Apple unveils the 2024 iMac model: Retaining its recognizable exterior, yet boosting its internal power capacity.
We weren't completely excited about Apple's 2023 iMac overhaul, packed with the tech giant's cutting-edge M3 silicon. Regardless, Apple is grinning from ear to ear, ready to dive back into the fray with a comparable-looking, yet stronger 24-inch iMac. This time, it boasts the M4 chip within its walls. Apart from that, Apple's Magic accessories are getting a boost. The only change you'll notice is the shift from Lightning to USB-C.
Side by side, these all-in-one computers would be difficult to distinguish. However, the key enhancement this time around is the transition to M4. Introduced earlier in the year for the iPad Pro, the M4 is a beefier processor than the previous year's M3, although it won't provide the same drastic leap as moving from M1 or M2 to M4. The M4 features an enhanced neural engine compared to Apple's previous silicon, as well as growing ray-tracing capabilities born from the M3.
Apple touts that the $1,300 iMac equipped with this new chip is approximately 1.7 times faster than the iMac with the M1 chip in CPU performance and over double as potent in GPU performance. The base model provides an 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU. When it comes to gaming, you might be limited by the absence of M4 Pro chip options, even though you can invest in the 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU version for $1,500.
© Image: Apple
Unfortunately, the new iMac doesn't offer the M4 Pro option, but it does offer various configurations with extra GPU cores and SSD storage. Just like the 2023 version, Apple's 2023 all-in-one PC features a 4.5K Retina LCD. The 2023 model offered storage choices from 256 GB of SSD memory and 8 GB of RAM to 2 TB of storage and 24 GB of unified memory. Thankfully, this version brings 16 GB of RAM across the first three models. A 24 GB memory and 512 GB storage option is available for $1,900, and you can max out the RAM to 32 GB for an extra $200 and the SSD to 2 TB for an additional $600.
Last year's iMac came in a variety of appealingly subtle colors, such as a violet purple and a late autumn orange. The 2023 model retains the same range of colors including blue, purple, pink, orange, yellow, green, and silver. However, if you wish to upgrade from the base $1,300 model, you'll need to spend more. The cheaper iMac has only two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, while the more expensive ones have four and even an ethernet port.
Apple's peripherals, like the Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, and Magic Trackpad, match your color choice just as before. But now they come equipped with USB-C, allowing you to charge them using any spare USB-C cable lying around on the iMac's back ports.
Apple is rolling out new Mac products this week to lay the groundwork for its AI-focused features to be unveiled piecemeal over the upcoming months and into 2025. Apple launched macOS 15.1 on Monday, boasting the all-new Writing Tools, which use AI for proofreading, summarizing, or rewriting text. The next stage of its AI-enhanced OS involves ChatGPT, which is directly integrated with Siri and AI image generation with Image Playground.
The new iMac starts at $1,300 and is available for preorder from Monday. It will ship on Nov. 8.
Apple is expected to reveal even more Mac products this week, so keep a lookout for additional new desktops and laptops.
The future of technology is promising with Apple's continuous innovation, as shown by their usage of the M4 chip in the new 2023 iMac, which is more powerful than the previous M3 chip. Even Apple's accessories, such as the Magic Keyboard and Mouse, are getting a boost with the integration of USB-C for more versatile charging options.
