The ports on the iMac with M6 depend on which model you buy. The 12-core model has four Thunderbolt 4 ports and supports two external 6K displays, while the 10-core model has two Thunderbolt 4 ports and supports one external display. Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 come on both models.
Apple announced the iMac with M6 on today, at $1,499, with pre-orders opening on Wednesday, October 28 and deliveries starting on Friday, November 6. The 12-core model costs $1,699.
Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 Replace Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 on Every iMac with M6
The iMac with M4 has Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, and the iMac with M1 has Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0. The iMac with M6 moves both models to Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, and Apple’s specs list its N1 wireless networking chip and Thread support for both.
Wi-Fi 7 only improves speeds when the router supports it as well, so an older router keeps the connection at its own limit. The table below shows how the wireless hardware, Ethernet and ports compare across the three generations.
| Spec | iMac with M6 | iMac with M4 | iMac with M1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 6 | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Ethernet | 2.5Gb, included on the 12-core model and configurable on the 10-core model | Gigabit | Gigabit |
| Ports | Four Thunderbolt 4 on the 12-core model, two on the 10-core model | Two Thunderbolt and USB 4, or four Thunderbolt 4 | Two Thunderbolt and USB 4 |
| External displays | Two 6K on the 12-core model, one display on the 10-core model | One 6K, or two 6K or one 8K on the four-port model | One 6K |
The 12-Core iMac with M6 Has Four Thunderbolt 4 Ports and the 10-Core Model Has Two
The 12-core iMac with M6 has four Thunderbolt 4 ports, and the 10-core model has two. Each port supports speeds up to 40Gb/s, and both models keep the 3.5 mm headphone jack.
The 12-core model includes 2.5Gb Ethernet, and the 10-core model can be configured with it. Reaching that speed needs a router or switch with a 2.5 Gigabit port.
The 12-core iMac with M6 can drive up to two external 6K displays, and the 10-core model supports one external display. The four-port iMac with M4 supported two 6K displays at 60Hz or one 8K display at 60Hz, and the two-port model supported one 6K display. Docks, fast external drives and displays are the devices that benefit most from Thunderbolt 4.
The color-matched keyboard and the mouse or trackpad also use USB-C ports, so a single cable charges the whole setup.
Our Take
I would pick the 12-core model for anyone who plans to connect a dock, fast storage or a second display, and the 10-core model if Wi-Fi and a few accessories cover the desk. The 12-core model costs $200 more, and a wired network does not need it, since 2.5Gb Ethernet is configurable on the 10-core model.
Pre-orders open on October 28, and the iMac with M6 begins arriving on Friday, November 6.
