Apple has announced updated versions of the iMac and the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro, with both systems powered by the M6 chip introduced in the Mac mini a few weeks ago. The iMac offers two M6 configurations with different core counts, memory limits, storage options, and numbers of Thunderbolt ports, while the MacBook Pro uses a single 12-core configuration.
M6 configurations for the iMac
The iMac is available with either an “M6 chip with 2 Thunderbolt ports” or an “M6 chip with 4 Thunderbolt ports.” The two-port model has a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, with up to 24 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage.
The four-port model increases the CPU and GPU to 12 cores each. It supports up to 32 GB of RAM and 2 TB of storage.
14-inch MacBook Pro specifications
The entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro has only one M6 configuration, with a 12-core CPU and 12-core GPU. Its memory is capped at 32 GB, while storage can be configured with up to 4 TB of capacity.
Performance claims
The iMac update is more substantial than the previous refresh, which introduced the M4 chip. Apple skipped the M5 for the iMac and moved directly to the M6.
For the M6 Mac mini, Apple claims up to 40 percent faster CPU performance, up to twice the graphics performance, and nearly five times faster on-device AI compared with the M4. Those figures are broadly consistent with the results reported after testing the M6 Mac mini last month, and the new iMac is expected to deliver similar performance.
Source: arstechnica.com
