The 14-inch MacBook Pro now comes with Apple’s M6 chip, delivering faster performance, improved wireless connectivity, and better support for external displays.
But with no changes to the screen, battery life, or design, the upgrade may be difficult to justify for existing M5 owners.
Announced October 27, the M6 model starts at $1,999, matching the outgoing M5’s current price. Pre-orders opened October 28, with availability beginning November 6.
M6 vs. M5 MacBook Pro: Key differences
| Feature | M6 MacBook Pro | M5 MacBook Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing process | 2nm | 3nm |
| CPU | 12-core | 10-core |
| GPU | 12-core | 10-core |
| Neural Engine | 32-core | 16-core |
| Memory bandwidth | 153–170GB/s | 153GB/s |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | 6 | 5.3 |
| Wireless chip | Apple N1 | Broadcom |
| External displays | Two 4K at 165Hz | Two 4K at 144Hz |
| Current starting price | $1,999 | $1,999 |
How much faster is the M6?
Built on TSMC’s 2nm process using gate-all-around transistor technology, the M6 increases CPU and GPU core counts while doubling the Neural Engine to 32 cores.
The additional processing power should benefit demanding creative applications and on-device AI workloads, although everyday tasks are unlikely to feel dramatically different.
Memory bandwidth also improves, but there’s a catch: the base 16GB model retains the M5’s 153GB/s bandwidth. Only 24GB or 32GB configurations get the faster 170GB/s connection.
Apple’s N1 wireless chip adds Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread support. External display refresh rates increase from 144Hz to 165Hz when driving two 4K monitors.
Everything else, including the chassis, ports, display, and battery life, remains unchanged.
The MacBook Pro now costs $400 more than in 2025
Although the M6 retains the M5’s current $1,999 price, that figure tells only part of the story.
The M5 originally launched at $1,599 with 512GB of storage. Apple raised the starting price to $1,699 in March 2026 when it made 1TB standard, then raised it again to $1,999 in June.
Today’s M6 buyers therefore pay $400 more than early M5 customers, although they receive twice the base storage.
Should you upgrade from the M5?
For most M5 owners, the answer is no.
The M6 offers incremental performance improvements without changing the features you’ll interact with daily.
Unless your work specifically benefits from faster processing or newer connectivity, replacing a relatively recent MacBook Pro makes little financial sense.
For anyone upgrading from an Intel Mac or an early Apple silicon model, the decision is more interesting.
At the same price, the M6 is the better choice. However, a discounted M5 could offer better value, particularly if you don’t need the latest wireless standards or additional processing power.
There’s also a reason to wait. Apple is reportedly planning a redesigned MacBook Pro with an M7 chip for the first half of 2027, potentially bringing more substantial changes than this year’s processor refresh.
