Apple iMac M1 computer (2021): technical sheet, price and reviews

During the keynoteSpring Loadedwhich took place online, Apple unveiled the thinnest iMac ever. Goodbye to the rounded back that made it famous, hello to colors inspired by the iMac G3. But then, what is this 2021 iMac really worth and why is it so talked about? This is what we are going to see together. Here we go!

The new design of the iMac M1 is grandiose

As we have just said, the new design of the iMac 2021 is particularly successful. Indeed, here, Apple has managed to drastically reduce the thickness of the device, giving us a high-end experience on the order of the MacBook Air. With only11.5 small millimeters thick, the iMac M1 no longer even has room to accommodate a jack port where it was previously located.

Seven colors are offered on the iMac 2021 (yellow, orange and purple are only available for the most expensive model):

• bleu
• vert
• rose
• argent
• jaune
• orange
• mauve

In terms of pure dimensions now, here's what you need to know about the M1 iMac. It is almost half a meter high (46.1 cm to be exact) and a little wider, namely 54.7 cm. Its depth, for its part, reaches 14.7 cm. As for the weight, it is 4.46 or4,48 kgdepending on the edition chosen (with a stand, the VESA kit is something else again).

Inside

Welcome to the M1 processor on iMac

It’s not for nothing that we call the new iMac 2021 “iMac M1”. Indeed, there is a very specific reason behind this nomenclature: itsApple silicon processor. This is therefore the M1 chip, which is also found inthe fifth generation iPad Pro 12.9″and the Mac mini updated in 2020. Its advantage? Be designed by Apple itself, which therefore means that there is no subcontractor in the loop for the design. On the other hand, assembly line manufacturing is carried out by TSMC. The other positive point of this system is that as Apple takes care of the processor and the software of the iMac M1, the company has the chance to be able to develop both at the same time. Synchronization andoptimisationare therefore at their maximum.

The M1 chip in the 2021 iMac is available with a choice of a seven- or eight-core GPU. The graphics card coming from the same manufacturer. Everything is also supported by an artificial intelligence engine, theNeural Engine. This solution allows the iMac M1 to perform particularly well when it comes to enduring serious gaming or work sessions. On a daily basis, we notice that the iMac 2021 responds very well to the majority of requests. Certainly, it is not as powerful as a Mac Pro for example, but it has everything you need under the hood to servegraphic designersor video editors.

The memory offered on the iMac 2021

When choosing your iMac M1, several solutions are available to you. In particular, it is necessary to take into account the element of RAM, a key component for running the iMac 2021 at full power coupled with the processor. RAM actually allows you to use more apps at the same time if its quantity is significant. On the base iMac M1,8 Goare offered. But it is possible to double this figure, although at an additional cost. An additional amount to pay which is however worth it, because if you try to disassemble an iMac 2021 to add strips yourself you risk voiding the warranty.

And what about storage, then? Well here too, Apple offers us the possibility of choosing several options for its iMac M1. So, if we choose the iMac 2021 with the cheapest processor, then we can select aSSD256 GB, 512 GB or 1 TB. It's almost the same with the iMac M1 equipped with the eight-core GPU, but also with the possibility of opting for an SSD of2 To, which is not negligible. Indeed, with such a quantity, we can record hundreds of high definition videos.

Front panel

iMac M1: what is its screen worth?

With a substantial diagonal of 23.5 inches, the Retina screen of the iMac M1 adopts a4.5K definitionwhich will be ideal for all your favorite content. Concretely, this means that the iMac 2021 offers a resolution of 4,480 by 2,520 pixels, for a final density of 218 pixels per inch. The iMac M1 display further supports a billion different colors with its P3 wide color gamut.

Its brightness reaches 500 nits. You can therefore install the iMac 2021 close to a window or lighting without fearing annoying reflections on its screen. Finally, let us point out that the screen of the iMac M1 is, likethe fourth generation iPad Air, equipped with technologyTrue Tone. It is known for adapting the colors of the screen according to your environment and its brightness, so as to reduce eye fatigue when you spend a lot of time in front of the screen.

iMac 2021 camera

Although patents have already been filed in this regard, the iMac M1 unfortunately does not include Face ID facial recognition technology. On the other hand, its camera offers a definition1080pwhich should be perfect for FaceTime videos.

Compatibility

Improved sockets on the back of the iMac M1

The iMac M1 also hastwo USB ports 4at the rear, at least in its most accessible version. Because if you choose to pay the price, then you will be able to go up to four USB sockets on the back. Note also that these are entitled to the reversible format of the USC-C, much more practical than before. These two ports found in each iMac M1 are also compatible with the standardThunderbolt 3, which allows it to reach a theoretical speed of 40 Gbit per second. And if you have an external display at home, then the iMac 2021 will also be able to support HDMI and VGA standards. However, you will need to invest in a dedicated adapter to be eligible.

Let's finish with the connection part by specifying that our iMac M1 is recharged with a cableMagSafeowner, whose colors go with the rest of its hull. It is therefore magnetic, which makes it easier to plug.

What accessories for the iMac 2021?

If you buy an iMac M1, Apple automatically offers you the option of choosing a few accessories to go with it. Starting with the brand new Magic Keyboard, which is entitled to some improvements since it now includes a key for emojis as well as a button dedicated to Touch ID. This behaves in almost the same way as that of the MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, with the difference that it is used here to unlock the iMac M1.

With its iMac M1, Apple also provides its own wireless mouse: theMagic Mouse 3. Just like the Magic Keyboard, it is available in several colors matching the shell of the iMac 2021 that you choose. But if you prefer the touchpad instead, then no problem: Apple has thought of everything and even offers the Magic Trackpad in each of the seven colors of the iMac M1.

Please note: The new colorful Magic Keyboard is available in two editions, but they cannot be purchased separately at this time. Furthermore, the version with the numeric keypad, which is actually the larger of the two, is only sold with the more expensive iMac M1. Indeed, the iMac 2021 with the least powerful M1 processor makes do with the classic Magic Keyboard.

Thanks to theport jackinstalled on the edge of the iMac M1, it is possible to connect external speakers or headphones. The most seasoned audiophiles will appreciate it. Of course, if you prefer the wireless experience, then the iMac 2021 will work just as well with accessories like AirPods Max or AirPods Pro with in-ear tips.

Connectivity: iMac M1

If you want to buy an iMac M1, you must have already heard about Continuity. This concept introduced by Apple consists of making its different machines communicate using proprietary systems. The first of them isAirDropwhich works in particular thanks to the Wi-Fi chip installed in the iMac 2021. This solution allows files to be transferred almost instantly between Apple devices. However, it is not available from other brands.

But that's not all, since the iMac M1 is also sold with technologyBluetoothintegrated. With it, you can easily pair speakers like those sold by companies such as Bose and Bang & Olufsen to the iMac 2021. Which is all the easier when you know that AirPlay, again an option made in Apple, helps to synchronize the different products together. All it takes is a single click to stream sound from your iMac M1 to your speakers, if they are on the same network.

Audio

During the keynoteSpring Loaded, Apple also recalled that its new iMac M1 included an upgraded audio system. Concretely, it is in fact nothing less thansix speakersdifferent, high fidelity with force-cancelling woofers. The stereo sound of the iMac 2021 is announced as relatively ample, and supports spatial audio when playing video with Dolby Atmos. This is a feature that is also found in the AirPods Pro wireless headphones.

Operating system: macOS Big Sur

With in particular support for oral functionality “Dis, Siri“, the iMac M1 combines an extraordinary audio and software experience. And now it's time to take a look at what its proprietary operating system includes. I named: macOS Big Sur, version 11 of the famous Apple OS.

UI

On macOS with the iMac M1, Apple offers us a full-color interface but which can also be darkened thanks to thedark mode. With Big Sur, we also notice that the design of the main apps has changed to be a little closer to that which we know on iOS. The Control Center, for its part, is installed to the right of the screen. This is where most of the 2021 iMac shortcuts can be accessed.

Day to day, using an iMac M1 is pretty smooth. Its OS is thus arranged so that we do not get lost in the multiple menus it offers. On the contrary: it is even very easy to navigate even without any particular knowledge, so much so that some say that you can offer an iMac 2021 to your grandparents.

Pre-installed apps in the iMac M1

We saw it above: the iMac M1 comes with several services, most of which are in fact completely free! To begin with, there is the followingiWork. This range of office software allows you to avoid having to pay a license for the competition, and notably integrates Numbers. This is a spreadsheet with infinite possibilities, which supports the majority of formulas and will allow you to keep your accounts on the iMac 2021. Besides, Apple also offersPages, which is an equivalent of Google Docs or Microsoft Word. A fairly fluid text processor, which has nothing to envy of its direct competitors.

And for entertainment, then? The iMac M1 integrates several platforms, starting withApple Arcade. For 4.99 euros per month, this game library allows you to enjoy more than a hundred different video games. And they run very well on the iMac M1, precisely thanks to its super processor. But its benefits don't stop there. Thus, for the same amount, it is also possible to subscribe toApple TV+. This service, similar to Netflix or Hulu, offers original content including series and films, on demand. There we find, for example, the feature filmUSS Greyhound: The Battle of the Atlantic, which was nominated for the 2021 Oscars. All the same, it's not nothing!

Of course, the iMac M1 also comes with everything you would expect from a good computer. Starting with a browser:Safari. It runs particularly well on the 2021 iMac, and many even consider it faster than Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome (Alphabet) in certain tasks. Finder, for its part, plays the role of file explorer, while QuickTime is responsible for playing videos downloaded to the iMac M1. There's also Photos, which syncs with your iPhone or iPad's photo library to act as a catalog of images in thecloud. Apple also offers subscriptions to store its files in the cloud in addition to the SSD of the iMac M1: this is the iCloud offer.

The iMac M1 is soldfrom 1,449 eurosIn France. For this price, you will be entitled to the most minimalist version: an iMac 2021 with an eight-core M1 processor, but whose GPU only has seven as we have earlier in this technical sheet. This iMac M1 is only available in four colors: blue, green pink and silver. It also does not have four USB ports on the back, but only two.

The iMac 2021 with 512 GB of storage starts at 1,899 euros.

Conclusion: our opinion on the iMac M1

We have now reached the end of our technical sheet on the iMac M1. So, what can we think about it? First of all, this is clearly a high-end computer. Its price, moreover, is not misleading, even if it is less expensive than certain MacBook Pros or certain iPad Pros. But we can also quickly notice that the iMac 2021 is the most powerful of all those that have been marketed by Apple so far, thanks to itsM1 chip. It is this processor which makes all the difference, and which should convince professionals who do not wish to buy the Mac Pro or the Mac mini for their fixed setup.

The macOS Big Sur software, for its part, does the job just as well on iMac M1. It is very easy to use, and therefore the computer is also suitable forfamilieswho want a facility that could benefit both parents and younger children. To finish, we will only highlight its newdesignwhich enhances a timeless machine. Revisiting the iMac was very daring given its undeniable success, yet with the iMac 2021 Apple has clearly succeeded here.