Apple’s desktop computer, the iMac, has just been re-released with an upgraded processor, new colors and more. The memory in the entry-level version has doubled, from 8GB to 16GB, though with the same price, $1,299. I’ve been testing the new iMac since just after Apple announced it at the end of October. So, should you buy one? Read on for all that’s new, how it works and whether it’s worth it.
Apple iMac with M4 processor
Apple iMac M4: Design
There are some subtle changes to how the new iMac looks. First, there are the new colors. As well as silver, the iMac comes in green, yellow, orange, pink, purple and blue finishes. If that sounds like the exact range from previous years, you’re right but this time every single color has been gently updated.
I’ve been testing the yellow version, which has an understated, subtler hue than before. The anodized finish on the rear of the iMac is slightly more pale yellow and less golden than it was before. The yellow front panel that sits below the display is also more lemon and less egg-yolk. There’s a fresher feel to the colors this time around, with a little more punch, especially on the back of the iMac. Apple also color-matches the accessories such as mouse, keyboard and trackpad, even down to the charging cable.
The new yellow iMac (left) and iMac with M3 (right)
There’s another change: last time around you could only snag a yellow, orange or purple finish if you chose the iMac with the faster version of the chip. This time, Apple has made it more democratic, and every color is available even in the entry level.
And here is another design update that’s subtle but which everyone, and I mean everyone, will applaud. The connector on the accessories has now been changed from lightning to USB-C. While this isn’t the step-change in convenience that it was on the iPhone because you likely have a Lightning cable attached to the back of the iMac anyway, it’s a definite move forward.
If you’re one of those people who’s been waiting for Apple to update the charging arrangement for the Magic Mouse so you don’t have to flip it on its back like a turtle to charge it, I’m afraid there’s no change here.
The color-coding doesn’t stop there, by the way. As well as the being matched to the hue of the iMac, so is the wallpaper on screen. You can change this, of course, but Apple has drilled color so deeply into these devices that even when you highlight text, the shade matches your iMac.
There are no other visible differences between the new iMac and last year’s model, although the front-facing camera is a different component, now called the Center Stage camera.
This comes with a feature called Desk View, which means you can show your physical desktop as well as what’s on screen to people at the other end of the call. This works very well. The camera is excellent and where some people had previously complained that video call quality was subpar, here it seems pristine, clear and highly watchable.
Apple iMac M4: Display
The new iMac comes with a 24-inch display that’s identical to the last generation. The resolution is 4480 x 2520, which gives 218 pixels per inch resolution. When I had moved from a 27-inch iMac to a 24-inch display, I thought I would miss the extra real estate. I never have, and this display is easily big enough for all my needs. Your mileage may vary.
There is one visual change that wasn’t on the last 24-inch iMac, and that’s the option for a nano-texture finish. This is the subtle, more matte look that has previously been seen on the 27-inch iMac. It’s now on the new MacBook Pro with M4 processor that has just arrived. Here, it’s only available if you choose the iMac with the faster, 10-core M for processor.
It costs an extra $150, and not everyone needs it, but it looks beautiful, with far fewer reflections or glare.
Rear ports on the new iMac are all Thunderbolt 4 — this is the version with four ports.
Apple iMac M4: Performance
The new iMac has the Apple M4 chip at its heart, a step up from last year’s M3 version. To be clear, the M3 iMac, which I’ve been using until now, has always been fast and capable and I’ve never known it to slow down or be glitchy. But, for sure, this is faster.
One of the reasons for this is Apple Intelligence, which has just been released with macOS Sequoia 15.1. While Apple says that all Mac computers with Apple processors from the M1 onwards are compatible with Apple Intelligence, it feels super-fast here. And the arrival of Apple Intelligence may have contributed to Apple upgrading the entry-level RAM from 8 GB to 16 GB to ensure the smoothest experience.
Performance has also been improved by the introduction of Thunderbolt 4 ports. Now all the rear sockets on the iMac are Thunderbolt 4 with 40Gbps data transfer speeds. You can choose between two or four ports, but note that you need the faster chip to get four ports.
That faster chip has a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU but is otherwise identical to the entry level M4 processor. It is fast and efficient, keeping up with everything you throw at it.
In case you’re one of those people upgrading from an Intel iMac, this one is up to six times faster.
Apple iMac in pink finish
Apple iMac M4: Verdict
The iMac colors are spicier this year, but otherwise things look near-identical to last year’s model. But you get double the RAM for your money on the entry-level model, faster Thunderbolt 4 connections and, most meaningful of all, the super-fast M4 processor. The speeds of the M4 are easily enough for most, and Apple Intelligence runs like a dream.
The switch to USB-C for the accessories may have come later than one would have liked, but it’s a very welcome upgrade now.
There’s no option to chip up to M4 Pro, but that doesn’t matter: this is a general-use device and it remains the most attractive, approachable and delightful all-in-one around.