Apple has officially kicked off its anticipated "exciting week of announcements" with the release of the new M4-powered iMac. Packed with significant upgrades, this 24-inch iMac now boasts the powerful M4 chip, a nano-texture display option, new color choices, and more—all designed to enhance both productivity and creative workflows.
What’s New with the 24-Inch M4 iMac?
Here’s a quick overview of the exciting new features and improvements in the M4 iMac:
Boosted RAM:
Base configuration now starts at 16GB of RAM, double the previous 8GB. For power users, options go up to 32GB in the higher-end models.
Nano-Texture Glass Option:
Apple has introduced a nano-texture glass option, which reduces reflections and glare for a superior visual experience.
More Thunderbolt Ports:
Now featuring up to 4 Thunderbolt 4 ports for faster and more versatile connectivity.
Enhanced Camera: A 12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View, ideal for users needing clear video calls or presentations.
USB-C Color-Matched Accessories:
The updated iMac accessories, now in new colors, use USB-C for charging, keeping everything sleek and unified.
Expanded Color Palette:
The new iMac comes in a variety of colors, including fresh shades of green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, and blue, in addition to silver.
In Apple’s words, the new iMac offers “up to 1.7x faster performance for daily tasks and up to 2.1x faster speed for demanding workflows like photo editing and gaming, compared to the iMac with M1.” With the Neural Engine in the M4, this new model is positioned as the best all-in-one desktop for AI tasks, privacy-focused Apple Intelligence, and an overall superior user experience.
M4 Performance and Technical Specs:
The new M4 chip truly shines in the upgraded iMac, bringing substantial performance enhancements across the board. Here’s how the M4 iMac stacks up:
Productivity Apps:
Up to 1.7x faster in apps like Microsoft Excel, and 1.5x faster in Safari, compared to the M1 iMac.
Gaming:
Up to 2x higher frame rates, providing a smoother gaming experience.
Photo and Video Editing:
Up to 2.1x faster when applying complex filters and effects in Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Pro.
Performance Comparison:
Compared to a popular 24-inch all-in-one PC with an Intel Core i7 processor, the M4 iMac is up to 4.5x faster. When compared to an Intel-based iMac, the new model is up to 6x faster.
Configuration Options:
Starting at 16GB RAM, the base M4 iMac comes with an 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU, 256GB storage, and two Thunderbolt 4 ports. Higher-end models feature a 10-core CPU and GPU, along with options for up to 32GB of RAM and up to 2TB of storage. The premium version also includes four Thunderbolt 4 ports, providing enhanced connectivity.
The M4 chip also brings Thunderbolt 4 compatibility across all USB-C ports, enabling users to connect additional accessories, including support for up to two 6K external displays—double the capability of the previous iMac model.
As with previous models, the new iMac supports Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, ensuring robust and reliable connectivity.
Nano-Texture Display Option:
Apple introduces a new nano-texture finish for the iMac’s 4.5K Retina display, specifically designed to minimize reflections and glare. According to Apple, this finish “drastically reduces reflections and glare, while maintaining outstanding image quality,” providing an optimal viewing experience for users in bright or shared spaces.
Upgraded Center Stage Camera with Desk View:
The iMac’s new 12MP Center Stage camera supports Desk View, a feature that leverages a wide-angle lens to simultaneously show the user and a top-down view of their desk. This function is particularly valuable for educators delivering online lessons or creators presenting DIY projects. The high-quality camera and Center Stage technology help keep users framed perfectly in video calls and presentations, making it ideal for professionals, educators, and creators alike.
Availability:
The new 24-inch iMac availability beginning on Friday, November 8.
Conclusion:
The new M4-powered iMac combines Apple’s powerful hardware innovations with sleek design choices, making it a compelling option for users who demand top performance in both productivity and creative tasks. Whether you’re upgrading from an older model or investing in your first iMac, the M4 iMac’s enhanced features and faster speeds make it a noteworthy choice for Apple fans and power users.