Two years without an update is not the exception for the iMac, but the rule. Now the wait is supposed to end – with a chip that hardly anyone had considered.
The 24-inch iMac last received an update in October 2024, when it was updated with the M4 chip. Since then, Apple has introduced the M5 in several MacBooks and the iPad Pro, but skipped the all-in-one model. According to the report, Apple is now definitively skipping this generation: Mark Gurman writes in his Bloomberg Power On newsletter that an iMac with the M6 is in development and is expected to go on sale before the end of the year. This also casts a new light on the previously established picture of the next iMac.
Key Facts at a Glance
- The next iMac is expected to get the M6 chip, thus skipping the M5 generation.
- New color options have been announced, but exactly which ones remain unclear.
- The report cites the period until the end of the year as the timeframe.
- The current iMac has been €250 to €300 more expensive since June 25th – the price level that a new model will encounter.
The skipped chip is the real message
That the iMac would receive an update was foreseeable. The fact that it lands directly on the M6 processor puts it in a different position than expected. Apple has already skipped a generation of the iMac before – the M2 never made it into the case. This jump could be deduced from that: Back in the spring, a direct switch to the M6 was already considered conceivable, because the iMac wasn't part of Apple's M5 lineup anyway.
| Model | Chip | Published |
|---|---|---|
| iMac 24″ | M1 | April 2021 |
| iMac 24″ | M3 | October 2023 |
| iMac 24″ | M4 | October 2024 |
| iMac 24″ | M6 (expected) | until the end of 2026 |
The M6 is slated to be the first Mac chip manufactured using a 2-nanometer process. What's remarkable is its absence: an M6 series with Pro, Max, and Ultra variants is not planned; instead, Apple is prioritizing the M7 generation. This is irrelevant for the iMac, as it will only receive the base chip anyway – but it does affect how long this model will remain current.
New colors, but which ones?
The report remains vague regarding the colors: New options are said to be available, but specific shades are not mentioned. This isn't new information, but rather confirmation of what was reported in the spring – back in March, there were already reports that Apple was planning new colors for the next iMac update.
Currently, seven options are available: blue, violet, pink, orange, yellow, green, and silver. With the M4 update in October 2024, Apple already tweaked the palette without changing the number of colors – green became lighter, pink more vibrant, and yellow softer. Whether this time it will again remain at seven shifted shades or whether colors will actually be replaced is not clear from the report.
A full Mac autumn
The iMac isn't the only device in the timeframe. Revised MacBook Pro models with touchscreens and tandem OLED displays are expected in the coming months, along with a 14-inch base model featuring the M6 processor. The Mac Studio's timeline depends on component availability; the current status is outlined in the roadmap for the M5 Ultra and M7 Ultra.
Further down the list is the redesign that would truly transform the iMac. Work is underway on a model with an OLED display; the latest focus has been on an additional layer to prevent burn-in. An M6 update with fresh colors is a far cry from that – it simply keeps the device in the product lineup, nothing more.
What this timing means for buyers in this country
A new model is being released at a price level that shifted over the summer. On June 25th, Apple raised prices for Macs, iPads, and the Vision Pro, and the desktop line was hit harder than the notebooks: the iMac saw an increase of 250 to 300 euros, as the breakdown of current desktop Macs shows.
We expect the M6 iMac to launch at this increased price point, and not below it. The rationale for the June price hike was the rising cost of RAM and flash memory, and that hasn't eased since – a new model with more storage will likely be more affected than the outgoing one.
For you, this means: If you're planning to buy one anyway and the M4 is sufficient, it's worth checking the open market, where remaining stock is sometimes available for less than Apple's price. However, if you're waiting for a new color option or more power, this report indicates a manageable wait – even though no specific date is given.
How reliable is the information?
Gurman is one of the most reliable sources regarding Apple's product plans; chip assignments and timeframes from his reports have been confirmed with above-average accuracy over the years. Furthermore, the color reference isn't new to him, but rather confirms his own earlier statement – this demonstrates consistency, but not independent confirmation from a second source.
The exact timeframe remains unclear: "by the end of the year" encompasses four months and allows for both a press release announcement in October and a late release shortly before Christmas. No specific date, model number, or supplier information is available.
What would be your reason for choosing an iMac – the increased performance of the new chip or simply a color that wasn't available before? Let us know in the comments which color is still missing from the palette.
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