Everything you need to know about the new iMac M4: complete technical sheet, price and reviews

Apple presented a new version of its iMac on Monday October 28, 2024,equipped with an M4 chip. If the design of the computer screen is still the same as the old generation (except for a few details), the big differences are to be found inside the machine.

The M4 chip notably opens up a new field of possibilities for iMac users, who can benefit fromof a computer truly designed for Apple Intelligence.

Screen: always there

Obviously, when it comes to an iMac, our gaze is first and foremost on its screen. This computer has the particularity of integrating all its components at the back of the panel, hence its nicknameall-in-one. On this new version of the iMac, Apple retains a 4.5k Retina panel. Here are the precise technical characteristics of it:

• 23.5 inch diagonal
• 4480 x 2520 resolution at 218 pixels per inch, with support for a billion colors
• 500 nits brightness
• Wide color gamut (P3)
• Technologie True Tone
• Nano-textured glass (optional)

Performance: CPU, storage and RAM

SoC

This is undoubtedly the most important new feature for the 2024 generation of the iMac. The M4 chip is not new, it first appeared on iPad Pro. But with the iMac 2024, it integrates an Apple computer for the first time. According to Apple, this SoC would be2.1 times faster at creating and gaming than the iMac M1 released in 2020. The chip would also be 1.7 times faster in office automation.

Here is the detailed technical sheet of the M4 chip introduced in the 2024 iMac:

• Base version with 8-core CPU (4 high-performance cores and 4 energy-efficient cores) and 8-core GPU
• Upgraded version with 10-core CPU (4 high-performance cores and 6 energy-efficient cores) and 10-core GPU
• Hardware-accelerated ray tracing
• 16-core Neural Engine
• 120 GB/s memory bandwidth

RAM

The M4 chip isthe first to carry 16 GB of basic unified memory.Apple has until now limited itself to 8 GB. If 16 GB is not enough for you, know that you can go up to 32 GB in the Apple configurator.

SSD storage

In its basic configuration, the iMac M4 has256 GB of disk space. Apple offers the following options however: 512 GB, 1 TB and 2 TB.

Design and finishes

At first glance, it's difficult to see anything new on this iMac M4 as it looks so similar to its predecessors. Since the arrival of the new, very colorful design on the iMacs a few years ago, Apple no longer seems to want to touch it. Although some modifications have been made to the back of the product, particularly on the connectors, the design is still the same.

The iMac M4 is available in7 different colors, ranging from Blue to Silver, including Mauve, Pink, Orange, Yellow and Green.

Regarding the size and weight of this new computer, Apple remains on very classic data with a product measuring 54.7 cm long, 46.1 cm high and 14.7 cm wide, all for 4 .42 kilograms on the scale.

Connections

One of the other big points of improvement this year for this new iMac concerns theconnectivity. The device can be purchased in two different versions, one with 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports and the other with 4 ports, a first for Apple which was currently limited to three different ports on its all-in-ones.

The Cupertino company therefore offers an additional port on its iMac M4. Each of these sockets supports the different standards Thunderbolt 4 (up to 40 Gbps), USB 4 (up to 40 Gbps), and USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10 Gbps).

Furthermore, note that theGigabit Ethernetis standard on the iMac M4 with 4 Thunderbolt 4 ports, when it is optional on the base model.

Finally, let's not forget the presence ofBluetooth 5.3 and not Wi‐Fi 6E (802.11ax).

Other specifics

In addition to these few changes, particularly around the chip and connectivity, the iMac M4 still has interesting features. Apple talks even more in its communication about the front camera of the 12 megapixel computer, equipped with Center Stage and therefore very useful for video conferences.

Compatibility with macOS Sequoia is also there, with the M4 chip supposedlysupport Call Intelligence with ease.

The costs

The Apple iMac M4 has been available to order online since its presentation on October 28, 2024. In-store sales and deliveries began on November 8, 2024.

The computer is currently sold by Apple at the price of1 499 €for its version with 2 USB-C ports, and a slightly less powerful chip. A Magic Mouse and a Magic Keyboard are provided (matched in color to the finish chosen for the iMac), but the latter comes without a numeric keypad and without a Touch ID sensor.

If you want to have 4 Thunderbolt 4 ports and a little more power (with 10 CPU and GPU cores versus 8), you will have to pay€1,749 at least.

Doubling storage usually costs€230. It's the same priceto move from16 Go à 24 Go, or from24 Go à 32 Go.

The maximum configuration, including nano-textured glass, 2 TB of storage, 32 GB of unified memory, Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard with numeric keypad and Touch ID button, and Magic Trackpad, is sold at3 413€ by Apple.

What's new with macOS?

The arrival of macOS Sequoia at the end of 2024 brought many changes, including Apple Intelligence. And indeed, Apple's new computer was marketed as "compatible with Apple Intelligence". If in fact, all computers with an Apple Silicon chip have this eligibility, the iMac M4 is the first to make it a marketing argument.

Note, however, that Apple Intelligence has been slowly rolling out since its arrival in fall 2024, feature after feature, first in the USA, and only from 2025 in France.

iMac M4: crack or pass?

Visually, the iMac M4 appears asidentical to its predecessor, released only a year ago. When the time comes to checkout, we legitimately wonder if buying an iMac M4 is really worth it in 2024. The computer replacesthe iMac M3in Apple stores. It costs almost 1,500 euros, while the iMac M3, sold by Apple just a few weeks ago, is available for a few hundred euros less.

Should you go for the iMac M4? Not necessarily.If you already have an iMac with an Apple Silicon chip, this purchase doesn't seem very useful. The iMac M4 is above all designedfor new desktop owners.

PC users orMacBook, looking for example for a quality, durable, beautiful and well-designed desktop computer, could turn to the iMac M4, provided they do not already have screen+keyboard+mouse at their disposal.

Where to buy the iMac M4?

If you want to buy the iMac M4, here's how to go about it. Either you order the computer on the Apple website or from one of the authorized resellers (such as Fnac or Darty). Either, go to a store, an Apple Store for example, to get your hands on a copy. It will be interesting to monitor the prices of this iMac M4 in the coming months, it could benefit from nice reductions. They will be automatically displayed in the smart table below.