Apple’s new iMac reaches customers on November 6, bringing M6 to its colorful all-in-one desktop. Announced October 27, it keeps a 24-inch 4.5K Retina display and seven finishes. U.S. starting prices are $1,499 for a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, or $1,699 for the 12-core CPU and 12-core GPU version.
The useful distinction is between those configurations, rather than simply between colors. Apple lists four Thunderbolt 4 ports on the 12-core version and makes 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet an option on that model. It also adds Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 to the generation.
Count the connections
Think through a working desk before choosing a configuration. An external photo library, a card reader and a second screen can turn an apparently generous row of sockets into a short list. Write down what stays connected and what you plug in briefly. Check the actual configuration’s connections against that list, including the power adapter and any dock you expect to use.
A port’s shape does not settle every compatibility question. Confirm the connection and speed required by each accessory, especially an older drive enclosure or display. A faster network connection also needs suitable equipment at the other end; it does not, by itself, make an internet subscription faster.
Read the performance claims in context
Apple reports faster graphics and on-device AI performance than the M4 generation. Those are manufacturer comparisons, not results from a Remjet review. We have not tested this iMac.
For an editing desk, the practical questions remain the size of the files, the applications involved and how much of the library needs to be available locally. Put those alongside memory and storage choices when comparing the final order, rather than treating the processor badge as a complete specification.
A desktop decision
The iMac keeps the screen and computer together. That can make for a simpler setup, but it is worth deciding whether an all-in-one is actually the format you want before comparing chip tiers. Someone who already has a display they like is asking a different question from someone replacing an entire desk.
Availability begins November 6. Check the delivery or pickup estimate for the particular configuration and location rather than assuming every option arrives on launch day.
For the portable side of Apple’s November lineup, see our MacBook Pro launch report.
