New Base M4 iMac Comes With 16GB of Unified Memory

[Jumpthesnark]

i guess they gonna drip feed releases this week instead of all in one go?

MR had a story last week saying that Apple would be releasing new products/software all week.

 

[CraigsDog]

Just in time for AI features to need 32GB.

But they don't?

 

[chucker23n1]

> The iMac also features a new 12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View

lol wait so is the camera as bad as the Studio Display’s now?

Hopefully not!

The iMac does seem like the most fitting product for Center Stage. It’s the obvious living room Mac.

 

[awshucks]

Not the Mac Studio, as John Ternus said in the video that there are 3 Mac announcements.

Probably. So I am guessing
- Today: iMac
- Tuesday: Mac Mini
- Wednessday: MacBook Pro
- Thursday: Mac Studio

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Looking forward to hearing the reflexive complainers say that they have new reasons, aside from the base RAM, to never ever buy what Apple is selling and to complain about Cook, innovation, etc.

Surprised no one has noticed the $1499 second default has gone from 8/512 to 16/256.
So eitherway the prices didn’t really change.

 

[sw1tcher]

I’m baffled they could afford to do this.

Those skyrocketing memory prices must have come down by a lot. That's the only "logical" explanation even though Apple has been increasing the amount of memory on the iPhone year after year after year but couldn't do so for the Mac until today.

 

[theluggage]

Cue complaints that it’s not 32.

Well, yeah - 8GB on a >>$1000 system has been ridiculous for years and although 16GB base is good news, Apple are still a day late and a dollar short.

16GB is acceptable for a base model and there doesn't seem to be a price bump. However, I'd certainly complain that it's still $200-per-8GB upgrade if you need more.

Plus, same old ridiculous SSD prices.

 

[greenbreadmmm]

256gb is there to keep the upsell alive after going to 16gb ram. I'm surprised so many people are confused by this.

 

[DrWojtek]

I assume it is possible to disable all the AI crap hogging ~8GB memory so you effectively get 8GB more for actual work, correct? Because if not, you still need to get more RAM.

 

[JippaLippa]

FINALLY! We did it!

 

[goodcow]

Cue complaints that it’s not 32.

No, but locking 32GB to a higher storage tier seems unnecessary, and just a cash grab.

 

[Nozgog]

Surprised no one has noticed the $1499 second default has gone from 8/512 to 16/256.
So eitherway the prices didn’t really change.

So increased RAM doesn’t really come free?

I’m still confused that Apple would increase RAM and not charge more

 

[Slix]

I’m glad there’s finally 16 gb of memory on the base model.

Unfortunately, I seem to have found the next thing to complain about: it looks like the base chip (non-Pro/Max) doesn’t go beyond 24 gb. That’s disappointing for those of us who were hoping to at least consider replacing our MacBook Pros with Airs. 🙁

Actually it looks like it requires 512GB of storage or more to get the 32GB option (and iMac doesn't get pro/Max chips) on the 4 Thunderbolt port models.

 

[podycust]

finally!

 

[iMac The Knife]

I mean yay for Apple, I guess. It is getting closer to 2025, so...

 

[JippaLippa]

I’m glad there’s finally 16 gb of memory on the base model.

Unfortunately, I seem to have found the next thing to complain about: it looks like the base chip (non-Pro/Max) doesn’t go beyond 24 gb. That’s disappointing for those of us who were hoping to at least consider replacing our MacBook Pros with Airs. 🙁

For en entry level chip, 24GB ain't bad.

 

[Sarafay]

Woohoo! About time. Glad to have 16 be the new minimum. 👏

Any predictions when the next bump will be? 24 or 32? In 2030-2039 or 2040+?

You always have to complain, to get more. I want 24!

 

[daanodinot]

Yay for 16GB base memory, but…

It's really crappy that the base model doesn't have a 2TB option. In reality that means a difference of:

1TB: € 1979
2TB: € 2689
= € 710

… between the cheapest models with that storage. What the actual **** Apple?

 

[Bytor65]

Dont worry. They'll still be here wanting 32 next

Someone already complained that they can't get 64GB.

 

[chetzar]

Woohoo! About time. Glad to have 16 be the new minimum. 👏

Any predictions when the next bump will be? 24 or 32? In 2030-2039 or 2040+?

Hopefully a bump in the “non-pro” means we get a bump on the “pro” chips as well.


…………..but I won’t hold my breath.

 

[chetzar]

I’m glad there’s finally 16 gb of memory on the base model.

Unfortunately, I seem to have found the next thing to complain about: it looks like the base chip (non-Pro/Max) doesn’t go beyond 24 gb. That’s disappointing for those of us who were hoping to at least consider replacing our MacBook Pros with Airs. 🙁

It goes to 32gb…….

 

[Chicane-UK]

The price even to go from 16GB to 24GB is wild.. they giveth with one hand with the minimum spec being 16GB but they really punish you for even a miniscule specification upgrade.

 

[Bytor65]

256gb is there to keep the upsell alive after going to 16gb ram. I'm surprised so many people are confused by this.

Also $200 to upgrade to the full chip. 8 CPU/8GPU cores base, $200 for 10/10.

 

[theluggage]

Surprised no one has noticed the $1499 second default has gone from 8/512 to 16/256.

Nope - according to everymac.com the old M3 $1499 model was 8/256. The $200 got you 2 extra GPU cores, two USB-C (but not TB) ports and the Ethernet version of the power brick.

Now you also get 2 extra GPU, 2 extra CPU and 4 full-fat TB4 ports, so it's really quite an improvement overall.

 

[Velora Bloom]

Yay for 16GB base memory, but…

It's really crappy that the base model doesn't have a 2TB option. In reality that means a difference of:

1TB: € 1979
2TB: € 2689
= € 710

… between the cheapest models with that storage. What the actual **** Apple?

It is ****ing stupid of course, but to be fair using an external SSD or a NAS is way more practical for a desktop machine than it is for a mobile device. I mean, at least for this machine there are practical and cheap ways around it.