Apple reportedly preparing new M6 iMac with refreshed color options
Tom Sykes
Posted On 23/08/2026 
Apple is reportedly working on a new iMac powered by the upcoming M6 chip, with the refreshed all-in-one desktop expected to launch before the end of the year.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is preparing an updated version of the iMac after leaving the desktop largely untouched since the M4 model launched in 2024. The new model is expected to bring faster performance and updated color options, although exact shades have not yet been revealed.
The iMac has become one of Apple’s least frequently updated Macs in recent years. The company skipped the M2 generation entirely and is now expected to move past M5 for the iMac as well, jumping straight from M4 to M6.
Apple last adjusted the iMac’s color lineup with the M4 model, keeping the same general selection of colors while making the finishes slightly different. Gurman says the next version will again include some new color options, though it is not yet clear whether Apple will introduce completely new shades or simply revise the existing palette.
The biggest upgrade is expected to be the M6 chip, which will likely bring stronger performance and improved efficiency compared with the current M4 iMac. Apple’s M6 family is expected to be the company’s first Mac chip generation built using a new 2nm process, potentially delivering gains in speed, battery efficiency, and Apple Intelligence performance.
A larger iMac is still not expected. Since discontinuing the 27-inch Intel iMac, Apple has continued to offer only the 24-inch model, directing users who want a bigger display toward the Mac mini or Mac Studio paired with a Studio Display.
The updated iMac could form part of a busy end to the year for the Mac. Apple is also rumored to be preparing a new entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro with M6, refreshed Mac Studio models, and higher-end MacBook Pro updates that could eventually bring OLED displays and a larger redesign.
For the new 2026 iMac, however, the upcoming refresh appears likely to be more focused on performance and color changes than a major redesign. The current iMac design, first introduced with the M1 model in 2021, is expected to remain largely unchanged.
