Apple's latest iMac skips the M5 chip and moves directly to the M6, bringing faster performance, improved connectivity, and faster storage. So how much has changed since the M4 model arrived in 2024, and is it worth upgrading? The M6 iMac starts at $1,499 in the United States, with the four-port configuration starting at $1,699. While the entry price is $200 higher than the M4 model's original $1,299 launch price, the outgoing model had already risen to $1,499 earlier in 2026. With much of the ‌iMac‌ experience unchanged, existing M4 owners may be weighing up whether the performance improvements justify replacing their machine, while new buyers may be considering a discounted older model. Here are the key differences between the M4 and M6 ‌iMac‌: ‌iMac‌ (M4, 2024) ‌iMac‌ (M6, 2026)

Two-port model : 8-core CPU with 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores Four-port model : 10-core CPU with 4 performance cores and 6 efficiency cores

Two-port model : 10-core CPU with 2 super cores, 3 performance cores, and 5 efficiency cores Four-port model : 12-core CPU with 2 super cores, 4 performance cores, and 6 efficiency cores

Hardware-accelerated ray tracing with up to 2x higher gaming performance compared with M4, according to Apple

Two 16-core Neural Engines, totaling 32 cores, which system frameworks can use simultaneously

SSD storage with PCIe 5.0 support and up to 2x faster read and write performance

Two-port model : Optional Gigabit Ethernet Four-port model : Gigabit Ethernet as standard

Two-port model : Optional 2.5Gb Ethernet Four-port model : 2.5Gb Ethernet as standard

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