Key Takeaways
- The Mac M4 has been released by Apple.
- The M4 chip and extra RAM give it a noticeable speed gain.
- Sales begin at $1,299 on November 8.
With the release of the iMac M4, Apple gave its iconic all-in-one desktop a significant speed bump and Apple Intelligence.
Although the new model has different colors (blue, green, orange, pink, purple, and silver), it is stylistically quite similar to the 2021 makeover. But switching to an M4 chip significantly increases its speed. According to reports, it is 1.7 times faster for daily productivity and up to 2.1 times faster for intensive tasks like photo processing than the M1 version. Although M3 comparisons are not yet available, it ought to be faster.
With up to four Thunderbolt 4 connections, an enhanced 12MP webcam with Center Stage, and a first-of-its-kind nano-texture glass option, the iMac M4 is now better suited for visual editing and glare reduction.
With a minimum of 16GB of RAM and a maximum of 32GB, the iMac M4 is especially well-suited to the Apple Intelligence features that are being introduced with macOS Sequoia 15.1 this week. Along with other on-device features, you’ll receive writing tools and email and notification summaries. In December, 15.2 should have ChatGPT integration and additional capabilities for Siri.
Additionally, the computer’s peripherals receive some much-needed improvements. Versions of the Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard, and Magic Trackpad that charge via USB-C instead of Lightning are now available. You can now utilize a cable from your current iPhone in an emergency, even though the designs haven’t altered much.
A model with 256GB of storage, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, and a basic Magic Keyboard costs $1,299 and is available for pre-order now. The iMac M4 launches on November 8. Four Thunderbolt 4 ports, a Touch ID keyboard, and gigabit Ethernet are available for $1,499, while 512GB of storage is included in the $1,699 edition.
Those who were anticipating a redesign for an AIO that has essentially not changed in three years may be disappointed by the update. But it also makes the value proposition much better. Even the entry-level model is fully functional, so you don’t need to shell out at least $1,499 to get 16GB of RAM or more for a system that is actually usable.
For Apple, this is a significant, if somewhat symbolic, move. Even though the iMac is one of the industry’s most well-known computers and helped revive a struggling company in 1998, its significance has steadily diminished due to the emergence of laptops, which currently control the PC market, and a move toward more modular desktops like the Mac mini and Mac Studio. If nothing else, it demonstrates that Apple still values the iMac and is prepared to serve the educational industry as well as other industries where this system’s ease of use is advantageous.
