Apple has announced the faster, powerful M4 for 2024 iMac. Apple’s 2024 iMac refresh with the M4 chip doesn’t stray far from the 2023 model’s aesthetic, but it packs a noticeable power boost. The jump to the M4 doesn’t offer the same leap we saw when transitioning from the M1 or M2 to the M3, yet it brings tangible improvements.
The M4 chip powers through tasks with more efficiency, particularly in AI-driven processes and graphics-intensive applications. On October 28th, Apple announced its latest iMac featuring the powerful M4 chip and Apple Intelligence.
Here are the features
The 2024 iMac brings a few noteworthy upgrades, especially under the hood. Here’s a breakdown of what’s new:
- M4 Chip: The star of the 2024 model is the M4 chip, which Apple claims is 1.7x faster in CPU performance and over 2x faster in GPU tasks than the older M1-powered iMac. This includes an improved neural engine, enabling faster machine-learning tasks and better handling of graphics-intensive applications, particularly with enhanced ray tracing.
- USB-C Magic Accessories: Apple has finally transitioned its Magic accessories (Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard, and Magic Trackpad) from Lightning to USB-C, aligning with the broader shift in Apple’s ecosystem. This change might seem small, but it simplifies charging and makes these peripherals more versatile.
- Expanded Storage and Memory Options: The new iMac offers configurations with up to 24GB of unified memory, which allows for smoother multitasking, especially when handling more demanding applications. Storage options go up to 2TB, offering generous room for creatives and professionals.
- Improved Display Quality: Although Apple didn’t change the size or resolution of the 24-inch 4.5K Retina display, it’s optimized for more vivid colors, improved brightness, and better energy efficiency with the M4 chip.
- macOS Sonoma Optimizations: The 2024 iMac benefits from optimizations in macOS Sonoma, which includes better support for widgets, enhanced gaming features, and an overall smoother experience with the M4 chip.
- Enhanced Audio and Microphone: Apple has improved the speaker and microphone setup, delivering better sound quality for conference calls and media playback.
Additional features
The new iMac will feature four USB-C ports, all equipped with Thunderbolt 4 for ultra-fast data transfer. This setup allows users to connect a wide range of accessories, such as external drives, docks, and up to two 6K external displays, providing over 50 million pixels of workspace for an expansive, immersive setup. Additionally, the iMac will support Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 and includes Touch ID, enabling users to unlock their computers with a fingerprint.
Despite these updates, the overall design remains largely the same as previous models—Apple’s focus this time was on performance improvements rather than external changes.
