Apple has just launched the newest version of its desktop computer, the iMac, which the company describes as the world’s best all-in-one. Well, Apple’s not known for false modesty, but you can see why the iMac wins admirers.
Its design is eye-catching: a super-slim unit that’s uniformly 1.55cm from front to back, with an anodised aluminium stand holding it in place on your desk. Its giddily good looks are helped along by a choice of seven different colours. And Apple’s trademark attention to detail is evident: not only are the keyboard and mouse colour-matched to the iMac, but so are the power and charging cables. Not to mention the onscreen wallpaper and other software details: even the highlight colour for text in documents, for example, defaults to the colour of the case. The new class of 2024 has subtly updated the shades.
Also new this year is the processor, an upgrade from the Apple M3 chip to the latest M4. This is the fourth generation of Apple’s own silicon for Macs, offering big improvements in speed and efficiency over the Intel chips the company previously used.
While the new model looks near-identical to the last-generation model apart from those quietly changed colours, there are plenty more upgrades besides the processor. For a start, the entry-level for active memory (RAM) has just doubled, the better to handle Apple Intelligence, the company’s much-trumpeted take on AI features, coming in December to the UK. There’s also a better camera on the front of the iMac and – a small but important difference – the mouse, keyboard and trackpad now charge with the widely used USB-C connector rather than the previous Apple-only Lightning cable.
Here's all you need to know.
Tech specs
Packaging
Apple believes that first impressions matter, so the box you encounter first is handsomely built, with a cloth carrying strap at the top that’s colour-matched to your choice of iMac.
Inside, the computer is held in place carefully with units made of thick card and the display has two protectors on it. The packaging is almost all cardboard so is recyclable.
Design
Imagine an enormous iPad hanging on its side and you get an idea of what the iMac looks like. There’s a wide panel to the south of the 24-inch display itself, coloured to match the frame, but in a paler shade. That’s where most of the electronics are hiding, along with sockets on the rear edge and a headphone jack on the left edge.
Depending on the configuration, you can opt for either two or rear USB-C sockets and they’re all faster than on the previous generation of iMac: Thunderbolt 4 means they can transfer data at up to 40GB a second.
If you have accessories with older, larger USB connectors, you’ll need an adaptor for the iMac. Other options include an extended wireless keyboard and a keyboard with a Touch ID fingerprint sensor built in, which is very useful.
The colours this time around are pale but punchy, with a fresh, feisty look to them. One is demure, like the blue, one is frankly a touch boring (silver) and most are lively, including purple, green, orange, pink and yellow that’s so citrusy it might have you licking your lips. All look smart.
The iMac is designed as a family computer and its stylish features mean it can look good anywhere, from bedroom to office to living room.
Display
The iMac no longer comes in a 27-inch version but, in trading down to 24 inches, I never missed the extra real estate. This screen is big for multiple windows or immersive video playback, for instance. The iMac is great for watching movies because the display has faithful colours and a richly detailed look, while the audio is strong from the six built-in speakers. A new game mode is designed for those members of the family who want to play games on the Mac.
And it comes with a neat option: a nano-texture finish is available on models with the faster version of the M4 chip on board. This finish is great for reducing glare and reflections. It looks a little more muted with nano-texture and is especially useful in bright office environments. Nano-texture costs an extra £150.
Performance
Apple’s M4 chip is very fast. Whatever you’re doing on the iMac, whether that’s surfing the web, opening apps or watching a movie, everything happens at speed. Movies and gaming play smoothly with no jitters, and more advanced programs such as memory-hungry ones like video editing, work fast and effectively. There are some heavy-going advanced programs, however, which require a more powerful computer like the MacBook Pro.
In December, more features will arrive in the UK as part of Apple Intelligence, offering automatic summaries of email chains, for instance, or helping you improve your writing skills. The increased levels of active memory will help these go with a bang.
The latest software also includes useful new features that are available now, such as iPhone mirroring, where you can interact with your iPhone through the Mac screen while the iPhone sits quietly in your pocket or bag. This includes using all the apps on your iPhone, letting you drag images, for instance, from one to the other.
Anything else?
The iMac now comes with a 12-megapixel Centre Stage camera which is designed to make video conferencing better. The resolution is good enough to make you look your best (let’s hope) and the software ensures that you stay in the middle of the frame, even if you move around. There’s also a setting which shows what’s on your physical desktop so you can share a drawing or plan, for instance.
Any downsides?
The mouse (Apple calls it a Magic Mouse but there’s no evidence of witchcraft involved) has a recharging port on the underside, so when it runs flat you have to tip it up like a flailing turtle. If you’d been hoping this design had been updated, think again. That said, when you’re actually using the mouse, it’s highly ergonomic and efficient.
The height of the stand is not adjustable so if the iMac isn’t sitting quite high enough, you need to place it on something – a low-tech but effective solution.
Verdict
Apple iMac M4
There’s something winning about the iMac: it looks sensational and works so intuitively that it takes the edge off the most tedious of tasks. The latest version of the desktop Mac looks similar to the last model (though that’s no bad thing) and keeps the major changes hidden inside. Chief of these is the much faster performance thanks to the speedy M4 processor and increased active memory to keep things moving at pace.
The immersive 24-inch screen looks as good as ever, or even better if you opt for the more expensive nano-texture finish. And there’s the small but welcome convenience of accessories which now charge via USB-C, so there’s no need for the Lightning cable which once added one wire to your desktop set-up.
While some with particularly demanding apps and programs might need more power, for most of us, the iMac is the ideal blend of looks good enough for any desk and snappy, solid performance.
Buy now £1299.00, John Lewis
