The two M6 iMac models start $200 apart, but that difference buys more than extra processor cores. The higher-priced version includes more connections and a Touch ID keyboard, and it opens configuration options that the entry model lacks.
Apple's US starting prices are $1,499 for the 10-core CPU and GPU model and $1,699 for the 12-core version. Both start with 16GB of memory and a 256GB SSD. Moving up one tier therefore leaves those two capacities unchanged.
The US store lists preorders for October 28 at 10:10 a.m. Pacific, or 1:10 p.m. Eastern. Availability begins November 6.
What the $200 difference includes
Apple's specifications distinguish the standard equipment from options:
| Item | $1,499 model | $1,699 model |
|---|---|---|
| CPU and GPU | 10 cores each | 12 cores each |
| Thunderbolt 4 ports | Two | Four |
| Included keyboard | Magic Keyboard | Magic Keyboard with Touch ID |
| Maximum configurable memory | 24GB | 32GB |
| Maximum configurable SSD | 1TB | 2TB |
| Nano-texture glass | Not listed as an option | Optional |
The $200 premium is about 13.3% of the entry price. It does not include the maximum memory or storage shown in the table. Those rows describe the configurations each model permits, with upgrades priced separately.
Buyers who need 32GB or a 2TB internal SSD must start with the four-port model, then add the cost of those upgrades.
Count the screens and connections
External-display support also differs. Alongside its built-in screen, the entry model supports one external display up to 6K at 60Hz. The higher model supports two 6K displays at 60Hz or one 8K display at 60Hz.
A buyer planning two additional monitors has a concrete reason to consider the higher tier. A buyer using only the built-in screen receives no benefit from that additional display allowance.
Port count and display support are separate specifications. Four ports provide more physical connections for compatible accessories; the number of supported screens still follows Apple's stated display limits.
Ethernet needs a closer look
Apple's specification page lists 2.5Gb Ethernet as configurable on the 10-core model and included on the 12-core model. Footnote 5 of the launch announcement, however, describes the Ethernet option as available on the 12-core model.
The two pages describe Ethernet's packaging differently. Confirm Ethernet availability and its price for the selected configuration before ordering.
Both models list Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, so paying the premium is not necessary to obtain those wireless standards.
What stays the same
Macworld's comparison, by Karen Haslam, notes that the display, camera and overall design carry over from the M4 generation. Both new models have a 24-inch 4.5K display, whose actual diagonal measures 23.5 inches, and a 12MP Center Stage camera.
For an M4 owner, the new processor does not bring a larger built-in screen or more standard memory. A replacement decision needs a benefit beyond the model name.
Apple promotes performance gains from specified tests. Core counts alone do not establish how much faster either model will finish a particular task.
Compare the configured price
Education starting prices are $1,449 and $1,599, making the gap $150 for eligible buyers. The entry-model education saving is $50; the higher model's saving is $100.
Apple's US education terms cover higher-education students who attend or have been accepted, parents buying for those students, and qualifying educators and staff. K-12 eligibility includes employees and homeschool teachers; it does not list all K-12 students as eligible. Apple requires education verification through UNiDAYS at checkout and limits desktop purchases with education pricing to one per year. Institutional purchases and resale are excluded.
For either price schedule, compare the memory, storage and accessories actually selected. The four-port model's included keyboard may eliminate one option a buyer wanted, while its larger configuration ceilings matter only when that capacity is needed. Apple's store also warns that customized selections can change delivery estimates. November 6 is the launch date, not a guaranteed arrival date for every configuration.
