Intel iMac owners have the clearest reason to upgrade to the iMac with M6, because no Intel Mac is on Apple’s macOS 27 Golden Gate compatibility list. Owners of an iMac with M1 have large performance gains to look at but nothing that forces a move.
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. Apple’s own tests, run in September 2026, put the 12-core model up to 18x faster than the most popular Intel iMac, a 21.5-inch model with a 3.0GHz 6-core Intel Core i5.
Intel iMac Owners Cannot Run macOS 27 or Siri AI
Apple’s macOS 27 compatibility list names only Macs with Apple silicon, and no Intel iMac appears on it. Siri AI, which arrived in macOS Golden Gate 27.2, needs an Apple Intelligence device, and Apple lists those as Macs with M1 or later.
The 2020 27-inch iMac has a 5K display at 5120 by 2880, and the iMac with M6 has a 24-inch 4.5K display at 4480 by 2520. Apple confirmed in 2023 that the 27-inch iMac would not be updated to Apple silicon, so 24 inches is the only size. Intel iMacs also have four USB-A ports, and Apple describes USB-C ports for the iMac with M6, so USB-A accessories need an adapter or a hub.
iMac with M1 Owners Gain Up to 12x in AI Work, but Nothing Forces the Upgrade
Against the iMac with M1, Apple’s tests show Microsoft Excel up to 2.5x faster, Affinity photo editing graphics up to 3.3x faster and LM Studio prompt processing up to 12x faster. The iMac with M1 has an 8-core CPU and tops out at 16GB of memory.
The wireless hardware and ports move on as well. The iMac with M6 has Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, a 12MP Center Stage camera and support for up to two 6K external displays on the 12-core model, and 2.5Gb Ethernet is included on the 12-core model and configurable on the 10-core model. The iMac with M1 supports one 6K display and has a 1080p camera.
An iMac with M1 stays on the macOS 27 compatibility list, and Apple lists Apple Intelligence for Macs with M1 and later, so an owner keeps current software and Siri AI.
| Spec | 27-inch Intel iMac (2020) | iMac with M1 | iMac with M6 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 27-inch 5K | 24-inch 4.5K | 24-inch 4.5K |
| Chip | Up to 10-core Intel Core i9 | Apple M1, 8-core CPU | 10-core or 12-core |
| Wi-Fi and Bluetooth | 802.11ac and Bluetooth 5.0 | Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 | Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 |
| Ethernet | Gigabit, 10Gb configurable | Gigabit | 2.5Gb, configurable on the 10-core model |
| Camera | 1080p FaceTime HD | 1080p FaceTime HD | 12MP Center Stage |
| Runs macOS 27 | No | Yes | Yes |
The iMac with M6 Costs $1,499, or $1,059 After a Maximum Trade-In
Apple raised its iMac trade-in estimate to a maximum of $440 on October 26, so a top-condition trade-in brings the $1,499 model down to $1,059. Apple Upgrade leases it from $28.99 a month for 36 months, and education pricing is $1,449.
The 12-core model costs $1,699 and has four Thunderbolt 4 ports and 2.5Gb Ethernet included, which our 10-core vs 12-core guide covers.
Our Take
If you own an Intel iMac, I would upgrade, since it cannot run current macOS. If you own an iMac with M1, I would wait unless 16GB of memory or the 1080p camera is holding you back, because it still runs macOS 27 and Siri AI.
Pre-orders open on October 28, and the iMac with M6 begins arriving on Friday, November 6.
