💻 Apple has introduced new versions of the iMac and 14-inch MacBook Pro
⚙️ The new models are powered by the upgraded M6 processor
📐 Designs have stayed the same compared to last year
💰 Both Macs are a little pricier, too, depending on which you get
📆 Preorders start tomorrow, with orders beginning to ship on November 6
After unveiling the new OLED iPad mini yesterday, Apple has announced two brand-new Macs. The company has revealed an upgraded version of the 24-inch iMac, along with a new version of the base 14-inch MacBook Pro. Both computers get a boost in performance thanks to the addition of the M6 chip. With it, though, comes a price hike for both.
Neither the new MacBook Pro or iMac have a new design. The same seven colors that the iMac ships in have returned, while the MacBook Pro is still available in space gray or silver. The biggest upgrade by far with both machines is the new M6 processor, which gets a 12-core CPU (two more cores than what the older versions shipped with) and a 12-core GPU with Neural Accelerators. There’s also a Dual 16-core Neural Engine for processing AI faster.
Apple touts that everything you do on these machines will be faster than before, with performance jumps ranging from around 25% for on-device AI workloads to jumps as high as 1,300% boosts for LLM prompt processing. For everyday folks, common computer tasks like document management and working in Safari or Google Chrome will be silky-smooth, while creator-focused workloads like editing videos and rendering graphics will take less time than before.
The 14-inch MacBook Pro carries the same Liquid Retina XDR display as before with up to 1,600 nits of brightness, a 12MP Center Stage camera, plenty of ports, and up to 24 hours total of battery life. Apple has equipped it with faster Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, which will make connectivity a bit snappier than before.
Meanwhile, the iMac also gets Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, in addition to 2.5Gb Ethernet support for up to 2.5x faster wired connectivity than the previous generation. There’s also four Thunderbolt 4 ports on the back for connecting external displays, hard drives, and other accessories. As for the rest of it, it’s the same old iMac you know and love with a 24-inch 2.5K display, a 12MP Center Stage camera, Dolby Atmos-equipped speakers, color-matched accessories in the box, and Touch ID in the included keyboard.
Both the new iMac and the MacBook Pro will go up for preorder starting tomorrow, October 28. Each has gotten a bump in price, however, with the iMac now starting at $1,499. The base MacBook Pro is the same $1,999 as last year, but certain storage configurations (including a new 4TB option) will drive the price up substantially. Orders for both machines will begin shipping on Friday, November 6.
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Max Buondonno is an editor at The Shortcut and co-host of The Shortcut Live. He’s been reporting on the latest consumer technology since 2015, with his work featured on CNN Underscored, ZDNET, How-To Geek, XDA, TheStreet, and more. Follow him on X @LegendaryScoop and Instagram @LegendaryScoop.