Apple Refreshes iMac and Entry MacBook Pro With M6 Before Its First Touchscreen Laptop

Apple has introduced an M6-powered 24-inch iMac and a new entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro, updating two central products ahead of a larger MacBook redesign. The announcements extend the M6 chip across Apple’s desktop and portable computers while leaving the company’s anticipated OLED touchscreen MacBook Pro for a later release. Bloomberg identified the pair as part of an end-to-end overhaul of Apple’s computer line, while Ars Technica confirmed that both machines use the M6 platform previously introduced in the Mac mini.

The launch gives Apple a refreshed all-in-one desktop and a lower-priced professional laptop before the company tests demand for a significantly more expensive touchscreen model. Apple’s own announcement positions the MacBook Pro around performance, on-device AI and faster connectivity, while the iMac refresh keeps the familiar 24-inch format at the center of the desktop range.

The new 14-inch MacBook Pro starts at $1,999 in the United States, or $1,899 with education pricing, with 16GB of memory and 1TB of storage. Pre-orders begin October 28, and deliveries start November 6. Apple also lists an Apple Upgrade payment option beginning at $38.99 per month, according to Applescoop.

The laptop combines a 12-core M6 CPU with a Liquid Retina XDR display, hardware-accelerated ray tracing and Apple Intelligence features. Apple rates battery life at up to 24 hours, an increase of as much as 4 hours over the previous model. The company also highlights faster connectivity, while Ars Technica reports that the accompanying N1 chip adds Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. Those specifications position the entry model as a performance machine rather than a stripped-down consumer notebook.

Apple’s 24-inch iMac refresh brings the M6 architecture to the company’s all-in-one desktop, although the available details focus more heavily on the MacBook Pro. The move keeps the iMac on the same chip-generation schedule as Apple’s other Mac products and gives buyers a current desktop option without waiting for the touchscreen laptop.

The M6 is an Apple-designed processor manufactured by TSMC, according to the M6 reference entry on Wikipedia. Ars Technica describes the chip as having two variants, while Bloomberg frames the iMac and entry MacBook Pro as the opening pieces of a broader computer-line overhaul. Together, the updates show Apple using its silicon platform to standardize performance and AI capabilities across different Mac form factors.

Apple’s first touchscreen MacBook Pro is expected to arrive in November with a new design, OLED display and Dynamic Island, according to multiple prelaunch reports. The 14-inch and 16-inch models are expected to command a substantial premium, with Bloomberg estimating a price near $2,899 for the touch-enabled version. Notebookcheck also reported higher prices ahead of the anticipated announcement.

The touchscreen model represents a sharper departure from Apple’s long-standing laptop design than the M6 refreshes. Reports describe a thinner chassis and OLED technology, while 9to5Mac characterized the product as Apple’s first touchscreen MacBook. MacObserver likewise reported touchscreen support, a thinner design and Dynamic Island. The staged rollout lets Apple establish the M6 lineup before introducing the hardware change that will attract the most attention.

The entry MacBook Pro’s $1,999 starting price places it above mainstream laptops, while the projected $2,899 touchscreen model would push Apple’s premium strategy further. Bloomberg’s reporting connects the laptop pricing test with Apple’s recent willingness to sell expensive hardware, including a foldable iPhone priced above $2,000.

That positioning creates a clear split within the Mac range. Buyers seeking M6 performance, long battery life and AI features can purchase the conventional 14-inch model in November. Customers drawn to OLED, touch input and a redesigned chassis will face a higher price and a later release. Apple’s product messaging emphasizes practical gains such as battery life, graphics and connectivity, while the rumored touch model adds a new interaction model that could influence competing premium laptops.

Apple’s immediate priority is turning the M6 refresh into a broad platform update, with the iMac and entry MacBook Pro establishing the baseline for the generation. The November 6 delivery date gives the new laptop a clear launch window before the holiday buying season, while the iMac extends the same chip family into desktop computing.

Attention now shifts to the OLED touchscreen MacBook Pro. Prelaunch accounts point to a major redesign, higher prices and a release later in the year, but the reported specifications remain distinct from Apple’s confirmed M6 announcements. If Apple delivers the touch model at the projected price, it will test whether buyers value a new display and input experience enough to pay a substantial premium over the conventional MacBook Pro.