Apple announced two Macs with the same new M6 chip on 27 October 2026 — a 14-inch MacBook Pro from $1,999 and a 24-inch iMac from $1,499 — and pre-orders for both opened on 28 October, with availability on 6 November. The chip is the shared headline, but almost everything else pulls in opposite directions: one is a portable Pro laptop with a bright mini-LED display and a battery, the other is a fixed all-in-one whose screen, keyboard and mouse are included in the price. This comparison is about which shape fits your desk, not which chip is faster — because, at the top tier, it is the same chip.
Key takeaways
- Same announcement, same dates. Both machines were announced 27 October 2026, pre-orders open 28 October at 10:10 a.m. Pacific, and both ship 6 November in 35 countries and regions.
- The chip is not identical at every price. The MacBook Pro's M6 is the full chip in every configuration: 12-core CPU, 12-core GPU, Dual 16-core Neural Engine. The iMac's base $1,499 model uses a cut-down 10-core CPU/GPU version; the full 12-core chip costs $1,699.
- The storage gap is the hidden price difference. The MacBook Pro starts at 1TB, while both iMac starting configurations include only 256GB.
- The iMac includes the whole workstation. A 24-inch 4.5K display, Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse are in the box. The MacBook Pro includes a 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display and a battery rated up to 24 hours — but no desk display.
- Honest caveat: neither machine is on sale yet, so there are no independent benchmarks or battery tests. Apple's performance figures below are Apple's own claims, not measured results.
The head-to-head
| Spec | 14-inch MacBook Pro (M6) | 24-inch iMac (M6) |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 27 October 2026 | 27 October 2026 |
| Starting price (US) | $1,999 | $1,499 (10-core)$1,699 (12-core) |
| Education price (US) | $1,899 | $1,449 (10-core)$1,599 (12-core) |
| Chip | M6, 12-core CPU + 12-core GPU | M6, 10-core CPU + 10-core GPU ($1,499)12-core CPU + 12-core GPU ($1,699) |
| Neural Engine | Dual 16-core, all configurations | Dual 16-core, all configurations |
| Memory | 16GB standard, up to 32GBup to 170GB/s (24/32GB), 153GB/s at 16GB | 16GB standard, up to 24GB (10-core) / 32GB (12-core)up to 170GB/s |
| Storage | 1TB standard, up to 4TB | 256GB standardup to 1TB (10-core) / 2TB (12-core) |
| Built-in display | 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR3024×1964, up to 1,600 nits peak HDR | 24-inch 4.5K Retina4480×2520, 500 nits, P3 |
| Display options | Nano-texture glass option | Nano-texture glass option (12-core model) |
| Ports | 3× Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, SDXCMagSafe 3, headphone jack | 2× Thunderbolt 4 (10-core) / 4× Thunderbolt 4 (12-core)headphone jack |
| Wired networking | None built in | 2.5Gb Ethernet standard (12-core)$30 upgrade on base model |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 (N1 chip) | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 (N1 chip) |
| External displays | Dual 4K up to 165Hz | One 6K (10-core)two 6K alongside built-in screen (12-core) |
| Camera | 12MP Center Stage with Desk View | 12MP Center Stage with Desk View |
| Audio | Six-speaker system, three-mic array | Six-speaker system, three microphones |
| Battery | Up to 24 hours (Apple claim) | None — mains-powered desktop |
| Keyboard and mouse | Built-in Magic Keyboard and trackpad | Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse in the box |
| Colours | Space Black, Silver | Blue, Green, Pink, Yellow, Purple, Orange, Silver |
| Pre-order / availability | Pre-orders 28 Oct 2026available 6 Nov 2026 | Pre-orders 28 Oct 2026available 6 Nov 2026 |
Real-scenario analysis
Working at one desk, every day
This is the iMac's home ground. The price buys the whole workstation: a 24-inch 4.5K screen, a keyboard and a mouse, in one enclosure with one power cable. The MacBook Pro at the same desk is only half a workstation until you add an external display, a keyboard and a mouse — none of which are in its $1,999 price. If your computer never leaves the room, the iMac's $1,499 starting price is not really $500 cheaper than the laptop; it is $500 cheaper plus a display and input devices included. The trade-off is permanence: the iMac's screen cannot be upgraded separately, and the whole machine stays where you put it.
Working from a café, a client site, or two homes
The MacBook Pro wins this scenario by default, because the iMac cannot play it at all. Its 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display is brighter than the iMac's panel (up to 1,600 nits peak HDR against 500 nits), it drives two external 4K displays at up to 165Hz when docked, and Apple rates its battery at up to 24 hours — its own claim, not an independent test. It also carries the ports a travelling professional actually uses: HDMI and an SDXC card slot, which the iMac does not offer. If you work in more than one place in a typical week, this scenario alone settles the comparison.
Photo and video editing
Both machines run the same top-tier M6 chip, so the editing difference is about screens, storage and memory ceilings rather than raw silicon. The MacBook Pro's mini-LED XDR display is the better HDR reference of the two, while the iMac's larger 24-inch canvas shows more timeline at once. Storage is where the iMac needs a second look: 256GB as standard is small for a photo or video library, so budget for a larger configurator tier or external storage before comparing starting prices. Both machines top out at 32GB of memory (the iMac's base model caps at 24GB), so neither is the machine for workloads that already need more than 32GB.
On-device AI work
Apple's claims differ by predecessor, so read them carefully rather than comparing the multiples directly. Against the M5 MacBook Pro, Apple claims up to 30% faster graphics and up to 25% faster AI workloads, with a Neural Engine up to 1.9 times faster. Against the M4 iMac — the iMac skipped the M5 generation entirely — Apple claims up to twice as fast graphics and up to five times faster on-device AI performance. Those are Apple's figures for its own chosen workloads, not independent benchmarks, and the iMac's larger jump mostly reflects the generation it skipped. What is genuinely shared is the Dual 16-core Neural Engine and Neural Accelerators in every GPU core, plus SSD speeds Apple says are up to twice as fast on the iMac thanks to PCIe 5.0 support. For local model work, the shared 32GB memory ceiling matters more than either headline multiple.
A family or shared home computer
The iMac is the easier shared machine: a large, fixed screen in a colour that fits the room, a keyboard and mouse that stay with it, and no battery to manage or charger to lose. Seven colours against the laptop's two is not a trivial difference in a living space. The MacBook Pro is the better machine if the household's computer also needs to travel to school, work or a studio — but as a stay-at-home family computer, portability is a feature you pay for and never use.
TCO — total cost of ownership
Pricing verified as of Q4 2026. There is no subscription in either machine's price; the total is the machine plus what you must add to make it a complete workstation. The table below uses only prices confirmed in the sources reviewed: starting and education prices, the iMac's $30 Ethernet upgrade, and the MacBook Pro's top configuration. Storage-upgrade prices for the iMac were not quoted in the sources reviewed, so they are flagged rather than invented — check Apple's configurator before ordering if you need more than 256GB.
| Like-for-like starting point (US) | MacBook Pro (M6) | iMac (M6) |
|---|---|---|
| Machine, base configuration | $1,999 (16GB / 1TB) | $1,499 (10-core, 16GB / 256GB)$1,699 (12-core, 16GB / 256GB) |
| Display included | 14.2-inch, built in | 24-inch 4.5K, built in |
| Keyboard and mouse included | Built-in keyboard + trackpad | Magic Keyboard + Magic Mouse |
| External display needed for desk work | Yes — not priced hereno display price quoted in sources reviewed | No |
| Wired Ethernet | Not applicable | Included (12-core)$30 upgrade (10-core) |
| Education price | $1,899 | $1,449 (10-core)$1,599 (12-core) |
| Top configuration noted | $3,899 (32GB / 4TB) | Up to 32GB / 2TBprice not quoted in sources reviewed |
The honest reading: the iMac is $300 cheaper than the MacBook Pro at the full 12-core chip ($1,699 against $1,999), and $500 cheaper at its base tier — but it gives you a quarter of the starting storage (256GB against 1TB). If your library fits in 256GB or lives on external storage you already own, the iMac is the cheaper complete workstation by a clear margin. If you need 1TB inside the machine, the iMac's upgrade cost narrows that gap by an amount this article does not guess at. The MacBook Pro's $1,999, by contrast, is a complete portable computer at that price — but not a complete desk setup, since a desk display, keyboard and mouse are still to come.
Verdicts by persona
- If you work in more than one place: the 14-inch MacBook Pro (M6). MacBook Pro — portable, with the brighter display, HDMI and SDXC, and a battery rated up to 24 hours by Apple.
- If you work at one desk and want the whole workstation in the box: the 24-inch iMac (M6, 12-core). iMac, 12-core — a 24-inch 4.5K screen, keyboard and mouse included, and the full chip for $300 less than the laptop.
- If you want the cheapest way into the new M6 chip: the 24-inch iMac (M6, 10-core). iMac, 10-core — $1,499 buys the M6 platform, with the understanding that you get two ports, a 24GB memory ceiling and 256GB of storage.
- If you edit photos or video and need room to grow: the 14-inch MacBook Pro (M6). MacBook Pro — 1TB as standard, up to 4TB, and the brighter XDR display for HDR work.
- If you run local AI models or large projects: check the 32GB ceiling first on either machine. Check 32GB first — both top out at 32GB; if that is not enough, neither M6 entry model is your machine, however new its chip is.
- If you are buying a shared family computer that stays home: the 24-inch iMac (M6). iMac — a fixed, colourful, large-screen machine with nothing to charge or carry.
There is no single winner here. The MacBook Pro wins on portability, display brightness and starting storage; the iMac wins on included screen and input devices, desk value and colour choice. The chip they share is not the deciding factor — your desk is.
FAQ
1. Are both machines really new, and when can I buy them?
Yes. Apple announced both on 27 October 2026. Pre-orders open 28 October at 10:10 a.m. Pacific, with availability from Friday, 6 November, in 35 countries and regions including the US.
2. Is the chip in the $1,499 iMac the same as the chip in the $1,999 MacBook Pro?
Not quite. The MacBook Pro uses the full M6 (12-core CPU, 12-core GPU) in every configuration. The $1,499 iMac uses a 10-core CPU/GPU version; the full 12-core chip requires the $1,699 iMac. Both versions share the Dual 16-core Neural Engine.
3. Why does the iMac cost less but include a bigger screen?
Because it is a desktop: no battery, no mini-LED backlight system, and a fixed design that does not need to be thin, light or power-efficient on the move. The saving is real, but so is the storage trade — 256GB as standard against the laptop's 1TB.
4. Did Apple's 28 October event change this comparison?
Only by adding a third option. At the "Pro and tell" event on 28 October 2026, Apple launched the redesigned MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display and Touch, from $2,899 — a higher tier above both machines compared here. It does not change the M6 MacBook Pro or the M6 iMac: same chips, same prices, same 6 November availability. If the touchscreen redesign is what you want, that is a separate comparison; between the two M6 machines in this article, the choice is still laptop versus all-in-one.
5. Which one should I buy if I already own an M4 iMac or an M5 MacBook Pro?
Neither, on the evidence available. The iMac's jump is large against M4 in Apple's claims, but it is still an entry-level all-in-one with a 32GB ceiling; the MacBook Pro's gains over M5 are modest per-task improvements in an identical chassis. Both make most sense as upgrades from M1, Intel or older machines, or as first Macs in their class.
Sources
- Reuters, "Apple launches M6 MacBook Pro and iMac, pitches faster on-device AI," 27 October 2026 — both machines announced 27 October, MacBook Pro from $1,999, iMac from $1,499, pre-orders from 28 October in 35 countries and regions, availability 6 November, MacBook Pro up to 30% faster graphics and 25% faster AI than M5 with up to 24 hours of battery life, iMac up to 5× faster on-device AI than M4, 28 October "Pro and tell" event context.
- MacRumors, Joe Rossignol, "Apple Announces New iMac With M6 Chip and More," 27 October 2026 — 24-inch 4.5K Retina display, 500 nits, 12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View, six speakers, three microphones, Dual 16-core Neural Engine, up to 170GB/s against 120GB/s on M4, up to 2× faster graphics and 5× faster on-device AI than M4 (Apple claims), up to 2× faster SSD speeds via PCIe 5.0, $1,499 (10-core, 2 ports) and $1,699 (12-core, 4 ports), 16GB/256GB standard, up to 32GB/2TB, 2.5Gb Ethernet $30 upgrade on base and standard on higher tier, Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, seven colours, Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse in the box, pre-orders 28 October at 10:10 a.m. Pacific, availability 6 November.
- MacRumors, Tim Hardwick, "M6 iMac Pre-Orders and Release Date Announced," 27 October 2026 — pre-order and availability dates confirmed for the iMac.
- The Gadgeteer, "M6 iMac starts at $1,499, with the MacBook Pro at $1,999," 27 October 2026 — 10-core iMac up to 24GB/1TB and one 6K external display, 12-core iMac up to 32GB/2TB and two 6K external displays, Touch ID keyboard on the higher tier, education prices ($1,899 MacBook Pro, $1,449/$1,599 iMac), 35 countries and regions.
- Fstoppers, "Apple M6 MacBook Pro and iMac: Photo Editing Power," 27 October 2026 — MacBook Pro 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR 3024×1964, 1,000 nits full-screen, 1,600 nits peak HDR, 1.55 kg, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI, SDXC, MagSafe 3, up to 24 hours video; iMac 24-inch 4.5K 4480×2520, 500 nits, P3, nano-texture option on 12-core model, 2.5Gb Ethernet standard on 12-core.
- The Tech Portal, "Apple announces 14-inch MacBook Pro with M6, starts at $1,999 with pre-orders opening October 28," 27 October 2026 — 12-core CPU/GPU, Dual 16-core Neural Engine, up to 170GB/s, 16GB standard configurable to 32GB, 1TB standard, $1,899 education price, pre-orders 28 October, availability 6 November.
- Apple press-release reporting via the above (MacBook Pro M6 details as verified for the Smart Gear desk's 27 October 2026 MacBook Pro article): 12-core CPU (2 super + 4 performance + 6 efficiency cores), 170GB/s on 24GB/32GB and 153GB/s on 16GB, dual external 4K displays up to 165Hz, top 32GB/4TB configuration $3,899, macOS 27.
Prices and specifications were cross-checked across at least two independent sources per model. Performance figures are Apple's own claims, not independently verified measurements; neither machine has independent reviews or benchmarks yet because neither goes on sale until 6 November 2026.
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