Video Review: A Month With the M4 iMac

[MacRumors]

It's been just over a month since Apple released the refreshed M4 iMac, so we've finally been able to spend enough time with it to provide MacRumors readers with a comprehensive review ahead of the holiday season.

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Apple didn't make external design changes to the M4 iMac except for tweaking the colors, but it does have the latest M4 chip. You can't get the iMac with the M4 Pro or the M4 Max, as those higher-end chips are limited to the Mac mini and the MacBook Pro, but the M4 in the iMac is more than powerful enough for most people.

It can be used for simple tasks like web browsing and watching videos, but it's also powerful enough for photo editing, video editing, graphics work, 3D work, and gaming. Some of the latest console games can be played on the M4 iMac thanks to support for hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading.

This year, all M4 Macs come with 16GB RAM minimum with no increase in base cost, which is great. Depending on what you're going to do with your iMac, you might want to upgrade the RAM to 24GB or 32GB, but 16GB will get you by for most tasks. You can also get up to 2TB of SSD storage depending on which iMac you pick.

The base iMac has two Thunderbolt 4 ports, while higher-end models have four Thunderbolt 4 ports, another nice upgrade compared to the prior-generation iMac that had two Thunderbolt ports and two USB-C ports. Nano-texture, the feature that Apple first brought to the Pro Display XDR, is an option for the iMac this time, so you can get a super matte display that's ideal if you need to work in the sun or in bright lights.

If you have an M1 iMac or an iMac with an Intel chip, the M4 iMac is going to be a huge update that's worth it. If you have a newer iMac, there's no real reason to update.

Make sure to watch our video for a deeper overview of the iMac, and let us know if you have plans to get one in the comments below.

Article Link: Video Review: A Month With the M4 iMac

 

[JuicyGoomba]

F in chat for the video upload

 

[Andres Cantu]

I wouldn’t say the M4 is a huge upgrade from the M1, since it’s the same design and the M1 is still a very good chip.

I could definitely see it for the Intel iMacs, at least the smaller ones.

If I had an M1 iMac, I’d wait for the rumored 90Hz M5 iMac. First display upgrade for this new generation.

 

[ignatius345]

Been using an M1 iMac since I think 2021 or so. It's been a solid performer and is still working pretty well. However, I use it about 30 hours a week for graphic design and other tasks so I think the speed bump (plus the jump from 16 to 24 GB of RAM I ordered) will make it all feel quite a bit snappier. I should be able to sell my M1 (16GB/1TB) for something like $900-1000, so that pays for nearly half of the new one.

 

[wanha]

IT'S BEEN A MONTH ALREADY???

Where does the time go

 

[entropys]

24 inch screen.

 

[TSE]

Yellow is the only color to get.

 

[scrapesleon]

I'm only upgrading mine next year due to more ram

 

[SteeLD]

"It can be used for simple tasks like web browsing and watching videos."

OMG no way, I'm getting two immediately. I can't believe they have figured that out at apple.

 

[ry-guy]

"It can be used for simple tasks like web browsing and watching videos."

OMG no way, I'm getting two immediately. I can't believe they have figured that out at apple.

Haha. My 2014 MacBook Pro still does these tasks.

 

[gk_brown]

I wouldn’t say the M4 is a huge upgrade from the M1, since it’s the same design and the M1 is still a very good chip.

I have to agree. I just got the new M4 Pro mini and it honestly doesn't seem any faster than my M1 Pro MBP.

 

[CheesePuff]

Been using an M1 iMac since I think 2021 or so. It's been a solid performer and is still working pretty well. However, I use it about 30 hours a week for graphic design and other tasks so I think the speed bump (plus the jump from 16 to 24 GB of RAM I ordered) will make it all feel quite a bit snappier. I should be able to sell my M1 (16GB/1TB) for something like $900-1000, so that pays for nearly half of the new one.

I've been trying to sell my M3 iMac with 24 GB RAM and 1 TB for $1,100 and no actual bites on it yet (for a couple weeks).

 

[doelcm82]

24 inch screen.

I remember when that was big for a computer monitor.

I remember when that was big for a TV.

 

[Bodhitree]

I've been trying to sell my M3 iMac with 24 GB RAM and 1 TB for $1,100 and no actual bites on it yet (for a couple weeks).

This does not bode well for the used M-series iMac market…

But then I wasn’t going to sell my 16/512 M1 anyway.

 

[devinher]

"The products suck. There's no sex in them anymore!" - Steve Jobs when he returned to Apple.

This iMac design reminds me of this quote every time I see one. They couldn't look more generic unless viewed from behind. How many people have an office setup that allows for this?

I was at a Tesla showroom (I would never buy one) and saw that all their iMacs are the previous silver and black design. Gorgeous. I don't think this is because Telsa can't afford to upgrade.

 

[kagharaht]

I have the iMac M3 maxed out. It sure handles Topaz Video Ai pretty good. Currently cleaning up a 1:39 Video transferred from VHC Tape. 640x480 size. Not blowing it up to 1080P just cleaning it up, restoring some quality on the vid. Removes all the grain and fuzz, blur... Processing at 28-29fps on Normal Power Mode on the iMac. The results is amazing when compared to the original video.... One day I'll blow them up to 1080p when the software gets better at it with these old vids.

 

[sherwinzadeh]

Just wish they would have a Silver + Black bezels option.

 

[DunedinD]

The yellow model looks gross, like it came from a very definitely not smoke-free home.

 

[Suicidy]

I wouldn’t say the M4 is a huge upgrade from the M1, since it’s the same design and the M1 is still a very good chip.

I could definitely see it for the Intel iMacs, at least the smaller ones.

If I had an M1 iMac, I’d wait for the rumored 90Hz M5 iMac. First display upgrade for this new generation.

I would also wait for a model with a 32 inch monitor. Don’t know why that is taking u til at least 2025.

 

[ThatGuyInLa]

I use a maxed out M3 iMac for my tiny YT channel videos. I edit 4K 60FPS HDR. Videos are around 8min to 20min long. I don't know what I am doing but I have a lot of edit points, audio fixes, color, and it handles it like a champ.

 

[Student of Life]

I wouldn’t say the M4 is a huge upgrade from the M1, since it’s the same design and the M1 is still a very good chip.

I could definitely see it for the Intel iMacs, at least the smaller ones.

If I had an M1 iMac, I’d wait for the rumored 90Hz M5 iMac. First display upgrade for this new generation.

I find it hilarious that the iMac will get a better screen than the apple studio.

 

[PsykX]

Make a damn iMac for the pros...

 

[Andres Cantu]

I find it hilarious that the iMac will get a better screen than the apple studio.

Actually, there’s rumors of the Apple Studio display also receiving a 90Hz display. Rumors for now, but hope it happens on both.

 

[sherwinzadeh]

Here's precedence for this Silver + Black color option among a "colorful" lineup.

 

[Student of Life]

Actually, there’s rumors of the Apple Studio display also receiving a 90Hz display. Rumors for now, but hope it happens on both.

Both should have HDR at the bare minimum with the new update. The studio display is the same screen from the original 5k iMac that came out 10 years ago with just an extra 100 bits in brightness.