Apple today unveiled its latest iteration of the iconic iMac. At the heart of this new model lies the groundbreaking M4 chip and Apple Intelligence – the AI features to enhance performance and efficiency. Let’s find out if the new iMac is worth the upgrade.
M4 Processor
The M4 chip, deliver performance boost over its predecessor, the M1. According to Apple, this translates to a 1.7x speedup in daily tasks like web browsing and document editing. For demanding workloads such as photo and video editing, as well as gaming, the M4 offers 2.1x performance increase.
Compared to the iMac with M1, here are the performance details of M4 chip:
- Everyday Tasks:
- Up to 1.7x faster performance in productivity apps like Microsoft Excel.
- Up to 1.5x faster web browsing speeds in Safari.
- Gaming:
- Up to 2x higher frame rates in popular games.
- Content Creation:
- Up to 2.1x faster photo and video editing in Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Pro.
When compared to the most popular 24-inch all-in-one PC with the latest Intel Core i7 processor, the new iMac claims to have 4.5x performance advantage. Similarly, it outperforms the most popular Intel-based iMac model by a factor of 6. It is still funny that Apple is still comparing the iMac to Windows Intel Processors when the true comparison should be against the Windows Laptops powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite chip.
Apple Intelligence: The new norm
The new iMac is now being positioned as a personal assistant. Apple Intelligence, the company’s cutting-edge AI system, is being integrated into the device, with the attempt at transforming the way users work, communicate, and create.
Key features of Apple Intelligence include:
- Systemwide Writing Tools: Enhance writing with advanced features like rewriting, proofreading, and summarizing text.
- Redesigned Siri: Interact with Siri more naturally, combining voice and text commands for efficient task completion.
- Image Playground: Unleash creativity by generating unique images.
- Genmoji: Quickly create custom emoji to express yourself.
- Advanced Siri Capabilities: Experience a more intelligent Siri that can perform a wider range of tasks and tailor its responses to your preferences.
Apple Intelligence is designed so that processing is done on-device so that personal data remains secure. For more complex tasks, Private Cloud Compute provides access to powerful server-based models. The application of AI tools within smartphones and computers have yet to find a meaningful use case and we think that Apple still has ways to go before the current chatbot AI assistant will become more intuitive, understanding complex commands and executing tasks without the need for manual input.
Design and Enhanced Features
The new iMac comes in a vibrant array of colors, adding increased customization options. The 24-inch 4.5K Retina display, now available with a nano-texture glass option, reduces glare and reflections, for better viewing in any lighting condition.
The 12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View is expected to improve video conferencing experiences. Center Stage automatically keeps users centered in the frame, while Desk View provides a top-down view of the user’s workspace, ideal for presentations and tutorials.
The iMac also features advanced connectivity options, including four Thunderbolt 4 ports for high-speed data transfer and external display support. Additionally, the device supports Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, for wireless connectivity.
macOS Sequoia
The new iMac ships with macOS Sequoia, the latest version of Apple’s desktop operating system. Key features of macOS Sequoia include:
- iPhone Mirroring: Wireless mirroring of iPhone screens to the Mac.
- Safari Enhancements: Improved browsing experience with Highlights, Reader, and Video Viewer.
- Distraction Control: Customize web page layouts to reduce distractions.
- Enhanced Gaming: Immersive gaming with Personalized Spatial Audio and Game Mode.
- Improved Window Tiling: More efficient window management.
- Passwords App: Securely store and manage passwords and passkeys.
- New Backgrounds: Customizable video call backgrounds.
Key Takeaways from the Apple iMac Event
- M4 Chip: The new iMac is powered by the powerful M4 chip, offering significant performance improvements.
- Apple Intelligence: The device leverages Apple’s AI capabilities for enhanced user experience.
- Design: The iMac comes in a range of vibrant colors and features a new nano-texture glass display option.
- Camera: The 12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View offers better video conferencing experiences.
- Connectivity: The iMac includes up to four Thunderbolt 4 ports for versatile connectivity.
- USB-C Accessories: The Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, and Magic Trackpad now feature USB-C charging.
- Increased Base RAM: The base RAM is now 16GB, providing better performance and multitasking capabilities.
- Pricing and Availability: The new iMac starts at $1,299 and is available for pre-order today, with shipping starting on November 8th.
Changes from previous generation
In comparison with the M3 iMac, the new iMac literally has only three changes. Besides the new M4 chip (with improvement of 10% in gaming and 30% in productivity), the new iMac now has a 12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View and base memory at 16GB (instead of 8GB). It is important to note that new iMac comes with more color pallets which are available with all configurations unlike the the previous gen. In terms of connectivity, the four USB-C ports are all thunderbolt where as only 2 were thunderbolt capable on last year’s model. While Apple has introduced more changes this year in comparison to previous year, we are afraid that it is just an minor upgrade compared to the iMac with M3 chip.
Whether the new iMac is worth upgrading depends on your specific needs and current setup. If you’re a light M1 iMac owner, unless you’re experiencing significant performance bottlenecks or require specific new features, the M4 upgrade is definitely not necessary. If you frequently handle demanding tasks like video editing or 3D rendering, the performance boost offered by the M4 chip could justify the upgrade. However, with only 10-30% increase in performance, we just don’t see a justification for upgrading from the M3 chip to the M4 chip.
I am officially a tech addict and enjoy providing my views on matters related to this industry. I am always interested in trying out new tech gadgets and I have owned multiple smartphones including the legendary HTC One, SGS2, Nexus 4, iPhone 4, 5S, 6S, XR, Note 9. You can ask me any tech related questions in the comment section or on twitter @hookedNav