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The Apple M6 MacBook Pro starts at $1,999, and the matching M6 iMac starts at $1,499. Pre-orders open today, October 28, at 10:10 a.m. Pacific Time (10:40 p.m. in India). Both machines ship on November 6. Apple announced them on October 27, a day after it revealed an OLED iPad mini.
Update: Apple holds its “Pro and Tell” event today, where an OLED touchscreen MacBook Pro is widely expected. Apple has not confirmed it. We will update this post after the event.
Quick facts:
- M6 MacBook Pro (14-inch): from $1,999 with 16GB RAM and 1TB storage
- M6 iMac: from $1,499, or $1,699 for the higher-end configuration
- OLED iPad mini: from $699
- Pre-orders: October 28, 10:10 a.m. PT
- Shipping: November 6
What does the Apple M6 MacBook Pro offer?
It offers a new chip in an old body. The 14-inch model keeps the mini-LED design and the same $1,999 starting price as the M5 version it replaces.
The M6 is a 2 nm chip with a 12-core CPU, a 12-core GPU, and two 16-core Neural Engines. Early coverage lists up to 25% faster on-device AI than the M5, up to 30% faster graphics and up to 24 hours of battery life. RAM options are 16GB, 24GB, and 32GB.
The 16-inch MacBook Pro has not changed. It still uses M5 Pro or M5 Max chips.
How much does the M6 iMac cost?
The base M6 iMac costs $1,499. The higher-end version costs $1,699.
The 24-inch 4.5K Retina display and the design carry over, and it still comes in seven colors. RAM starts at 16GB, with 24GB available. The 32GB option only comes on the four-Thunderbolt-port model.
Education pricing drops the iMac to $1,449 or $1,599. The MacBook Pro falls to $1,899.
Why is the iPad mini more expensive?
Apple has raised its price again. The new iPad mini has an 8.5-inch OLED display and an A20 Pro chip. It starts at $699, comes in Midnight and Starlight, and also ships on November 6.
The 2024 model launched at $499. Apple lifted it to $599 in June, so this one is the second increase this year. Digitimes points to rising memory costs as the pressure behind Apple’s higher prices.
Reviewers have not been kind to the Macs. BGR notes that both machines look identical to their predecessors, with the M6 chip as the biggest change.
What should you do?
Owners of M5 Macs can skip this round. The chip gains are real, but the design and prices have not moved.
If you want OLED, wait for today’s event before you pre-order. The touchscreen MacBook Pro is the model most buyers are holding out for. Students should check the education prices first, since the savings are $50 to $100.
Sources: MacRumors, BGR, Engadget, Android Headlines, Digitimes
