Apple unveils M4 iMac in new colors, nano-texture display option, 16GB base RAM, more

Apple is kicking off its promised “exciting week of announcements” today with the introduction of the M4-powered iMac. In addition to the M4 chip, the new iMac features a nano-texture display option, new color choices, and more.

What’s new with the 24-inch iMac?

Here are the highlights of the changes with the new M4 iMac:

• Base configuration now features 16GB of RAM, up from 8GB. Configurable up to 32GB in the in higher-end models.
• A new nano-texture glass option
• Up to 4 Thunderbolt 4 ports
• Upgraded 12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View
• Color matched accessories that now use USB-C for charging
• New colors: New shades of green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, and blue, alongside silver

Here’s what Apple has to say in today’s announcement:

Apple today announced the new iMac, featuring the powerful M4 chip and Apple Intelligence, in its stunning, ultra-thin design. With M4, iMac is up to 1.7x faster for daily productivity, and up to 2.1x faster for demanding workflows like photo editing and gaming, compared to iMac with M1.1 With the Neural Engine in M4, iMac is the world’s best all-in-one for AI and is built for Apple Intelligence, the personal intelligence system that transforms how users work, communicate, and express themselves, while protecting their privacy. The new iMac is available in an array of beautiful new colors, and the 24-inch 4.5K Retina display offers a new nano-texture glass option.2 iMac features a new 12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View, up to four Thunderbolt 4 ports,3 and color-matched accessories that include USB-C.

M4 performance and specs

The new M4 chip is the star of the show in the updated 24-inch iMac. Here are some details on the M4 iMac’s performance upgrades:

• Productivity is up to 1.7x faster performance in apps like Microsoft Excel, and up to 1.5x faster browsing performance in Safari compared to iMac with M1.
• Up to 2x higher frame rates than on iMac with M1 for gameplay.
• Up to 2.1x faster photo and video editing performance when applying complex filters and effects in apps like Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Premiere Pro compared to iMac with M1.
• Compared to the most popular 24-inch all-in-one PC with the latest Intel Core 7 processor, the new iMac is up to 4.5x faster.
• Compared to the most popular Intel-based iMac model, the new iMac is up to 6x faster.

In terms of configuration options, the new iMac starts with 16GB of RAM for the first time, up from the 8GB starting configuration of the previous model. The base configuration features an 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU with 256GB of storage and two Thunderbolt 4 ports.

The higher-tier 24-inch iMac models feature a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU along with optional upgrades to 32GB of RAM and up to 2TB of storage. You’ll also find four Thunderbolt 4 ports on the higher-end version instead of two.

In addition to upgraded performance, the M4 chip in the new iMac also brings Thunderbolt 4 support to all of its USB-C ports. This allows users to connect additional accessories, including support for up to two 6K external displays. The previous-generation iMac supported connecting one 6K external display.

Like its predecessor, the new iMac supports Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 for connectivity.

Nano-texture display option

The new 24-inch iMac is available in an all-new configuration with a nano-texture display finish. Apple says that the nano-texture finish on the iMac “drastically reduces reflections and glare, while maintaining outstanding image quality.”

Upgraded camera

Apple says that the new iMac features a new 12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View:

Desk View makes use of the wide-angle lens to simultaneously show the user and a top-down view of their desk, which is useful for educators presenting a lesson to students, or creators showing off their latest DIY project

Pricing and availability

The new iMac starts at $1,299 with 16GB of unified memory. It is available to pre-order today, with availability beginning Friday, November 8.

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