New 24-inch iMac Upgraded with M4 Chip

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Originally published at: New 24-inch iMac Upgraded with M4 Chip - TidBITS

Get ready for new Macs! Apple has introduced an update to the iMac, the first Mac to be based on the M4 chip that debuted earlier this year in the iPad Pro (see “Apple Unveils New iPad Air, iPad Pro, Apple Pencil Pro, and Magic Keyboard,” 7 May 2024). Rumors suggest that Apple will announce additional Macs throughout the week, likely including new models of the Mac mini and 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro.

The updated iMac retains its traditional form factor and 24-inch 4.5K Retina display but boasts higher base and maximum memory specs, a nano-texture glass option, a 12-megapixel webcam capable of Center Stage, Thunderbolt 4 ports, and new colors.

New colors of the iMac

The $1299 base model includes only two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports, and its included keyboard lacks Touch ID for biometric authentication. The high-end model starts at $1499, has four Thunderbolt 4 ports, includes Gigabit Ethernet, and is more expandable. You can place pre-orders now with delivery and in-store availability on 8 November 2024.

Let’s look at the key changes:

  • M4 chip: Apple makes much of the M4 chip’s improved performance, claiming that it’s approximately twice as fast as the initial M1 chip. The high-end configuration has a 10-core CPU, up from an 8-core CPU in the comparable M3 model.
  • More memory: Both models of the new iMac start at 16 GB of memory (up from 8 GB) and can be expanded to 24 GB for $200. The high-end configuration can also go up to 32 GB for $400; the M3 models maxed out at 24 GB.
  • Nano-texture glass: A $200 nano-texture glass option can reduce reflectivity and glare, which would be handy if you work with your back to a window.
  • 12MP Center Stage camera: The new 12-megapixel webcam supports Apple’s Center Stage technology, which uses machine learning to automatically pan and zoom during video calls to keep you centered in the frame. It should be a significant enhancement from the 1080p FaceTime HD camera in the previous models.
  • Thunderbolt 4 ports: I don’t know if it makes much difference, but the new high-end model of the iMac sports four Thunderbolt 4 ports instead of two Thunderbolt ports and two USB 3 ports. The base model continues to have only two “Thunderbolt / USB 4” ports.
  • USB-C input devices: You can now get color-matched versions of the Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, and Magic Trackpad that charge using USB-C instead of Lightning. Nothing else changes.

Overall, this refresh of the iMac makes it even more compelling than before. The base model is still weirdly limited, but those who want to pay as little as possible won’t notice anything but the lack of Touch ID on the keyboard. The high-end configuration doesn’t cut any corners with 10 CPU and 10 GPU cores, options for 32 GB of memory and up to 2 TB of storage, and four Thunderbolt 4 ports. It can even drive a pair of 6K external displays if you’re pining for more screen real estate.

While the improved performance of the M4 iMac is notable, current users of M1-based models may not find sufficient incentive to upgrade, and it’s even less of a leap from M3-based models. However, for those transitioning from any Intel-based Mac, the M4 iMac provides substantial improvements in performance and capabilities.

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Very disappointing that the base and middle model storage is only 256Gb. In Australia it will cost $600 to upgrade to 1Tb! That takes the mid-spec model to AU$3000. And there is likely to be a delay before delivery of an “upgraded” product.
Lucky I am not in a hurry to replace my M2 Macbook Air & 32" LG monitor, although the need for external storage of my Photos library is irritating (I use an old iMac - with 1Tb storage - as a media server for music and video due to the MBA storage limitations.)

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I notice that you can order these with a Hebrew keyboard. This is the first time I have seen Apple offer a Hebrew keyboard in the US.

But still only 2 ports on the base model and pay $30 extra for ethernet is disappointing.

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Now that we’ve abandoned 8GB RAM base config, 256GB flash should be next.

I really like that the 10-core iMacs can now drive 2 external displays. That bodes well for the M4 Mac mini being able to drive 3. :+1:

And support for external 8K resolution at 60 Hz? Say hello to 42" screens at 110/220 ppi. :rofl: (I’m only half kidding/dreaming)

Good stuff. And nice colors. :slight_smile:

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The base model is still weirdly limited

This complaint is perennial, and I’ve never understood it. The base model is for grandmas and institutions, not readers of TidBITS.

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The 27" Intel iMac was always more popular than the 24" model. By discontinuing the 27"model again makes me wonder about some of Apple’s decision making. I have a 27" Apple Studio, which is fine, but was expensive.

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The iMac base model lacks Touch ID. Instead, it has a “Lock Key” feature. It’s a #!$$ disaster. If you hit that Lock Key on the entry level iMac, you’ve got to re-enter your password. If I were grandma, I’d be really unhappy that my iMac lacked Touch ID – a feature ubiquitous on smart phones and iPads. Look at the entry level iMac order form on apple’s website: you can only upgrade to a keyboard with Touch ID AND a numeric keypad – for an added $80. It’s bizarre that Apple won’t even give you an option to get the same-size Touch ID keyboard. You can buy that Touch ID keyboard separately for $149.

I’d guess all the new M4 Macs will be getting a minimum of 16GB. If the 8GB complainers want a new issue, the lack of Touch ID on the base unit would be a good choice. The entire Touch ID system parts cost $12-15 – maybe even less for Apple. A company dedicated to privacy and security should find a way to provide that feature to ALL users.

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I am still on a 2019 iMac 27" and I won’t give it up until Apple offers an iMac with a larger screen.
In fact, if I had to replace this Mac, I’d buy the mini and my own monitors.

I know, Apple says they won’t buffering that size again, but I won’t buy a 24" model.
Simple as that.

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But isn’t that the point? Apple is saying that if you absolutely want that TouchID extended KB you’ll be paying an extra $149 so in that case just upselling straight to the $1499 iMac instead makes more sense since you then get a beefier CPU and more ports for just $50.

Upsell has always been an Apple thing. It’s why the base config is often somehow limited. If you like Touch ID just consider the iMac starts at $1499 and done.

I believe the way to think about it is this: the base config is only the base config if you have essentially zero desire to change anything. Everybody else, especially those who value certain options, should just ignore it altogether and assume that the base config for them is the mid tier model. Apple does it the same on the Mac mini, MBA, and MBP.

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Back in 2017 my base config iMac provided two Thunderbolt ports plus 4 ordinary USB and a card reader. It sure made connecting things a lot easier…

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Think about the fact that it’s aimed at institutions. Schools getting computers aren’t going to want a TouchID – whose fingerprint unlocks it?

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Apple made an intro video, though a good chunk focuses on Apple Intelligence.

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Not exactly. I said you can pay an extra $80. The $149 was for a normal Touch ID keyboard with a numeric keypad. They don’t offer an upsell to the same keyboard size with Touch ID.

Let me repeat: you can opt for a Touch ID kbd for $80, so the difference would be $120 to the next tier of base product. My point was that grandma almost certainly couldn’t tell the difference between an 8-cpu 2-port iMac and a 10-cpu 4-port model. OTOH, any grandma – any human – familiar with Touch ID on any smart phone would be highly annoyed with the lack of Touch ID on their iMac. To say this a different way: where is the Magic in a Magic Keyboard lacking Touch ID?

Upsell has always been an Apple thing. It’s why the base config is often somehow limited. If you like Touch ID just consider the iMac starts at $1499 and done.

I’ll answer that question: someone who presumed that a “Magic Keyboard” had some magic – a Touch ID – could be snookered by that vacuous phrase. If they then returned/swapped their iMac for a more capable unit, that exchange would cost Apple hundreds of dollars. Calling Apple Support to get educated that “Magic Keyboard” means nothing also costs them bucks. Either/both of these actions has another cost for Apple: loss of goodwill. This whole untouchable keyboard option is a lose/lose proposition.

I believe the way to think about it is this: the base config is only the base config if you have essentially zero desire to change anything.

I used to agree with this. My point is that essentially everybody would be annoyed with the lowest-tier machine. Some people – even educated users – wouldn’t realize that “Magic Keyboard” means nothing. It’s a lousy BT keyboard. It does allow direct connect with the USB-C cable. Only 3 people on earth would call that feature magical – and I’ve never met any of them.

The M4 Mac mini specs were just dropped. Many tech-savvy individuals would be completely happy with the specs of that lowest-tier Mac mini. Professional MacBreak Weekly host Alex Lindsay will probably buy a fleet of them. He’ll love the combination of increased capability with a much smaller footprint (5in² vs. 7.5in²). That’s a far more packable size. Mac Mini Farms will love the smaller size. I’ll agree that Grandma might be unhappy with the smaller 256GB storage size, but that can be worked around with an inexpensive low-profile USB-C drive permanently into one of the ports. Grandma would probably be happy with tomorrow’s M4 MBA specs. Some Grandmas would be ecstatic with the 3x improvement in Neural Engine performance.

Apple still has magic. Apple’s new Hide Distracting Items – available on the Mac, iPad, and iPhone in Safari – is truly magical. You can delete things on pages that distract you, and the s…list persists in a tiny database. Items that disappear use a spiffy Thanos-snap effect. I believe the Safari software is literally re-writing the HTML for a page and editing those items out. My favorite new thing to nuke are webpages where the main scrollable window gets hidden under another window – rendering your workable real estate smaller. If I ever make a mistake or change my mind – even Five. Years. Later – I can Undo the Hide. Perfect feature, and perfect UI. Perfect cross-platform availability. Magic.

OTOH, Apple’s handling of Touch ID on iMacs is a train wreck. They started the problem by labeling their non-Touch ID keyboards as a #!$$ Magic Keyboard. What the hell is the magic? How many Grandmas have you disenfranchised with these slightly-broken computers? How many knowledgeable people have they deceived because they thought that “Magic” meant the obvious thing?

I appreciate the proposition, but I think the iMac “Magic Keyboard” naming and packaging of the low-tier machine is more egregious than anything else in the pricing scheme. I wish more would complain about it. I fondly hope anyone who was complaining about 8GB of main memory would adopt this as their new cause. Avengers assemble!

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Let’s not get heated here. I’m sticking with my description of the two-port model as “weirdly limited,” but it’s only $200 and not that big of a deal (speaking as someone whose main Mac hasn’t ever had Touch ID, though I’d like it in a future Mac). It just feels strange that Apple lets people upgrade in the cart to a Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad but not to the smaller Magic Keyboard with Touch ID.

I think @silbey makes a good point that the lack of a Touch ID keyboard may be for volume purchases by institutions aiming for the lowest possible cost. Also, most such customers likely won’t care about being able to drive only one external display and not having Gigabit Ethernet by default.

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7 posts were split to a new topic: More thoughts on why we aren’t seeing another 27-inch iMac

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I’m largely ignorant of how institutions use iMacs. Who has talked about this? What fits under the bucket of an institution? How do those institutions allow a student to access their network storage? Surely there are automated ways of accessing that server-storage on a workstation.

Who’s buried in Grant’s tomb? The fingerprint that unlocks it is the fingerprint of the student who just logged in and trained the local computer to his fingerprint during the login.

If you don’t want to train the computer with your fingerprint, don’t bother. Just be prepared to enter your full password every time it was needed during your institutional computer session.

Surely Apple must have prototypes of this running in their campuses – serving their employees.

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Do your analysis based on a university computer lab, where 5-15 people per hour would be using the computer. How well does touchID work?