Ben Harnwell 
This week we see a range of big announcements from Apple… I say big but most in the game already know what they will be. Today was the new iMac with the M4 chip (and a few extras), we expect to see new Mac Mini and new MacBook Pro both expected to come with M4 chips.
What wasn’t expected, although very much hoped for, was the shift to changing the base Ram, sorry, unified memory configuration from 8 GB to 16 GB. This is a welcome addition and to honest probably a generation or two late. I am however jumping ahead.
The new iMac, a 24 inch all in one desktop, is a strange beast in the world of home or office computers. Where most people are opting for mobility in their personal and work/office computers, Apple’s iMac is still a strong product line. The family computer, or front desk at the office, the iMac offers a good mix of uses and this new chipset is a step up from the previous M3. Although why we didn’t see an M2 is a mystery.
It’s not all limited to an improved internal hardware, there are a range of other improvements that make this model a compelling purchase. Especially if you own an M1 or early model and are looking to upgrade.
What’s new
New colours
available in all configurations now. In the previous version the full the colour range for the iMac was only available to the top spec, non-binned, model. The 2024 M4 model changes that to allow you to choose any of the colours for whatever spec model you have. Whether that be blue, purple, pink, orange, yellow, green or silver.
Apple Intelligence
Apple are really pushing their take on AI (Artificial Intelligence), the tool that is both accessible on the chip, in device, and with larger computations pushed off to external servers. However, it is very much untested in the real world. Apple Intelligence will launch later in the year and will be available on all M series devices… for now all we can say about it is it looks impressive.
The writing tools (image below) and search functions seem useful. The image generation demos also are impressive, but it comes down to the real-world applications and how that will make our lives better… or will we all just become more generic and same-same.
M4
The M series of in-house system on a chip has proven to be one of the best moves Apple has ever made. Moving away from third-party CPUs and controlling every element of the design and architecture has led to some of the best hardware / software integration we have seen.
The M4 continues this with another step in power efficiency and more features being added to the ‘brains’ of the machine. Not only adding in AI capability through the neural engine, the M4 is faster and adds hardware-accelerated ray tracing for improved graphics.
The M4 for iMac comes in two flavours. An 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU, often called a binned chip due to the reduced cores, and a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU. The later offering more power and higher graphics.
The big news about the insides is the shift, finally, to 16 GB unified memory (commonly called RAM in other systems). This change from the base of 8 GB is long overdue and many expected it in the M3 models, but it is a welcome addition. While this has not impacted the price (starting from $1299USD or $1999 AUD) the same cannot be said for the storage. Once again Apple starts these systems with a tiny 256 GB of storage. This is clearly aimed at creating more argument for cloud storage or hanging an array of external drives from the back of the machine.
Connection
The magnetic connection for power and improved ports is a typical Apple style. The higher spec iMac now features four Thunderbolt 4 ports, you are limited to 2 in the 8-core variant. This is promoted as a win to “expand your accessory options and enabling lightning-fast data transfers”. It is nice to see the ability to add up to two external 6K displays extending your 24-inch screen to triple (or more) your working space.
The 12MP Center Stage camera is a huge plus. In this connected digital world centre stage is a welcome addition. It allows you to be perfectly framed during video calls, even as you move around or when more people join your frame.
Of more interest is the additions of Desk View. This shows a top-down view of your workspace while keeping you on screen. With this kind of technology, we will see opportunities for collaboration improve in the digital space. The studio-quality mics and a six-speaker sound system featuring Spatial Audio with support for Dolby Atmos, is again a welcome addition for video conferencing.
iPhone Mirroring is a unique feature that allows you to basically operate your iPhone on your iMac. The iPhone can remain locked, even in another room assuming it’s on the same network and within range. How many times have you had a notification on your phone and it’s ‘over there’… well at least now you can bring that up on your desktop, read, answer, take action, all as if you were using your phone. That’s pretty neat.
4.5K Retina Screen
Also available in Nano texture glass to reduce glare. All the numbers and phrases are included in the screen specifications. 4.5K resolution, 500 nits of brightness, P3 wide colour and over a billion colours. Ok the screen looks good! On the higher spec 10-core you can upgrade to include Nano-texture glass, which reduces reflectivity and glare thus reducing distraction. At a $300 AUD premium you would really want to have a good case for it, personally I’d just adjust where my iMac was positioned and put that $300 into more storage.
Lightening begone… peripherals now charge via USB-C. At last Apple has removed lightening from the last current device. The iMac comes with a colour-matched keyboard and mouse or trackpad. All charged from a single universal port. The Magic Mouse has not improved the charge port location (yes, it’s on the bottom and no you can’t use it while charging). There are strong feelings about the Magic Mouse, not only around the charging, but it’s form and usability. Many prefer the Magic Trackpad which is pretty much the trackpad from a MacBook and, in my option, is probably a better choice from productivity – but not if you want to game. Just buy a Logitech MX Master 3… you’ll never look back.
The Magic Keyboard with Touch ID is, however, a wonderful keyboard. The Touch ID lets you easily and securely unlock your iMac, switch users, use Apple Pay and download apps.
Summary
If you have a use for the iMac, you know it. All-in-ones are a great product depending on what you need it for. The complete package of the iMac means you really don’t need anything else. You get the monitor, keyboard, mouse (trackpad?) and enough ports (in the high spec) for everything else.
If you are on the fence or are looking for a space saving package. I would wait for what’s coming up next. A MacBook Pro or Mac Mini might be the better option. Especially if you need more power than the standard M4 can offer, the Pro variant is set to offer a lot more bang…
We have two more planned ‘events’ or ‘announcements’ this week will you lock in a new iMac? Or wait for the full release of the new M4 products?
What colour would you pick? I am leaning towards Green just for something different.
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