ZDNET Key Takeaways

• The iMac M4 is available for pre-order now, starting at $1,299, and available November 8.
• The base model comes with 16GB of memory for the same price, and the hardware makes it a fast and powerful desktop computer that’s flexible enough to handle virtually any use case.
• The base model M4 might not be as impactful for M3 Pro or Max users looking for a premium machine.

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Apple’s new iMac with the M4 processor is as stylish as ever with new colors, updated screens and a host of useful features. The new chips are designed to take AI-driven workflows to the next level, Apple claims, but the M4 processors are powerful enough on their own, vastly outperforming last year’s M3.

Good news about the new iMacs: the base model finally comes with 16GB of RAM instead of 8GB – and for the same starting price of $1,299. Previous iMacs have always started at 8GB, which in today’s digital landscape is simply not enough to be a robust main engine for many people, even for an Apple device.

Also: I tested the MacBook Pro M4 for a week and it beat my M1 model in the most subtle way

The 16 GB of RAM offer more possibilities in multitasking and productivity workflows, and the increase in memory also applies to the top of the new iMac M4 range, with a 32 GB configuration. Previous models, this amount of memory was relegated to the higher-end iMac Studio. Combined with the power of the M4 processor, the new iMac provides a solid performance foundation.

The bottom line is that this isn’t a very different device from previous versions of the iMac. Instead, the M4 focuses on fine-tuning its physical form and increasing the power under the hood in terms of available memory and processing power, especially for AI.

The physical form factor of the new iMac is very similar to the previous M3 version and a bit sleeker. The lighter colorways (available in blue, purple, pink, yellow, orange, green, and silver) are subtle and stylish, and matching peripherals bring flavor and personality to a product market that’s historically shy of color .

It’s also quite thin, measuring less than half an inch thick. The screen measures 5.8 inches from the back of the stand to the front. Weight-wise, it’s lighter than the M3, but only just: the 0.08 pound difference isn’t something you’re likely to notice.

Also: MacBook Air’s free RAM upgrade was sneakily the best announcement at Apple’s Mac event

The peripherals haven’t seen a major overhaul, although the move to standard USB-C ports for charging was a much-requested change. This decision brings the Apple product ecosystem (as with the iPhone15) compliant with all other devices using a USB-C port and making charging and power management much easier and less exclusive.

The iMac’s screen is one of its best-looking features. The 24-inch 4.5K Retina display is crisp and bright for indoor viewing at 500 nits, while support for a second display at 8K resolution and 60Hz (or two additional monitors at one 6K resolution) provides some of the best visual performance available for the price. .

Note that there has been some confusion about this, as Apple’s initial reports indicated that it would support an additional display at an 8K and 120Hz refresh rate, but then quietly adjusted the official specifications page to reflect the precise 60Hz refresh rate.

You can opt for the glossy finish of the screen (which is still quite effective at reducing glare) or the new nano-textured glass for a matte option. Both options look great, but the latter will increase the price by $200. Unless you’re using your iMac outdoors, you really don’t need the display premium.

Also: Apple Magic Mouse gets USB-C, but still plugs in at the bottom. Buy this instead

The iMac’s 12MP webcam is another notable hardware upgrade. It is one of the best webcams I used it for the little setup needed. Right out of the box, the camera feels smooth and well-located, without any adjustments or manipulation of settings.

1080p HD video quality delivers a clear, bright picture (even in suboptimal lighting conditions) that looks smooth and premium. During a call, the camera’s Center Stage feature automatically adjusts to your location, tracking you even if you stand far enough away to walk around the room.

Apple Intelligence support is now in full swing on the iMac M4, and the 16-core Neural Engine delivers fast performance on the device. Apple Intelligence can proofread and suggest edits to text in emails and iMessage, while natural language can help you find photos and videos in a crowded image library.

Also: M4 Mac Mini vs M2 Mac Mini: Which Apple Desktop Should You Buy?

Although the deployment of Apple Intelligence arrived a little later than expectedLive features are integrated into apps and frameworks that Apple users already use. This delay has worked in Apple’s favor to some extent, as its approach to AI technology has been careful and deliberate, focusing on privacy. The iMac’s features support this, and they are well optimized and natural.

Regarding its performance, this thing is fast. Browsing the web is fast, working with dozens of tabs in different apps feels responsive and lightweight, and more demanding workflows like 4K video editing feel natural. Combined with the screen and dual display, this is a device designed for creative tasks.

For everyday users, Apple claims the M4 chip is up to six times faster than the most popular Intel-based iMac, which seems like an impressive number, but this is specifically referring to six-core iMacs based on Intel Core i5, which are not. These are not exactly new machines.

Conversely, the company claims that the M4 iMac is 1.3 times faster at handling productivity tasks than the M3 chip, and up to 2.1 times faster than the M1 iMac, which is a much less impressive number on paper. However, what this actually means in terms of performance is more important than it seems.

The M4 processor has 8 to 10 cores and a memory bandwidth of 16 GB (instead of 8 GB). Essentially, it has more raw power and can harness more of it at once. By comparison, the M3 Pro has 12 cores, outperforming the base M4, but the M4 Max (not yet available on the iMac) is the most powerful chip in Apple’s product line. We’ll likely see this chip in the high-end Mac Studio next year.

Also: The new M4 Mac Mini might be the cutest Mac ever – for two reasons

In my benchmarking, the iMac M4 pulled in some pretty impressive numbers, taking on — and surpassing — many high-end Windows on ARM-compatible devices with the Snapdragon X Elite chip.

Regarding the GPU, the M4 is built similarly to previous chips, with 10 cores and support for ray tracing and dynamic caching. Historically, Apple hasn’t been the first choice when it comes to gaming machines, but that’s slowly changing. I ran a few games on the iMac M4 and the performance certainly wasn’t on par with a dedicated gaming machine, but it was better than I expected.

This device, in particular, would not be my first choice for a Apple gaming machine (The Mac Mini M4, for example, now supports hardware-accelerated ray tracing and can be configured with a gaming monitor and peripheral setup), but the onboard hardware is nevertheless powerful enough to support it.

Is the M4 worth the upgrade?

The answer depends on what you want to use it for and what you currently use it for. If you have an iMac M2 or earlier, the M4 will be a significant upgrade, especially if you plan to use the AI ​​features (and need a better webcam for video calls).

Also: Mac Studio feature is stopping me from buying a new Mac Mini M4 this fall

If you own an M3 iMac, especially a high-end M3 Pro or Max, the upgrade might not have as much impact. I’ll wait until next year when Mac Studios with the M4 comes out, and we’ll see how well they work.

ZDNET’s purchasing advice

THE iMac M4 is a quintessential jack-of-all-trades desktop that improves on the previous version enough to stand out as a worthy upgrade. The M4 processor is powerful and allows the device to be efficient and flexible for work and play.

When it comes to the former, though, I’d say the iMac is a fantastic work machine. It’s very well optimized for productivity and the powerful onboard hardware shines when used to create, whether it’s video editing, designing, or navigating spreadsheets.

Additionally, if you make a lot of video calls and want a premium, high-fidelity webcam, the iMac M4 is one of the best options on the market right now, especially since the high-quality webcam can also be used with FaceTime and others. messaging apps.