct. 27, setting U.S. starting prices of $1,999 for a 14-inch MacBook Pro and $1,499 for an iMac as it promoted the chip's ability to handle AI tasks on-device.
Apple's U.S. list price for the 14-inch notebook begins at $1,999. The base model pairs 16GB of unified memory with a 12-core CPU and a 12-core GPU, and the company estimates up to 24 hours of battery life. The iMac's $1,499 configuration has a 10-core CPU and a 10-core GPU; versions with a 12-core CPU and 12-core GPU start at $1,699. The desktop also has a 24-inch 4.5K Retina display and comes in seven colors.
Apple reports up to 30% stronger graphics performance and up to 25% faster AI workloads on the new laptop, compared with the M5 model. The company says it ran the laptop tests in October, using a prior 14-inch MacBook Pro with a 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 32GB of unified memory and a 4TB SSD as its benchmark. For the desktop, Apple claims local AI performance up to five times faster than on an M4 iMac, based on testing in September.
Apple's local AI pitch centers on built-in accelerators in the M6 graphics processor and a Dual 16-core Neural Engine. The company says the hardware lets both computers run large language models on the device. Some Apple Intelligence features still rely on server-side models and have daily usage limits, Apple says.
Apple had previously announced M6 for Mac mini on Aug. 25, making the MacBook Pro and iMac the next two Mac lines named for the chip. The release details update EconoTimes' earlier coverage of Apple's Mac and iPad schedule. Preorders open Oct. 28 across 35 countries and regions, including the U.S., and Apple says sales start Nov. 6.
