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Summary
A streak of incremental Apple upgrades continues with the 2024 iMac. This time, Apple’s all-in-one features the latest M4 chip and a couple of other upgrades that are worth your consideration. Here’s what’s new with the M4 iMac and how it compares with the previous-generation M3 iMac.
A Similar Design With Slightly Different Colors
Like theM3 iMac, the M4 iMac is also available in seven colors: blue, purple, pink, orange, yellow, green, and silver. However, Apple has used slightly lighter hues for all the shades, giving them a different appearance. Beyond the colors, the overall dimensions and weight of the iMacs remain similar (except the M4 iMac is 1.28oz lighter).
The M4 iMac Offers an Optional Display Upgrade
The M4 iMac features the exact display setup we’ve seen on the M3 iMac. It uses a 23.5-inchRetina displaywith 4,480 x 2,520 resolution (at apixel densityof 218 PPI), 500 nits of peak brightness, andP3 wide color. Like other devices, Apple has also equipped the M4 iMac with itsTrue Tone display technology. So, what’s different?
The M4 iMac is configurable with nano-texture glass for an additional $200. For those catching up, the Cupertino team unveiled nano-texture glass with theM4 iPad Pro that came out earlier this year. Etched at a nanometer scale, the glass scatters ambient light, making distractions like glares or reflections significantly less visible “while maintaining outstanding image quality.”
Although not a huge upgrade, nano-texture glass could provide buyers with the flexibility of placing their iMac anywhere in a room without looking for theglares and reflections due to the ambient lights, windows, or skylights.
Both iMacs come equipped with a high-fidelity six-speaker system for wide stereo sound (with support forSpatial Audio) and a three-microphone setup for studio-quality audio.
M4 vs. M3: Incremental Speed Upgrades
Under the vibrant exterior, the2024 iMac runs on M4 silicon. In fact, the device features two variants of the M4 chip: one with an eight-core CPU (four performance and four efficiency cores) and an eight-core GPU, and another with a 10-core CPU (two additional efficiency cores) and a 10-core GPU. Fun fact: there’s a third M4 variant that powers the 2024 iPad Pro; it features a nine-core CPU.
Compared to the M4 iMac,2023’s iMac had an M3 chipwith an eight-core CPU and an eight or 10-core GPU. Further, the new iMac features 16GB ofunified memory(configurable up to 32GB), twice the 8GB memory available on the previous generation iMac (configurable up to 24GB). The base storage, however, remains the same on both models: 256GB (configurable up to 2TB).
The M4 iMac also features a 16-core Neural Engine, which is up to 2x faster than the one on the M3 chip. It will help the CPU handleall the Apple Intelligence features(as and when they arrive) well. Last but not least, the memory bandwidth on the M4 is upgraded to 120GB/s (from 100GB/s on the M3). The M4 iMac features the same media engine as the old one.
Due to more CPU cores, a better GPU (with a 2x faster ray-tracing engine), and more RAM, theM4 chipon the latest iMac should provide appreciably better performance. But is it enough to upgrade? In my opinion, you should only upgrade if there’s an aspect of the M3 iMac that’s holding you back. Otherwise, the 2023 iMac is still a performance beast.
I/O, External Displays, and Camera
The higher-specced M4 iMac (with 10 CPU and 10 GPU cores) offers fourThunderbolt 4 ports(up to 40Gbps), USB 4, and USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10 Gbps) connections. The all-in-one PC is also configurable with aGigabit Ethernet port. In contrast, the M3 iMac had two Thunderbolt 4 and two USB 3 ports, even on the higher-specced version.
Nonetheless, a 3.5mm headphone jack with support for high-impedance headphones is found on both models. Wireless connectivity options includeWi-Fi 6Eand Bluetooth v5.3 on both. Further, both computers ship with Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse in the box, with an option to upgrade to the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and numeric keypad and Magic Trackpad (all upgraded to USB-C).
While the M3 iMac supports one external display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz, the baseline M4 iMac also does the same. However, the souped-up M4 iMac can handle up to two external displays with 6K resolution at 60Hz or one external display with8K resolution at 60Hz. This could be a worthy upgrade, especially for users who need to work with multiple monitors.
The 1080p FaceTime HD camera on the M3 iMac has been swapped out for a12MP Center Stage cameraon the M4 iMac. For the uninitiated, Center Stage is a feature that keeps your face in the center of the screen by making frame adjustments in real time. In addition, the new camera supports Desk View, a feature that allows users to record an overhead view of their desk.
Both iMacs Support Apple Intelligence
With macOS Sequoia 15.1, Apple has rolled out thefirst batch of its artificial intelligence features, dubbed Apple Intelligence. From the outset these include system-wide Writing Tools, improved Siri, notification and mail summary, and a couple of other additions.
While the M4 iMac will ship with macOS 15.1 out of the box, the M3 iMac can install the update over the air. In theory, both iMacs support Apple Intelligence, but given the improved Neural Engine in the M4, the GenAI features should be a tad quicker on the new machine.
M4 iMac Costs the Same as the M3 iMac
Thebaseline M4 iMac, with an eight-core CPU and eight-core GPU, costs $1,299. While the iMac is up for pre-orders on the company’s official website, it will be available on sale from July 16, 2025.
Last year, the M3 iMac also debuted with the same launch price for the baseline variant with an eight-core CPU and an eight-core GPU.
Apple has been on a roll since September. First, it released theiPhone 16 series with the A18 processorand anew Camera Control button. The September release was followed bythe new iPad mini, M4 iMac,the new Mac mini, and now somenew MacBook Pro models.
Apple iMac (24-Inch, M4)
Powered by an impressive M4 chip, the 24-inch iMac starts with 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD, an 8-core CPU, and an 8-core GPU, available in a range of colors.
iMac (24-Inc, M3)
Great for students and home office use, the base level iMac is a desktop computer with a large display that can handle most common computing tasks with ease.
