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The iMac is one of the slickest all-in-one computers on the market. It has a vast but thin screen housing plenty of computing power for work and play. Plus, it's the most colourful computer collection available from Apple, or anyone else, for that matter.
In November 2024, iMac got even better with the addition of the M4 chip.
Based on physical appearance, it seems like nothing has changed between the M3 and M4 iMac (heck, going all the way back to the first M1 iMac, frankly). But that's why I'm writing this article. While the improvements aren't enough to make any of the previous M-series iMacs feel out-of-date, if you're due for a home computer upgrade and you're considering an iMac, are you ever in for a treat!
Pros
- Sleek and beautiful
- Improved connectivity
- Upgraded camera
Cons
- Not height adjustable
- Limited ports
- Capped to base chip
iMac: The all-in-one for everyone!
I have a long and complete history with the iMac lineup, testing out the M1 and M3 iMacs. So, my perspective is coming from a person who is a frequent and longtime iMac user.
The iMac isn't meant to be a pro computer. It has limited ports, you can only spec it up so high, in terms of memory, and there's no option to upgrade beyond a base level chip. Even so, with my M3 iMac, I would frequently use it for 4K video editing and didn't run into any issues that slowed down my edit until it was finally time to export my videos (but at that point, you're done, so you walk away and have a coffee break).
With the addition of the M4 chip, the iMac is more capable than ever! In my testing, not only was this a great entertainment hub for watching shows and playing video games, I've also really enjoyed it as my workstation for editing images to go on my website and producing videos for social and YouTube. I have a few small issues (which I'll flag as we go), but, overall, this is a fantastic computer for the household to share.
What's different about the 2024 iMacs?
The design of the iMac was really refined when the M1 model launched in May of 2021. The sprawling 24-inch, 4.5K Retina display is still there. The incredibly thin design remains unchanged. And the colour-matched accessories continue to complement these bright machines, but here's the stuff you might not realize is different.
- M4 Chip (Apple's latest processor improves performance)
- New finishes (same colour collection, but in different shades)
- Nano-texture glass (reduces glare on screen)
- New camera (12 MP Center Stage Camera)
- Versatile connectivity (all rear ports support Thunderbolt 4)
How do these changes impact the user experience? Let's dig in!
What does the M4 Chip do on iMac?
Apple started making their own processing chips a few years ago. This results in the hardware (the chip itself, as well as all of the different components of your computer) and the software (all the apps and programs you run) working together in a way that balances performance and the user experience that could really only be achieved with one unified vision throughout the whole process.
All of this is to say the M Series chips have been a game-changer with Apple's computers over the past few years.
Everyone uses their computer in different ways, but these are a few examples of where you might notice the speed and power of the M4 chip.
Multi-tasking: as you switch between apps (or use them simultaneously), the M4 chip can shift tasks between its CPU cores to prioritize speed for the thing you need in that exact second, even if you're changing tasks from second to second.
Graphics Enhancements: With last year's M3 chip, hardware accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading were introduced, which made a huge difference on the way things looked when playing video games. Those things will look great with the M4 chip, but now they'll process even faster to make lighting and shadow effects even more realistic when gaming.
AI Improvements: There's a dedicated part of the M4 chip focused on AI-related tasks. The "Neural Engine" will tackle all things related to AI (including Apple Intelligence) within a dedicated part of the chip to make sure AI functions are zippy without draining processing power from other parts of the chip.
More Memory: This isn't meant to be a pro machine…but what's considered basic today was pro a few years ago, meaning the M4-powered computer is very powerful! With the M4 chip, you can now expand memory up to 32 GB, which is double the minimum requirements for advanced apps, like After Effects for motion graphics.
All of the above is nerd-talk to say that even though this looks like a cutesy computer, the iMac with M4 is actually a beast compared to when it first launched in 2021.
What colours does the 2024 iMac come in?
A distinct feature, and major appeal of iMac is the bright and vibrant colours. When it comes to computers, you don't often get a chance to express your creativity or personal style, but that's not the case with iMac.
For 2024, the available colour finishes have been tweaked. While the M1 and M3 versions were more of a metallic saturation, the M4 iMac have more of a bright vibrance popping through. The back of the display has a brighter hue, with the front being more muted.
The metal accent of the stand matches the colourful keyboard, mouse, and/or trackpad that come with your iMac. And even the power cable is colour-matched to your machine.
Pro tip: Order all of the accessories you think you might need at the same time as your iMac, because you can't order the colour mouse, trackpad, or keyboard separately after the fact.
I have the green M4 iMac for testing. And while the back of the M4 version is different than the M1 version I had, the accessories are the exact same colour of green. So, if you have a previous iMac and are wondering about colour options for a new one, maybe that's a helpful tidbit.
iMac Display
The screen on the iMac is largely unchanged, except for one key feature.
With the M4 iMacs, you now have the option to add nano-texure glass to your display. This greatly reduces glare and reflections and could be extremely helpful if you're positioning your iMac in a very sunny room.
At the same time I got my iMac, I also got a MacBook Pro, both of which had nano-texture glass. This was my first experience with this finish, and it was instantly noticeable.
I think this may come down to a matter of taste, so, if at all possible, take a trip to the Apple store and look at the regular and nano-texture glass options side-by-side to see if you like the look. It's kind of like the difference between looking at a matte vs. a glossy photo. While the glare reduction is extremely effective, it does make the screen look different.
For me, I like the look. But I could see how the effect might make the display seem more muted than a person is used to.
What you might find to be a disappointment with iMac is that the stand, overall, is quite short, so the display sits low on the desk. Obviously, not everyone is the same height, but one of my pain points with the iMac is that you can't raise the display to be any higher so you have to place it on something (I use a very good monitor riser that also has a storage cubby and shelf, so I can get the monitor to the right height).
I don't have many complaints about iMac, but since we're talking display, this seems like an appropriate time to mention that you should plan to have this thing elevated on something on your desktop.
Does the 2024 iMac have a good camera?
A very welcome improvement over the M3 generation iMac comes with an enhanced camera system.
Center Stage Cameras have been available in other Apple devices and keep you centered within the frame during video calls. This is achieved by allowing the camera to zoom in on the subject (you) but tapping into the wide angle lens to reframe the subject if you move around.
This is extremely handy on video calls and Facetime calls. You also have the option to manually frame your video, which could be helpful if you're trying to keep unwanted clutter out of the background of your video for an important meeting.
The microphone system for iMac is excellent, to the point where you don't really need headphones/earbuds when taking a video call. The audio quality of both the microphones and speakers is fantastic. While it's likely the improved capacity of the neural engine on the M4 chip is further enhancing the voice call experience, it's kind of hard to tell, because the experience was already really, really good on the previous iMacs.
What ports does the 2024 iMac have?
The connections on iMac are few, but they are further enhanced with the M4 model. On the rear of the display, the connection ports have been upgraded to support Thunderbolt 4. On the most base level model of iMac, there are "only" two ports, which are a Thunderbolt/USB 4 system. On every other model, there are four ports, all of which are Thunderbolt 4-compatible.
That's super helpful for plugging in accessories. Thunderbolt 4 has higher data transfer speeds and capabilities. It means you'll be able to transfer files between compatible devices much quicker. You could plug in up to two 6K displays (to the 4 port Thunderbolt 4 version). And if you have Thunderbolt 4 audio or video production interfaces, you can take advantage of the full power of these devices.
Thunderbolt 5 accessories exist, but at the time iMac launched, they're still very, very rare.
For some people, this isn't going to be enough ports. Or, perhaps, just not the "right" ports for what they need. That's where you'll have to get an adapter (for things like SD cards) or get yourself a dedicated dock to add things, like ethernet, legacy (old) USB A ports, etc.
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Razer Thunderbolt Dock
Add more ports!
A quick side note to let you know, if you want to add more ports to your iMac, Razer's Thunderbolt Dock is an excellent option. It adds legacy USB type A ports, plus some additional Type C ports. You get an SD card reader and an ethernet port for a hardwired internet connection. It comes in two colours, but I think the "mercury" finish looks best with the new iMac. It's a bit pricey, but for me, it's an essential accessory for my iMac.
I think the iMac looks so slick, so I try to avoid plugging anything into the back ports, except when I'm using them. I am able to do this a bit easier, however, because (as mentioned earlier) I have that monitor riser, so I can tuck away some accessories and plug them into a hidden dock). This means I only have one of the four ports on the back occupied, which still does a pretty good job of maintaining the iMac's beautiful aesthetic, without slowing down my productivity.
Ethernet Note
There's not an ethernet port on the iMac (it's far too slender for that). But if having a hardwired internet connection is a must, you have the option to add a power adapter that also has a built-in ethernet port.
I don't think many people will take advantage of that, but I wanted to flag this option, in case you need it.
One other subtle change: the accessories for the iMac (Magic Mouse, keyboard, and trackpad) all charge via USB C. The previous accessories still relied on a lightning connector.
Is the iMac worth it?
The 2024 iMac is a powerful and beautiful computer, and I think it's an easy device to recommend to just about anyone.
Mine is in my basement, and it's just so versatile. I have it on my desk and use it for writing and video editing, but when it's not being used for work, it's also an amazing smart TV for watching shows and movies on that 24-inch display.
Kicking back with video games on this is also great. Games like Death Stranding were first released for dedicated gaming consoles, then made their way to PCs. Now, there are titles like that which run beautifully and smoothly on iMac, and I'm really excited for more developers to start porting and producing more titles to run on Mac.
I really, really, really, love the looks of the Mac. It just looks so good sitting on a desk. It's an inviting and welcoming computer to sit in front of because it looks so darn good and is so capable.
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M4 iMac
iMac is Back!
The new iMac brings the M4 chip (along with Apple Intelligence) to the fan favourite form factor of recent generations. It can be configured as a shared family computer or a productivity powerhouse and is available in 7 colour options.
I could go on and on, but the bottom line is that ever since 2001, when this iMac design was first introduced, these have been great all-in-one computers. Now, with the addition of the M4 chip, the option for nano-texture display, the connectivity port improvements, and the upgraded camera, there's never been a better iMac on the market.
Get one and enjoy!
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