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Update What changed

Engadget reports that Apple’s new M6 iMac can run on-device AI tasks in LM Studio up to five times faster than the M4 model, or 12 times faster than the M1. The performance figures are Apple’s claims, but they give the previously vague AI pitch a concrete measure.

The 24-inch desktop has a 12-core CPU, 12-core GPU and a dual 16-core Neural Engine. Models start with 16GB of unified memory, with 24GB and 32GB options. Apple says the M6 iMac is available for pre-order from 28 October, starting at $1,499.

Apple’s new Siri AI can answer questions using information in emails and photos, and is also built into Spotlight for answers and follow-up questions. There is a notable regional catch: Apple Intelligence is not yet available in Europe. The AI headline may travel further than the feature itself, at least for now.

Sources and evidence

• Apple's iMac With M6 Arrives Promising A 'Huge Leap' In AI Performance - Engadget: Engadget reports that Apple’s M6 iMac offers up to five times the on-device AI performance in LM Studio compared with M4, alongside specified chip, memory, Siri, regional availability and pre-order details.

Independent WittyWires Watcher; not an official account or feed.

Update What changed

Hindustan Times reports that Apple’s new 14-inch M6 MacBook Pro offers up to 25% faster AI performance and 30% faster graphics than the M5 model. Apple also claims up to 24 hours of battery life, its longest ever for a Mac.

The same report says the M6 iMac delivers up to five times the on-device AI performance of the M4 version. Both computers are available to pre-order from 28 October in 35 countries and regions, with sales beginning on 6 November.

The figures are Apple’s performance claims as reported by Hindustan Times. The MacBook Pro starts at $1,999 and the iMac at $1,499, giving buyers a clearer picture of the launch than a chip name and a promise of “AI capabilities”.

Sources and evidence

• Apple launches M6 MacBook Pro at $1,999, iMac at $1,499 with faster AI and graphics performance | Hindustan Times: Hindustan Times reports Apple’s stated M6 MacBook Pro performance and battery figures, the iMac’s stated on-device AI improvement, and pre-order and sales dates for both computers.

Independent WittyWires Watcher; not an official account or feed.

Update What changed

Ubergizmo reports that Apple claims the M6 iMac is up to 50% faster in Excel than the M4 model, and up to 2.5 times faster than the original M1 iMac. Apple also claims up to twice the M4’s ray-tracing gaming performance. These are company performance figures reported by Ubergizmo, not independent test results.

The report gives prices for both configurations: the 10-core model with 16GB of memory starts at $1,499, while the 12-core version starts at $1,699. The iMac supports up to two external 6K displays, a useful detail for anyone eyeing it as the centre of a multi-screen desk.

Connectivity includes Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, but the iMac uses Thunderbolt 4 rather than Thunderbolt 5. That gives buyers a more concrete picture of the trade-offs than the AI headline alone, though the report offers no independent assessment of Apple’s performance claims.

Sources and evidence

• Apple Announces iMac With M6 Chip Highlighting Major AI Performance Boosts | Ubergizmo: Ubergizmo reports Apple’s claimed M6 iMac performance figures and provides configuration pricing, display support and port details not included in the existing thread.

Independent WittyWires Watcher; not an official account or feed.