The iMac M4 still features multiple variants, starting with the $1,299 model that includes an 8-core CPU, an 8-core GPU, 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and just two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports. (Lo Sorry, there is no Thunderbolt 5 available on the iMac unlike the MacBook Pro or Mac Mini with M4 Pro). At least it now supports two external 6K displays instead of one. Keep in mind that Apple’s fancier peripherals still cost more no matter how you configure the machine, including the Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad ($30) and the Magic Trackpad ($50).
Photography: Christopher Null
Move up the price scale and you’ll add extra power and storage space, USB ports, a better keyboard (with a Touch ID fingerprint reader), and more. My tested configuration, $1,000 more expensive at $2,299, included a host of upgrades including a 10-core CPU and GPU, 24GB of RAM, 1TB of storage, four USB ports, gigabit Ethernet on the power brick, and the new nano from Apple. -Textured glass upgrade for the 24-inch screen.
This last option alone is a $200 upgrade, but it’s the best of the bunch and the one you should absolutely put on your iMac. As I said in my MacBook Pro M4 Pro review, it makes the 4480 x 2520 pixel display look like a glare-free photograph. It’s hard to imagine using the machine without it, although I’m still baffled why the iMac doesn’t feature a touchscreen, which is almost standard among competing all-in-ones under 30 inches in size.
Another notable improvement is the webcam, which now has an impressive 12-megapixel sensor, compared to a humble 2.1-megapixel version on the iMac M3. The Center Stage feature is effective and automatically centers the frame during video calls, even if you are on the move. Apple’s new Desk View feature is also in the mix. Designed primarily for educational purposes, this allows you to add a top-down view of your desktop to your video stream so you don’t have to hold things in front of the camera lens. It’s certainly a niche feature, but some may find it useful. The iMac M3’s three-microphone, six-speaker setup hasn’t changed, and both remain clear.
There are only two things on my colleague Stolyar’s 2023 iMac M3 “tired” list that Apple didn’t address with this 2024 version. The first is the lack of screen height adjustability, something I’m willing to accept. let go of Apple. Adjustable height is rare for 24-inch all-in-ones in general, and the iMac at least has a tilt feature, which is pretty much everything I expect in a machine this size.
The other issue is thornier: the price. Even at its base price of $1,299, the iMac is expensive compared to other smaller all-in-ones. And with all the bells and whistles, it’s considerably more expensive than many Windows all-in-ones with almost twice the LCD surface area. That is a difficult challenge to overcome.
If you’ve made it this far in the review, there’s a good chance you already have an Apple Silicon iMac on your desk. That’s another question. Are the M4 edition upgrades worth throwing away (i.e. trading in) your old computer to get your hands on this new one? Only your accountant can help you answer that question.
