Apple iMac Review: Enhanced M4 Chip Performance and Vibrant New Colors

Apple iMac: A Major Refresh

Just like the iPad Mini two weeks ago, Apple announced the 2024 iMac through its online newsroom. The 24-inch desktop computer packs the latest M4 chipset—the newest processor in Apple's M-series lineup. Like other Macs powered by its Apple silicon, the M4 supports Apple Intelligence, the company's artificial intelligence features, now available with MacOS Sequoia 15.1.

Starting at $1,299 for the base model, the M4-powered iMac looks the same as its predecessors—but with fun new shades and USB-C versions of its peripherals (finally). The major upgrades are internal though, including a new processor and increased memory to power those Apple Intelligence features more smoothly. It's available for preorder now and ships on November 8.

Design Aesthetics and Functional Enhancements

It's hard to fault Apple for not changing much about the iMac's design because it still looks great. It sports a 24-inch, 4.5K resolution LCD with a 1080p camera. It has a six-speaker sound system and three studio-quality microphones. The port selection depends on the configuration. On the base model, you'll now get two Thunderbolt 4 ports while the pricier versions come with four Thunderbolt 4 ports (in addition to a Gigabit Ethernet port).

Apple has also added Center Stage to the 12-megapixel webcam, which will automatically keep your face in the frame during video calls.

• Color Variations: The colors are technically the same as before (green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, and blue, alongside silver), but rather than pastel shades, Apple made them darker.
• Accessory Transition: Apple finally transitioned the peripherals to USB-C—so, we can take them off the list of products that still use the Lightning Connector.

Powering the 24-inch iMac is an M4 processor, built on a second-generation three-nanometer process, prioritizing power efficiency and speed. With this new chip, Apple claims the iMac is up to 1.7 times faster than the original M1 chip in the 2021 iMac. The company also says it's up to six times faster than the aging Intel iMac.

Conclusion: A Step Forward for iMac

Apple Intelligence isn't exclusive to the M4, but it's clear that Apple is on a crusade to update all of its hardware so that Apple Intelligence is at the forefront of its operating systems. If you have a recent iMac—even the one from 2021—you can at the very least upgrade to the USB-C peripherals separately if you don't need the bump in performance but want to finally ditch those Lightning accessories.