Apple M6 iMac Review: Pricey Desktop Still Excels for Clean Desks
Apple's M6 iMac delivers solid performance upgrades and power efficiency, but its premium price tag pays largely for style and a clean desk setup.
Apple has introduced its latest all-in-one desktop with the fourth refresh of the Apple Silicon iMac, bringing the M6 chip to the iconic 24-inch form factor. While other devices in Apple’s lineup have undergone significant redesigns over the past half-decade—including the MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and Mac Studio—the latest iMac retains its classic thin screen-on-a-stand silhouette reminiscent of earlier generations. Positioned primarily as a simple, elegant workstation for entry-level buyers, the new machine maintains the colorful aesthetic that has defined the modern desktop lineup.
The entry-level $1,499 model features two Thunderbolt ports, a headphone jack, and a restricted version of the Apple M6 with 10 CPU cores and 10 GPU cores. Buyers selecting this tier are limited to a maximum of 24GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, while Touch ID requires an $80 upgrade to a keyboard with a number pad. Stepping up to the $1,699 version unlocks the full-speed M6 processor with 12 CPU and 12 GPU cores, four Thunderbolt ports, and options for up to 32GB of RAM and 2TB of storage. Additionally, a 2.5 gigabit Ethernet port can be integrated into the desktop’s power brick for an extra $30.
Performance Benchmarks and Power Efficiency
Beneath the sleek exterior, the M6 processor brings notable architectural improvements, including a doubled Neural Engine featuring 32 cores and neural accelerator hardware built directly into the GPU cores. These enhancements boost local workloads such as MetalFX upscaling and gaming frame generation. However, thermal constraints mean the iMac operates within an 18 W average power envelope under sustained heavy loads, performing slightly behind the Mac mini and MacBook Pro equipped with the same silicon.
Despite the lower power envelope compared to active-cooled laptops or compact desktops, the M6 iMac demonstrates meaningful gains over previous generations. It delivers single-core CPU benchmark improvements of 15 to 20 percent, multi-core increases between 20 and 30 percent, and graphics performance jumps of 20 to 40 percent over the M4 iteration. Blender GPU benchmarks show particularly strong results thanks to the updated neural accelerators.
When weighing value against alternatives, the $899 Mac mini offers the same core chip, RAM, and storage capacity for significantly less money, though buyers must supply their own display. For current owners of Apple Silicon systems who are satisfied with their daily performance, the M6 upgrade may offer limited compelling reasons to switch, as even older models remain robust for standard tasks.