Apple
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Kirk McElhearn
I last bought an iMac in May 2021, when I purchased the then-new M1 model, the first without an Intel processor. I had initially planned to keep it for five years, in part because Apple began allowing users to extend AppleCare, potentially making it a forever Mac. The M1 processor is the cutoff for Apple’s AI features that the company has bundled under the name Apple Intelligence. This first group of features, released with macOS Sequoia, will run on all Macs with Apple’s M-series processors.
The iMac was updated to the M3 processor in late 2023, and it’s a bit of a surprise to see it updated again one year later. It looks like Apple will be updating every Mac model to the M4 processor family: so far the iMac, Mac mini, and MacBook Pro have been updated, but rumors suggest that in the coming months, we will see updates to the rest of the Mac product line. This suggests that the M4 processor might be another cutoff for coming features.
With Apple’s system on a chip, the change in processors doesn’t just affect the raw power of a Mac. The M-series chip combines the CPU, GPU, neural engine (heavily used for AI processes), and other modules. While the M4 processor is certainly faster than previous versions, there may be other elements in this chip that will allow more advance AI features to run in the coming years.
Here’s a hands-on review of Apple’s M4 iMac.
Who should upgrade to the M4 iMac?
Most users who own an M1 iMac have no need to upgrade. Unless you’re doing demanding tasks, such as video editing or audio production, this iMac is more than fast enough for everything you do. I use my iMac for writing, photo editing, and podcast editing, as well as the usual web browsing, email, video chats, etc., and it is sufficient for what I need. I decided to upgrade to the M4 model because it looks like there won’t be a new iMac for a couple of years, and I wanted to be ready for future Apple intelligence features that will be rolling out in the coming years.
If you have an M3 iMac, there is absolutely no reason to upgrade. While the M4 processor is a bit faster, it’s not worth replacing a year-old Mac. If, however, you are still running an Intel iMac, and especially if you want to use Apple Intelligence features, then you should upgrade, and, if you do, you will likely be blown away by the difference in how the iMac behaves.
What’s new in the M4 iMac?
On the outside, there’s no difference between the M1, M3, and M4 iMacs. (See our review of the M1 iMac.) The colors are a bit more saturated, but the body of the computer is exactly the same. There are some minor hardware upgrades: the four-port model now has four Thunderbolt ports, instead of just two (the others were USB-C only), and the front camera is now 12 Mp, an improvement over the previous 1080p camera, which also features Center Stage, which follows you as you move, and Desk View, which allows you to show others what is on your desk.
The new iMac starts with 16 GB of memory, which is an increase from previous models which started at 8 GB. All Macs currently sold now come with a minimum of 16 GB of memory, presumably because Apple intelligence features require more memory. You can increase this to 24 GB or 32 GB, and you can increase storage from 265 GB to up to 2 TB. The new iMac also hashardware-accelerated ray tracing for improved graphics in games, and increased memory bandwidth; this means more data goes from the processor to memory and back again, improving speeds. WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 improve wireless operations. And the Magic Keyboard, Mouse, and Trackpad now charge with USB-C; goodbye lightning!
The M4 iMac is noticeably snappier than the M1 model. Apps open quicker, windows redraw more briskly, and web pages render incredibly fast. One test for this device is using the Clean Up feature in Photos, which requires a lot of processing power; this feature is noticeably faster than on the M1 iMac. In fact, it’s likely that the real speed gains with the new M4 Macs will be more visible in Apple Intelligence features like this, and that the M4 processor was optimized for these tasks.
These speed gains are, of course, subjective. Apple’s website says that the M4 iMac is “Up to 70% faster on everyday tasks.” These numbers are hard to measure, but Geekbench is a tool used to benchmark computers, and its scores give an idea of how a computer performs. Average scores for the M1 iMac are around 2400 for single-core tasks and 8200 for multi-core tasks. For the M3 iMac, these numbers are around 3000 and 11600. I ran the app on my M4 iMac, and got scores of 3656 and 14404, showing particularly impressive gains for the multi-core score.
How much does the M4 iMac cost?

The M4 iMac starts at $1,299 for the base model with an 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU. This model only has two Thunderbolt/USB ports and is only useful if you don’t plan to plug many peripherals into your Mac. The 10-core model, with four Thunderbolt/USB ports, starts at $1,499, and, if you configure an iMac for more advanced usage, with 24 GB memory and 1 TB storage, this will run you $2,099. There is a new nano-texture glass option, which provides a matte screen which is useful if you use your iMac where light reflects on the screen; this costs an additional $200.
Fully loaded, with 32 GB memory, 2 TB storage, and nano-texture glass, the M4 iMac costs $2,899. While this is a great Mac, if you need that much power, you might be better off with a Mac mini and an external display, or even a Mac Studio, which will likely be upgraded next year. One limitation of the iMac is that it only comes with the basic M4 processor, and won’t have options like the M4 Pro, Max, or Ultra. But if you buy an iMac, you probably don’t need that speed. Even the base model iMac is more computer than most people need. The M4 iMac is a solid upgrade to Apple’s iconic desktop computer and has enough power to handle new AI features in macOS for years to come.
How can I learn more?
Each week on the Intego Mac Podcast, Intego’s Mac security experts discuss the latest Apple news, security and privacy stories, and offer practical advice on getting the most out of your Apple devices. Be sure to follow the podcast to make sure you don’t miss any episodes.
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About Kirk McElhearn
Kirk McElhearn writes about Apple products and more on his blog Kirkville.
He is co-host of the Intego Mac Podcast, as well as several other podcasts, and is a regular contributor to The Mac Security Blog, TidBITS, and several other websites and publications.
Kirk has written more than two dozen books, including Take Control books about Apple’s media apps, Scrivener, and LaunchBar.
Follow him on Twitter at @mcelhearn.
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