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Title: Apple M4 iMac review: The best all-in-one gets a lot faster

Date: Thu, 14 Nov 2024 17:30:55 +0000
Link: https://www.engadget.com/computing/apple-m4-i...

The 2024 iMac looks the same as ever, but thereΓÇÖs an update that promises
to dramatically transform the lineup. ItΓÇÖs not the M4 processor, though
thatΓÇÖs nice. No, IΓÇÖm talking about the boost in base memory that finally
lifts the entry-level models from a deplorable 8GB to 16GB. That, along with
the new chips, promises to finally make the $1,299 iMac cost effective for
most buyers.

There are a few other tweaks, like an optional nano-coated display, an
updated 12-megapixel webcam and an assortment of new colors. Otherwise,
things are much the same as last year, which may make you wonder if itΓÇÖs
worth the upgrade. After testing one for content creation, gaming and
productivity, I can tell you that the answer is definitely yes.

WhatΓÇÖs new with the latest iMac?

Side-by-side, the 2023 and 2024 iMacs look about the same. The 24-inch 4.5K
500-nit display and the computer itself are housed in the same slim 0.43-inch
(11.5mm) thick frame. It still sits on an elegant stand that tilts but lacks
an adjustable height setting. While tilt-only is a common setup on all-in-one
PCs, at this point it would be nice to see Apple do even a simplified height
adjustment like it did on the Studio Display. Elsewhere, there are two
Thunderbolt 4 ports on the base model and four on the more expensive
versions, along with a magnetic power connector and 3.5mm headphone jack on
the left side ΓÇö all the same as before.

What is new is the higher-quality 12MP webcam thatΓÇÖs a massive leap up from
past models. It finally delivers sharp and color-accurate video worthy of the
rest of the computer, to help you look your best when on FaceTime or Zoom. It
supports AppleΓÇÖs Center Stage feature that auto-centers the subject during
video calls, even if youΓÇÖre moving around. The new webcam also works with
the new Desk View feature that lets you show off objects below your screen.

Steve Dent for Engadget

You can now get the iMac with optional nano-textured display glass that
blocks glare, even with a light pointing right at it. Though it does slightly
reduce sharpness, IΓÇÖd recommend it if you can afford the extra $200.
Otherwise, itΓÇÖs the same clear and colorful display with 500 nits of
brightness, a wide P3 gamut and a resolution of 4,480 x 2,250, which are all
the same as before. The 24-inch size may be too small for some, but I found
it ample for most work, and IΓÇÖm used to dual 32-inch screens. Still, given
that the iMac is AppleΓÇÖs only desktop model with an integrated display, it
would be nice to see a 27- or even 32-inch option on future models, even if
that makes it less compact and portable.

The iMac M4ΓÇÖs color palette also got a tiny refresh. Though it still comes
in the same seven hues as before, theyΓÇÖre now in slightly paler shades that
Apple calls ΓÇ£fresh.ΓÇ¥ Indeed, the model I tested is a very light green
that is so subtle itΓÇÖs hard to even see in dim light. IΓÇÖm a fan of
subdued hues, but anyone hoping for a shot of bright color may be
disappointed.

The accessories have also been updated. Both the new Magic Mouse and Magic
Keyboard (with optional Touch ID) now charge via USB-C rather than Lightning
like the iMac M3, negating a major complaint in our previous review. As
usual, all the accessories, including the cables, match the color of your
iMac ΓÇö a cute touch.

Steve Dent for Engadget

I love the feel of AppleΓÇÖs keyboard for speed typing, as IΓÇÖm not a
mechanical keyboard guy. The Magic Mouse is an acquired taste, but the
slightly firm click pressure and accuracy suit my taste and I love the
ability to scroll side-to-side as well as up and down. Yes, the charging port
is on the bottom, which is a bit of a design fail, but it can go a month
between charges ΓÇö and you only need to plug it in for a few minutes to get
enough power to last a workday.

The key updates are inside with the M4 processor, which is available in two
variants. The base $1,299 model comes with an 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 16GB of
RAM, 256GB of storage and two Thunderbolt 4 ports. All other versions have 10-
core CPUs, 10-core GPUs and four Thunderbolt ports, starting at $1,499 with
16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. ThereΓÇÖs no M4 Pro option, and therefore
no Thunderbolt 5 ports on any 2024 iMac. Every version but the base model
also has gigabit ethernet (on the power brick) and Touch ID on the Magic
Keyboard.

The model IΓÇÖm testing shows that AppleΓÇÖs upgrades are still too
expensive. It has a 10-core M4, 24GB of RAM, 1TB of storage and four
Thunderbolt 4 ports, along with the nano-textured screen. Those three options
(the extra 8GB of RAM, 1TB of storage and the updated screen) shoot the
$1,299 price up to $2,299. The good news, though, is that not buying them
wonΓÇÖt leave you with an unacceptable amount of memory as before.

In use: Outstanding performance and friendly features Steve Dent for Engadget


Desktop PCs donΓÇÖt get much more practical than the iMac M4. Installing it
is as easy as placing it on a surface and plugging it in, then running
through a relatively quick setup. With everything integrated in the display,
you can install it on your desk, in a kidΓÇÖs bedroom or anywhere else with a
small amount of space. ItΓÇÖs easy to move, too, as there are no cables other
than power and weighs just 9.74 pounds.

Performance was a pleasant surprise, better than I expected on tasks ranging
from video editing to gaming. The key benchmarks show substantial gains over
the iMac M3 in processing, graphics performance and AI, ranging from 20
percent on single CPU tests to over 30 percent on the GPU side.

The iMac M4 is actually a touch faster than the 14-inch MacBook Pro M4, but
pokier than the 16-inch model with an M4 Pro chip, particularly when it comes
to graphics. In fact, GPU performance is considerably lower than the Mac Mini
and even the MacBook Pro M3 Pro models. Still, integrated graphics are far
more powerful than they used to be, and the iMac M4 beats most rival Windows
PCs in that regard, including the Surface with a Snapdragon X Elite chip.
However, it sits well below PCs with discrete graphics from NVIDIA and AMD.

Computer

Geekbench 6

Geekbench 6 GPU

Cinebench 2024

Apple iMac (M4, 2024)

3,751/15,093

35,520

171/881 GPU 4,425

Apple iMac (M3, 2023)

3,125/11,818

25,922

137/659 GPU 3,340

Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro, 2024)

3,925/22,456

70,197

178/1,689 GPU 9,295

Surface Laptop 7 (Snapdragon X Elite)

2,797/14,400

19,963

123/969 GPU N/A

Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M3 Max, 2024)

3,202/21,312

92,344

143/1,686 GPU 13,182

Gaming shows the iMacΓÇÖs GPU deficiencies, with resolution limited to a
maximum of 1080p for titles like Resident Evil 7 Biohazard and BaldurΓÇÖs
Gate 3 to have playable frame rates above 30 fps. Still, itΓÇÖs not a bad
gaming machine for an AIO thatΓÇÖs mostly designed to run Excel spreadsheets
or make Zoom calls.

ItΓÇÖs surprisingly solid for content creation, too. ThatΓÇÖs aided by the
rapid storage speeds (2.94/5.14 GB/s read/write), integrated video decoding
and faster processor. For instance, I donΓÇÖt expect a lot of iMac users to
edit 8K 24p clips on BlackmagicΓÇÖs DaVinci Resolve, but you can totally do
that. It also handled Premiere Pro, Photoshop and Lightroom Classic projects
well. The only place it stuttered was on RAW 8K video playback, which is a
very big ask for an all-in-one. My 16-inch MacBook Pro with an M3 Pro can
handle that thanks to the extra cores, but itΓÇÖs nearly $1,000 more.

Steve Dent for Engadget

With that bright, sharp display, the iMac M4 is also great for entertainment.
It can play 4K HDR content and supports Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio thanks
to the six speaker setup with two force-canceling woofers. Of course itΓÇÖs
better to use high-quality headphones, but the sound straight out of speakers
is better than any AIO IΓÇÖve used before. When watching movies and series on
Netflix and Prime Video (The Diplomat and DonΓÇÖt Look Up), the iMac M4
provided a colorful, immersive viewing experience.

Finally, AI was a big selling point of the M4 Macs at its unofficial Mac Week
event. The iMac M4 fared well in that regard with a 51,421 Geekbench 6
quantized AI score, closely matching results from the M4 Pro and M4 Max (all
M4 CPUs have 16 ΓÇ£Neural EngineΓÇ¥ AI cores). As a more practical test, I
transcribed a 69-minute Engadget podcast episode using the Whisper
Transcription app, which took three minutes and four seconds. That was the
same as the MacBook Pro M4, but a minute slower than the M4 Pro model.

Should you buy the iMac M4? Steve Dent for Engadget

With an unchanged design, there might seem to be no justification to buy or
upgrade to the iMac M4. I disagree for one reason: AppleΓÇÖs change to 16GB
of base memory allows you to do more than ever on an entry-level iMac,
including taxing activities like 4K video editing and AAA gaming. In fact, I
would only consider getting an M3 or older model if getting one with 16GB of
RAM is cheaper than the iMac M4.

I would still avoid the base model if at all possible, though. For me, the
sweet spot is now the $1,499 option that comes with 256GB of storage, four
Thunderbolt 4 ports (to easily add extra storage) and the Magic Keyboard with
Touch ID. ThatΓÇÖs still not cheap, but gives you a very capable and
expandable machine for $400 less than the minimum price we recommended last
year.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at
https://www.engadget.com/computing/apple-m4-i...
gets-a-lot-faster-173055294.html?src=rss

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