In a very “if it ain’t broke” mentality, Apple is leaving the design the same, but updating the hardware to make the iMac faster.
Desktop computers may not be the big deal they used to be, but if you’re in the market for an all-in-one to do all of your things, there’s a good chance you’ve considered the iMac in your travels.
All-in-one desktop computers can still be found from a variety of makers, but the numbers have been dwindling. Most computer manufacturers focus on the laptop because that’s where all the sales are.
People like portables, and aren’t always seated at their desk. But the few who still make them don’t always see updates.
This year, though, Apple is updating its all-in-one, as the iMac gains a new chip, new camera, and new colours, refreshing a few things on its desktop beginning with “c”.
The slim design with the white frame around a large 24 inch 4.5K screen is still very much the same, but the colours of the aluminium chassis have changed, as has the computer chip powering it all.
Last year’s M3 iMac is being updated to a newer M4, fresh out of this year’s iPad Pro, which was also the first Apple device to sport the new processor. It brings with it more power, though you may not even realise it.
The M3 is fast, and the M4 more so, though the performance gains are more obvious when comparing the M1 iMac before that. It includes speed increases of nearly twice for app performance, while games can get up to twice the performance compared to the M1.
The camera has also changed at the front, with the FaceTime HD camera now a 12 megapixel Centre Stage camera to keep you always in focus, similar to the front-facing camera inside an iPhone.
What you won’t get is a variation in ports, with everything here USB-C. Depending on the model you get, that’ll be either two USB-C ports on the entry-level iMac, or four on the more expensive model, though that option does come with a wired Gigabit Ethernet in the power supply, accompanying the WiFi 6E and Bluetooth available on every M4 iMac.
“iMac is beloved by millions of users, from families at home to entrepreneurs hard at work,” said John Ternus, Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering at Apple.
“With the incredible features of Apple Intelligence and the powerful performance of Apple silicon, the new iMac changes the game once again,” he said.
“With M4 and Apple Intelligence, gorgeous new colours that pop in any space, an advanced 12MP Center Stage camera, and a new nano-texture glass display option, it’s a whole new era for iMac.”
That last one is an optional extra, with the nano-texture glass display an option on Apple’s Studio Display, and able to cut back on glare and reflections. It will cost you extra, though, adding an extra $300 to the cost of the iMac.
In Australia, the M4 iMac starts at $1999 for a model with an 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU, 16GB RAM, and 256GB storage, plus only two USB-C ports, while the more premium option will see a 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB RAM, and 256GB storage with four USB-C ports and Gigabit Ethernet from $2399 locally.
Availability is expected from November 8.
