Apple’s ‘Pro and tell’ event ends with a $1,499 iMac and a promise of touchscreens
The iMac just got a price hike and a chip jump, skipping a whole generation. That’s the headline from Cupertino today, where Apple stopped teasing and started selling. The reveal happened right after a month so packed with launches that even the competitors seem confused. It wasn’t a bad day, just a busy one that left some things quietly unanswered.
The iMac skips M5 entirely for a 2nm M6 boost
Apple dropped the updated iMac on Tuesday morning, and the spec sheet looks familiar at first glance. The design is identical to the M4 model, down to the colored plastic shell we’ve seen for two years. But inside, they swapped out the silicon for the M6 chip, which debuts in the Mac Mini this August. It’s a strategic move to keep the desktop lineup somewhat current without redesigning the enclosure.
Prices start at $1,499, which is technically the same entry point as before. But the M6 brings a dual 16-core Neural Engine that claims 5x faster on-device AI performance compared to the M4. Given that most users just want a web browser and a spreadsheet, the AI talk feels like marketing fluff. Still, for creative pros, the raw throughput bump is noticeable in heavy workloads.
The marketing image used the same pose as last year, only the game on the screen changed from a racing game to a puzzle. It’s a small detail, but it tells you how little creative energy went into this launch.
Entry-level MacBook Pro gets the same M6 treatment
Alongside the iMac, Apple refreshed the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M6 chip. This laptop launched with the M5 chip just a year ago, and that update was arguably the most boring in Apple’s history. It changed almost nothing, keeping the same ports, same webcam, and same speakers as the M4 model. The only real news back then was the option for 4TB storage, which cost an extra $1,200.
The new M6 model continues that trend of incremental gains. There is no design change, no new ports, and no major camera upgrade. It’s a chip swap and a slight bump in base RAM, nothing more. For students and professionals who bought the M4 or M5, the upgrade case is weak.
And frankly, the $1,499 price tag for the base config feels disconnected from the reality of 2026. That’s a harder sell than it sounds, especially when last year’s model is still discounting at Best Buy. Most people in the queue outside the Apple Store on Fifth Avenue looked more tired than excited. They’ve bought these laptops before, and they know the math doesn’t quite work out for a yearly refresh cycle.
Greg Joswiak teases a touchscreen MacBook that hasn’t arrived
Before the iMac launch, Apple’s SVP of Marketing, Greg Joswiak, posted on X about an “exciting week” ahead. He mentioned the new iPad Mini and hinted at something bigger for Wednesday’s “Pro and tell” event. Rumors had been swirling for months about a MacBook Pro with a touchscreen and a dynamic island cutout. Everyone was ready to trade in their current laptops for something that finally looked different.
But the event, which kicked off at 1PM ET, didn’t deliver the flagship laptop. Instead, the focus remained on the iMac and the entry-level MacBook Pro. The touchscreen rumor seems to have been a smokescreen, or perhaps a product that delayed until next year. There was no mention of OLED displays on any Mac laptop.
No new 16-inch model, no folding screen, no tactile feedback layer. Just two chips in two devices that look exactly like they did in 2024. Nobody in the room looked convinced that this was the revolution they promised. The best I could find was a subtle nod to “future capabilities” in the press kit, which means nothing.
It’s a shame, really, after such a long leak cycle to end with a chip swap.
The iPad Mini OLED finally lands, but late
One bright spot from the pre-event news was the iPad Mini, which reportedly received an OLED display. This is a huge change for a device that has stuck with LCD for decades. The camera also moves to the landscape edge, which should help with FaceID usability. It’s a nice tweak, and the thinner design is welcome after the thick bezels of the previous generation. But it’s not the star of the show that the hype cycle suggested.
Apple only mentioned the iPad Mini in passing during the initial teaser sequence. There was no dedicated segment, no deep dive into the display technology. It feels like an afterthought squeezed in to keep the press busy while the main Mac announcements took center stage. And yet, for the many users who use the Mini as a secondary tablet, this is the update they actually wanted.
It’s a compact, premium device that finally matches the build quality of the iPhone. Still, selling it at a premium price without a major software feature feels risky in this market. The device is great, but the timing is off. It’s like bringing a nice dessert to a banquet and serving it before the soup is even finished.
But you can’t nitpick a good screen, even if it’s buried in a pile of chip specs. The OLED panel is beautiful, and the response time is snappier for gaming. That’s all you really need. Just wish they had led with this instead of the same old Mac chassis.
It’s a minor victory in a month of major hype and eventual disappointment for laptop shoppers.
John Ternus’s rapid-fire launch schedule leaves questions
CEO John Ternus has been on a roll since taking over in September 1st. He’s shipped the iPhone 18 Pro, new Apple Watches, AirPods 5, and the HomePod Mini 2 in the last few weeks. The pace is relentless, and it’s clear he wants to define his tenure with volume. This “Pro and tell” event is the third major launch in under two months. It’s a strategy that works for signaling momentum, but it risks diluting the impact of each product.
The HomeView smart display launched just a couple of weeks ago, and it’s still finding its footing in retail. Now Apple is pushing more hardware before that product has a chance to establish a foothold. It’s a lot to digest for consumers who are already overwhelmed. But that’s the reality of competing in a market where Samsung and Microsoft are also pushing hard.
Ternus knows he can’t afford a quiet quarter. So he floods the zone with chips. The result is a busy calendar and a fatigue among tech media that can’t keep up. And honestly, it’s exhausting for the reviewers, too.
We’ve been chasing rumors for weeks, and they ended up just… happening. One after another. Without pause. It’s a blur of press releases and shipping dates that leaves very little time for the actual journalism of testing these devices properly.
The quality of the coverage suffers when every day is launch day. You stop noticing the difference between a meaningful innovation and a spec bump because you’re just trying to get the copy out the door. It’s a different kind of pressure than covering a war, but the adrenaline is similar. You’re constantly checking your phone for the next embargo lift.
And when the news breaks that the big gadget isn’t coming, the silence is just as loud as the announcement ever was. It’s a weird time to work in tech press, and it feels like 2026 is moving faster than 2014 ever did. The days are shorter, the deadlines are tighter, and the bar for “news” is lower. We’re just trying to keep up with the machine now.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Apple release a touchscreen MacBook Pro?
No, they did not. The event focused on chip updates for the iMac and entry-level MacBook Pro. The rumored touchscreen model with a dynamic island was not announced or shown during the keynote. It may still be in development, but it’s not shipping yet.
What is the price of the new M6 iMac?
It starts at $1,499. This is the same entry price as the M4 model, but the configuration includes the new M6 chip. Higher storage and RAM options will cost extra, as usual with Apple’s pricing structure. The design remains unchanged from the previous generation.
Is the M6 chip better than the M5?
Yes, it offers roughly 30-40% better CPU performance and a significant boost in AI processing. The M6 features a 2nm process, which makes it more power efficient than the M5. For most daily tasks, the difference will be negligible, but for video editing and 3D rendering, it’s noticeable.
When will the touchscreen MacBook actually launch?
Apple has not confirmed a date. Rumors suggest it could arrive in early 2027, possibly alongside the next MacBook Air refresh. There’s no official statement on the timeline, so speculation is all we have right now. Patience is required, as usual with Apple’s long development cycles for major hardware changes.
The next major checkpoint is the holiday season, where Apple will likely push these M6 Macs as premium gifts. If the touchscreen model doesn’t appear by Christmas, it’s probably slipping to next year. Keep an eye on supply chain reports from Asia in the next few months. That’s where the real answers usually hide, away from the press releases and the polished keynotes.
The story isn’t over, it’s just on pause. And in this industry, a pause is usually worse than silence. Source: The Verge
This article was compiled by the IndiaBBCNews editorial system from verified international news sources. Facts have been independently reviewed. Original reporting: The Verge.
