Apple's iMac with M6 looks just like the last one, but a reviewer found it much faster, which matters most if you still use an older all-in-one.
Apple's new iMac with M6 looks almost the same as the model before it. Inside, it is a lot quicker. Tom's Guide tested it and found the speed jump big enough to make an upgrade worthwhile for people holding on to an older Apple all-in-one. The reviewer even said it left them ready to ditch a Mac mini.
The big upgrades are Apple's M6 chip and its N1 wireless chip. The M6 is built on a 2nm process, down from 3nm on the M4. In Geekbench, a common speed test, scores rose by almost 1,000 points on a single core and by more than 5,000 on multiple cores.
Storage is also faster. In a test that converts a 4K video down to 1080p, the job took 3:20 on the new iMac. The M4 iMac needed 5:03. That is nearly two minutes saved.
Apple has kept the design since the 24-inch iMac debuted in 2021. You still get a 24-inch 4.5K Retina display, a 12MP Center Stage webcam, and either two or four Thunderbolt 4 ports, depending on the configuration. A Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse come in the box.
Setup is simple. The stand comes attached, and one power cable gets it running. Unlike Apple's Studio Display monitors, the power cable detaches, which helps keep cables tidy.
The iMac is the only all-in-one computer that can be ordered with a matte screen, through Apple's optional nano-texture glass. The reviewer also praised the speakers as surprisingly punchy and the webcam as solid.
The base model costs more than before. The material does not give the price. The stand also still cannot be adjusted for height, and Apple does not offer an optional one that can. The reviewer also wished for a larger screen size.
One small catch: the headphone jack sits on the edge of the back, which lands on the front left when you sit at the desk. That kept the cable clear of the mouse, but left-handed users may find it in the way.
Anyone with an older iMac who wants a clear speed boost in a clean, one-cable package. If a height-adjustable stand matters to you, this model still does not offer one. Ship dates were not covered in the material.
The iMac with M6 is a real speed upgrade for owners of older iMacs, but expect a higher starting price and a stand that still cannot adjust in height.
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