Reviewing the new M6 MacBook Pro gave me a powerful feeling of déjà vu. It even uses the same artwork as the M5 MacBook Pro that came out last year. This laptop was also completely upstaged by the new MacBook Pro OLED announced at Apple's recent "Pro and Tell" event.
Apple has released another iterative update, equipping the 2026 MacBook Pro with the latest Apple silicon. And if you have a much older MacBook, the new model also runs macOS 27 Golden Gate and Siri AI, the latter of which is still a work in progress.
Last year, in my M5 MacBook Pro review, I wrote that "Apple is just showing off," and the new model offers even better performance, while keeping everything you already love about the MacBook Pro.
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MacBook Pro (M6) review: I've grown weary of iterative upgrades
I'm not the first tech reviewer to complain about iterative updates. In recent years, many tech brands have been releasing new models on an annual release cycle. That means customers don't have to wait as long for new upgrades to come to market, but there are downsides, too.
In a world of iterative updates, your shiny new laptop or phone gets out of date much more quickly. I wish tech companies would focus more on making future-proofed models that stand the test of time. We already live in a world of overconsumption and high prices, and every annual release is another opportunity for trillion-dollar tech companies to increase prices even more.
The new $1,999 MacBook Pro is $300 more expensive than the 2025 version with M5 silicon. To be fair, Apple increased prices across the board in June due to the memory shortage, and this release doesn't include an additional price bump.
As I said in my latest MacBook Air review, I wish Apple had waited to release a new MacBook Air and stuck with the older, less expensive version a little longer, but that may not have been possible thanks to RAMageddon.
The M6 MacBook Pro is a highly capable laptop for the pros (obviously)
Testing the new M6 is a bit tedious. I have already thoroughly stress-tested the M5 Pro, and the M6 will inevitably deliver the same results with some improvements. And that's exactly what I found.
Apple promises the new "12-core GPU delivers up to 30 percent faster graphics and up to 25 percent faster AI workloads when compared to M5." Unsurprisingly, that matches up with my results.
Because of a shipping delay, I'm still performing some of our standard benchmarks on the new MacBook Pro, and I'll update this review after spending more time testing the M6 chip and battery. I
M6 MacBook Pro: What about gaming?
Like the M5, the M6 MacBook Pro passes the Cyberpunk: 2077 test, with some compromises. I didn't notice significant improvement in performance this time around. I originally tried loading the game with a 60-frame-per-second target refresh rate and MetalFX and ray tracing turned up to the max. I had just enough time to wipe out a gang of Tiger Claws before the game crashed.
At 30 frames per second and with some graphic settings tuned down, I was able to play the game without problems, and Night City still looks gorgeous. However, I had more fun playing the backrooms-inspired game Pools, recently adapted from its original virtual reality format. The spooky, atmospheric visuals looked great on the Pro.
Siri AI is still a work in progress
Siri AI isn't unique to macOS 27 Golden Gate, and if you have a compatible Apple device, it's been available for a few months. I tried to use Siri AI on this new laptop, with mixed results. While Siri AI was able to answer many of my queries and draw on my personal data, it also struggled in disappointing ways.
At one point, I asked it to pull up photos from my time visiting Charleston, SC, a city I visit frequently. Siri told me it couldn't find any photos from Charleston. But look at the picture of this moment, and you'll notice the on-screen Photos widget is literally showing an album of photos from Charleston at the exact same time. Siri AI also struggled to find texts and emails from a contact with an oddly spelled name.
These are the kinds of frustrating and basic mistakes that make it hard to fully trust or recommend Siri AI yet.
MacBook Pro with M6: Design and build quality
The latest MacBook Pro retains the high-end build and classic Apple design of recent MacBooks, but it only suffers in comparison to the just-released MacBook Pro OLED laptop, which has an OLED display and upgraded speaker system.
If you have an older MacBook, I think you'll be very impressed with the speakers on this model. While they're the same as last year's model, they still sound fantastic. Radiohead's "Everything in its Right Place" and Florence and the Machine's "Lungs" sound rich and well-balanced, though you can also plug in your favorite headphones in the 3.5mm headphone jack for true high-fidelity audio via Apple Music.
So far, I haven't had any overheating issues or any problems at all from a design standpoint. The keyboard, trackpad, webcam, and Liquid Retina display are still rock solid.
MacBook Pro with M5: The verdict
While the latest MacBook Pro doesn't rate very highly on the "Wow factor," it's still a powerful laptop that can support professional workloads. I suspect some professionals will want to hold out for the inevitable 16-inch model, or splurge on the reference-monitor-quality display on the new OLED model.
Hopefully, the PROLED XDR Display becomes available with the regular MacBook Pro in the near-ish future, and I think it eventually will. That would be a non-iterative upgrade and a welcome one for many techies.
You can buy the new MacBook Pro for $1,999 at Apple, Amazon, and wherever Apple laptops are sold; it will be released on Nov. 6 alongside the new touch MacBook Pro OLED.
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MacBook Pro M5: Specifications
Processor: Apple M6 chip with a 12-core CPU (2 super cores, 4 performance cores, 6 efficiency cores); 12-core GPU with Neural Accelerators
Memory: 16GB, 24GB, 32GB
Storage: 1TB, 2TB, 4TB
Colors: Space Black, Silver
Dimensions: 0.61 inches × 12.31 inches × 8.71 inches;
Weight: 3.4 pounds
Ports: Three Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports with support for two external monitors; SDXC card slot; HDMI port; 3.5 mm headphone jack, MagSafe 3 charging port
Wireless Connectivity: Apple N1 chip supporting Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0
Display: 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display
Resolution: 3,024 x 1,964 resolution
Brightness: Up to 1,000 nits sustained brightness; up to 1,600 nits peak brightness for HDR content
Cameras: 12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View support
Audio: Six-speakers with support for spatial audio; three-mic array
Battery: Up to 24 hours of video streaming