iMac with M4: Apple unveils its most powerful all-in-one desktop
Apple has just announced the 2024 iMac, bringing an M4 chip, increased memory, USB-C accessories, new colors and more improvements.
This week, Apple is hosting a series of three updates to the Mac. This is an unusual format from Apple, who usually drop a number of products in one event. Presumably, they figure they can increase the focus on each new product this way. The first of the three launched new operating systems, with Apple Intelligence, and unveiled the new iMac with M4.
iMac is beloved by millions of users, from families at home to entrepreneurs hard at work. With the incredible features of Apple Intelligence and the powerful performance of Apple silicon, the new iMac changes the game once again. With M4 and Apple Intelligence, gorgeous new colors that pop in any space, an advanced 12MP Center Stage camera, and a new nano-texture glass display option, it’s a whole new era for iMac.
John Ternus, senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, Apple
Apple’s M4 chip was first introduced earlier this year in the iPad Pro. We are expected to see it and higher spec options in more Macs across this week. The M4 iMac replaces the M3 iMac introduced in October last year. Most of the comparisons from Apple compare this chip to the M1 and Intel machines, which shows the upgrades from M3 are minimal. M4 comes in 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU, or 10-core CPU and 10 core-GPU configurations. Both options feature a 16-core Neural Engine. Apple are quoting the 10-core CPU option as up to 1.3x faster than M3 and up to 1.7x faster than M1. For the 10-core GPU, Apple quotes up to 1.1x faster than M3 and up to 2x faster than M1. The Neural Engine is up to 3x faster than the M1. This equates to up to 6x faster than the most popular Intel-based iMac, which is the 2019 model, and up to 4.5x faster than the most popular Windows all-in-one.
With the new M4 iMac, Apple has doubled the starting memory, from 8GB to 16GB. The computer is configurable in 24GB and a new 32GB option.
There are new colors too. The 2024 iMac is available in new shades of green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, blue and silver, all of which come with color-matched accessories. Speaking of accessories, the Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad all come with USB-C now instead of Lightning. This marks some of the last Apple products to get the new port.
The iMac with M4 features the same design, with the same thin, 4.5K, 24-inch display. There’s now also a nano-texture display option, which helps reduce reflectivity and glare. This option adds $200.
There’s also the same speakers and microphones for video calls, however the 1080p camera has been bumped up to 12MP, with Center Stage and Desk View. Center Stage automatically zooms and pans to the action, while Desk View shows a top-down point-of-view of your desk, using the iMacs built-in camera.
All USB-C ports on the back are now Thunderbolt/USB 4. The baseline iMac comes with two ports. Bump up to the 10-core CPU/GPU model for four ports. Previously the four port option featured two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports and two USB 3 ports. The new four port model supports up to two external 6K displays.
The new M4 iMac has the same wireless connectivity, with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, as well as the same storage options, with 256GB, 512GB, 1TB or 2TB available.
The new iMac is launching at the same starting price of $1,299. This model features an 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 16GB memory, 256GB storage and two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports. The next configuration has the same memory and storage, but features a 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, four Thunderport/USB 4 ports, a Touch ID keyboard and Gigabit Ethernet. For this reason, spending the extra $200 will be worth it for most buyers. You can pre-order the new iMac today and it will be available next week, from November 8.