Apple reportedly preparing updated iMac with M6 chip and new colors
Apple is reportedly working on a new iMac, its first update in two years, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The new model is expected to feature the upcoming M6 chip and some new color options, with availability before the end of the year.
Gurman, writing in his latest Power On newsletter, said "All signs point to the M6 models being close to launch," and buyers "should be able to buy one before the end of the year." The new version is likely to be an updated 24-inch model with an M6 chip, replacing the existing M4 model that arrived in October 2024.
What's new: chip and colors
The processor upgrade appears to be the most significant change. According to reports, Apple's M6 chip will be the first Mac chip based on the new 2nm process. Apple is reportedly taking an unusual approach with the M6 generation, releasing only a baseline version and skipping M6 Pro, Max, and Ultra variants entirely, before moving to a broader M7 lineup in 2027.
The new chip is expected to bring higher memory bandwidth, a more powerful Neural Engine, and a GPU with up to 12 cores. This could deliver a meaningful performance upgrade even if most other aspects of the iMac remain familiar.
Gurman also outlined "some new color options" for the refresh, though he did not specify what they would be. The current iMac comes in seven colors: green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, blue, and silver. Apple slightly adjusted the color palette with the M4 refresh in 2024, though the seven color options remained the same, just with different shades.
No major design changes expected
Beyond the chip and colors, Gurman said the upcoming model won't change much else. Apple is expected to stick with the familiar 24-inch design, rather than introducing a larger screen, OLED panel, or substantial chassis redesign. The iMac has not received a larger display option, with Apple instead directing high-end users to use a Mac Studio or Mac mini alongside a Studio Display.
Apple is reportedly experimenting with larger and more powerful iMac models, and separate reports suggest Samsung Display and LG Display are developing 24-inch OLED panels for a future version. Current timelines point toward an OLED iMac arriving around 2029.
Timing and broader Mac roadmap
The M4 iMac followed a separate launch schedule in 2024, with Apple announcing it on October 28 and releasing it on November 8. If Apple follows a similar pattern, the M6 iMac could debut in October or November.
Gurman also outlined a broader fall roadmap for the Mac, which could include overhauled MacBook Pro models with touchscreens and Tandem OLED, a new base 14-inch MacBook Pro with M6, new M5 Max and M5 Ultra Mac Studios, and the new iMac with M6. Another possibility is a refreshed Mac mini with M6 and M5 Pro, though that would likely come later.