Apple announced two new computers powered by the M6 chip on Wednesday, and unlike many recent product launches, the company did not raise the starting prices. The new M6-powered iMac and 14-inch MacBook Pro start at the same prices as their predecessors, offering a break from the price increases that have affected much of Apple’s lineup over the past few months.
M6 iMac and MacBook Pro specs and pricing
The new 24-inch iMac starts at $1,299. This model includes a significant boost in internal components compared to the previous M4 generation. The base model now features a 10-core CPU and a 10-core GPU, up from the 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU found in the earlier version. Buyers get more processing power for the same cost.
The 14-inch MacBook Pro also retains its starting price of $1,699. Like the iMac, this device benefits from the faster M6 chip. The decision to hold prices steady stands in contrast to the broader strategy Apple adopted earlier this year.
Context of recent Apple price increases
In June, Apple raised prices across a wide range of its products. The iMac went from $1,299 to $1,499, and the 14-inch MacBook Pro increased from $1,699 to $1,999. At that time, the company also increased costs for the HomePod mini, Apple TV 4K, and iPad mini.
Those increases have continued with subsequent product launches. The second-generation HomePod mini now costs $149, up from $129 after the June hike. The new Apple TV 4K starts at $299, a jump from the $199 price set in June. The OLED iPad mini announced earlier this week starts at $699, following a rise from $599 in June.
Apple also adjusted iPhone pricing in September. The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max now start at $1,199 and $1,299 respectively, representing a $100 increase over their predecessors. Older models, including the iPhone 17, iPhone Air, and iPhone 17e, also saw $100 price hikes.
Future Mac pricing expectations
The decision to keep M6 Mac prices unchanged provides some relief for consumers, especially those who were already facing higher costs for other Apple devices. However, the outlook for upcoming models appears different. Bloomberg reported that Apple has discussed a starting price of $2,899 for the expected OLED touchscreen 14-inch MacBook Pro models arriving tomorrow.
If Apple applies a similar $400 premium to the current 16-inch model, which starts at $2,999, the new version could cost $3,399 or more. This potential increase makes the steady pricing of today’s M6 models more notable for buyers who were concerned about further cost increases.
Source: 9to5Mac
