Apple has introduced the new 14-inch MacBook Pro and 24-inch iMac, equipped with M6 chips, and has also added new artificial intelligence (AI) features to its Creator Studio package. These devices will be available for pre-order in India starting October 28th.
These announcements followed the release of the iPad mini with an OLED display one day earlier, as Apple is presenting new products ahead of its 'Pro and tell' event this week. Last week, Apple's Senior Vice President of Marketing, Greg Joswiak, hinted at upcoming device launches in an X post, writing: 'Can't wait for next week's Pro and tell.'
According to 9to5Mac, Apple sent media invitations for the event, which will take place in Los Angeles on October 28th. The company is expected to announce even more products before this event, including higher-end MacBook Pro models with OLED displays and touch screen support. However, the recently unveiled 14-inch MacBook Pro with M6 retains the Liquid Retina XDR display.
M6 MacBook Pro Details
The new 14-inch MacBook Pro, powered by the M6 chip, is built using a two-nanometer manufacturing process. This chip includes a 12-core Central Processing Unit (CPU), a 12-core Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) with neural accelerators in each core, and a dual 16-core Neural Engine.
Apple claims that the new GPU provides 30% higher graphics performance and 25% higher performance for on-device AI workloads compared to the M5 chip. The company states that the Neural Engine operates 1.9 times faster than the previous generation, helping to accelerate tasks such as image generation and AI editing.
The laptop comes with a standard unified memory of 16GB, which can be configured up to 32GB, and memory bandwidth up to 170GB per second. Apple reports battery life of up to 24 hours, the longest duration for a MacBook Pro to date. Furthermore, the M6 model is reported to be capable of up to 13x acceleration in large language model query processing compared to the 13-inch MacBook Pro with M1.
The 14-inch MacBook Pro retains the Liquid Retina XDR display with a peak HDR brightness of 1600 nits and a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1. An optional nano-texture matte finish is available to reduce glare and reflections. Other features include a 12MP Center Stage camera, a six-speaker sound system, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 6. For connectivity, the laptop is equipped with three Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI port, an SDXC card slot, a MagSafe 3 charging port, and a headphone jack. It runs on macOS 27, which includes Siri AI and Apple Intelligence updates, as well as changes to the Liquid Glass interface.
M6 iMac Details
Apple has also updated its 24-inch iMac with the M6 chip. This all-in-one desktop computer retains its 4.5K Retina display and slim design but receives upgraded hardware, faster storage, and improved wireless connectivity.
The new iMac is available with a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, or a higher configuration—a 12-core CPU and 12-core GPU. The M6 chip includes neural accelerators in every GPU core and a dual 16-core Neural Engine to support AI workloads.
Apple claims that the new iMac demonstrates up to a 2.5x performance increase in applications like Microsoft Excel compared to the M1 model. It is also stated to provide up to a 3.3x boost in graphics performance for tasks such as photo editing, and up to five times the on-device AI performance compared to the M4 model.
The desktop supports on-device AI tasks, including local execution of large language models. It also supports Siri AI and Apple Intelligence features in macOS 27, including tools for searching personal information, interacting with on-screen content, and performing cross-app tasks. The iMac retains its 24-inch 4.5K Retina display with 500 nits brightness and P3 wide color gamut support. It is equipped with a 12-megapixel Center Stage camera, a microphone array, and a speaker system. Connectivity includes Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and up to four Thunderbolt 4 ports. An optional 2.5-gigabit Ethernet port is also available, and SSD read and write speeds are double those of the previous generation, according to Apple.
The new iMac is available in seven colors: blue, green, pink, yellow, purple, orange, and silver. It comes with accessories in the corresponding color, including a keyboard and mouse or trackpad.
Apple's Creator Studio Update: What's New
Apple has announced the integration of new AI features and creative tools into its Creator Studio subscription. This subscription includes applications such as Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, and Pixelmator Pro, as well as Keynote, Pages, and Numbers.
Final Cut Pro for Mac will integrate MotionVFX content, including templates, plugins, transitions, visual effects, and motion graphics. The application will also gain access to the Apple Content Hub, which is expanding to now include stock video footage alongside photos and backgrounds.
Apple is also improving the interaction between Final Cut Pro and Pixelmator Pro. Users will be able to open an image from the video timeline in Pixelmator Pro, edit it, and save the changes back into the project without needing to re-import the image. Pixelmator Pro also receives the Generate Fill tool, allowing users to select an area of an image and describe the desired changes using natural language.
Logic Pro for Mac receives a new AI assistant in beta, designed to help users navigate production workflows, set up tracks, and refine projects using text prompts. The application also gets a revamped sound browser that organizes loops, tools, and effect patches, with the ability to analyze sound on the device for sound classification. The Stem Splitter feature can isolate, replace, or rebalance drum parts in a recording.
Keynote, Pages, and Numbers also receive AI assistants in beta. These tools can use the context of a presentation, document, or spreadsheet to assist users in developing slides, drafting and editing text, organizing data, and recommending charts. Apple adds support for the Model Context Protocol (MCP), which allows external AI agents and tools to read content, make edits, and perform automated actions within these applications.
The Creator Studio update will be available via the App Store in November as a free upgrade for existing subscribers. In India, the subscription costs 399 rupees per month or 3,999 rupees per year. Students and educators can subscribe for 199 rupees per month or 1,999 rupees per year.