Malcolm Owen
Apple has updated its 24-inch iMac, with the all-in-one desktop Mac now sporting more performance thanks to the M4 chip.
Introduced as part of Apple's week of Mac announcements, the update to the 24-inch iMac is a classic spec-bump update. While the new model is pretty much identical to the previous generation, it still has upgrades where it counts.
Here, that means stepping up from the M3 chip in the last version and using the M4 chip instead. Apple says the M4 chip has the fastest CPU core in the world, and is 1.7 times faster than the M1 iMac in terms of performance.
The graphical capabilities include a 2.1x performance boost for gaming and photo editing versus M1.
Like the M3 version, the M4 iMac is offered in two varieties. One includes an 8-core M4 as well as an 8-core GPU, while the other has 10-core counterparts.
The base configuration includes 16GB of unified memory, up from the previous 8GB, with it able to go up to 32GB. Storage starts at 256GB, with configuration options going up to 2TB.
The 24-inch 4.5K Retina display makes a return, complete with its 4,480 by 2,520 resolution. It has 500 nits of brightness, Wide Color (P3) support, and True Tone.
This time, Apple includes a new nano-texture glass option, which can minimize reflections on the screen and create a clearer image.
Embedded in the top of the screen is the 1080p FaceTime HD camera. Once again, it's aided by an advanced image signal processor with computational video.
Audio duties are handled by a high-fidelity six-speaker system with force-cancelling woofers, complete with Spatial Audio support for media using Dolby Atmos. Audio recording is performed by a three-mic array of studio-quality microphones with a high signal-to-noise ratio and directional beamforming.
The port selection, around the back of the display, consists of two Thunderbolt, up to four in total, which can handle DisplayPort out to another display. There's also a 3.5mm headphone jack on the side.
Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6E are included, though you also have wired Gigabit Ethernet also available. This is located in the power brick, so as to not affect the appearance of the iMac itself.
The new 24-inch iMac with M4 starts from $1,299, can be pre-ordered now, with availability from November 8.
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28 Comments
Disappointed there is no M4 Pro option, however this remains a beautiful product to look at, and if you are okay with a base setup, it provides excellent value. When maxing out, I'm not sure if it provides great value, but it sure looks great. Also happy to see there's a nano-texture option. I get migraines and this is easier to deal with when your monitor is pointed at light surfaces in the back.
"Storage starts at 256GB"
Pathetic base storage, as usual.
Apple really needs to be more competitive at this base level.
The higher end SKUs can support two 6K monitors and the built-in one. This was one of the things critics picked on for the base M-series Macs. Wonder if it makes it to the M4 MBA models. The M4 MBP will surely be able to simultaneously drive the internal monitor and the two external monitors.
Always a funny feature, with the way Apple does it. Hey, here's our $1500 Mac. You want to use two 6K external monitors with it? $10,000 for two PD XDRs. Or if you are more spend-thrifty, $3000 for two 5K ASD. Most people are thinking about this or that crappy 2K to 4K monitor. :D
I was thinking of trading in my M1 iMac, but the trade-in value that Apple is offering is ABYSMAL. Hard to figure how Apple offered $230 of trade-in value for an iPad Mini 6 from 2021 that originally sold for $499. But on a BTO iMac M1 from 2021 that sold for over $2100--with the higher spec'd chip, 16GB RAM and 1TB of storage--they're only offering $340. That's nuts.
I see that Apple said that the M4 is 1.7 times faster than the M1, how about telling us how much faster the M4 is compared to the M2 & the M3.
Could it be that it’s not very much faster than the M3?