M4 24-inch iMac [left], M1 24-inch iMac [right]
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24-inch iMac now runs on a chip M4. Here’s how much of an upgrade you can get from the original M1, which was released more than three years ago.
Apple introduced the 24-inch iMac with the M1 chip back in April 2021, ushering in a new model of the all-in-one Mac desktop. Three and a half years later, the third iteration has arrived.
On Monday, as part of Apple’s Mac update week, it updated the 24-inch iMac to include the M4 chip, among other small changes.
Owners of the original iMac are starting to think about potentially upgrading their hardware simply because of how long they’ve been sitting on it. While consumers may keep their Mac for a few years longer on average, that’s not stopping them from checking out what they could potentially get as an upgrade.
M4 24-inch iMac vs. M1 24-inch iMac – Specs
| Specs | 24-inch iMac (2021, M1) | 24-inch iMac (2024, M4) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $1,299 (2 ports), $1,499 (4 ports) Best Prices on M1 iMac |
$1,299 (2 ports), $1,499 (4 ports) Best Prices on M4 iMac |
|
| Processor | 8-core M1, 16-core Neural Engine |
8-core M4, 10-core M4, 16-core Neural Engine |
|
| Graphics | 7-core M1 GPU (2 ports), 8-core M1 GPU (4 ports) |
8-core M4 GPU (2 ports), 10-core M4 GPU (4 ports) |
|
| RAM | 8 GB unified memory, Configurable up to 16 GB |
16 GB unified memory, Configurable up to 24 GB (2 ports), Configurable up to 32 GB (4 ports), |
|
| Internal Storage | 256 GB SSD Configurable up to 1 TB SSD (2 ports) Configurable up to 2 TB (4 ports) ports) |
256 GB SSD Configurable up to 1TB SSD (2 ports) Configurable up to 2TB (4 ports) |
|
| Display | 4480 x 2520 Retina 4.5K LED display, Wide color gamut (P3), True Tone, 500 nits |
4480 x 2520 Retina 4.5K LED display, Wide color gamut (P3), True Tone, 500 nits, Nano-texture glass (optional) |
|
| Connectivity | 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.0 Gigabit Ethernet (optional for 2-port model) 2x USB 4/Thunderbolt 3 2xUSB 3.1 Gen 2 (4 ports) 3.5mm headphone jack |
802.11ax Wi-Fi 6E Bluetooth 5.3 Gigabit Ethernet (optional on 2-port model) 2x USB 4/Thunderbolt 4 (2 ports) 4x USB 4/Thunderbolt 4 (4 ports) 3.5mm headphone jack with high-impedance headphone support |
|
| Camera and Audio | 1080p FaceTime Camera with M1 ISP Studio-quality, three-mic array with beamforming 6-speaker system with forced bass compensation |
12-megapixel Center Stage camera with M4 ISP Studio-quality, three-mic array with beamforming 6-speaker system with forced bass compensation |
|
| Video Output | One 6K display at 60Hz | Dual 6K displays at 60Hz, or one 8K display at 120Hz |
|
| Special Features | Hey Siri support Magic Keyboard with Touch ID (optional on 2-port model) |
Hey Siri support Magic Keyboard with Touch ID (optional on 2-port model) |
ports) |
M4 24-inch iMac vs M1 24-inch iMac – Design, Weight, Size
The 24-inch M4 iMac hasn’t changed much since its introduction. There have been some very minor changes over its lifetime, but most of the specs remain the same.
For starters, there’s the overall design, which still measures 18.1 inches tall, 21.5 inches wide, and 5.8 inches deep. Apple has certainly decided to keep what essentially looks like an iPad on a stand as the core aesthetic without having to change anything.
24-inch M4 iMac vs. 24-inch M1 iMac — the back hasn’t changed in three years.
There are some weight differences, with the four-port M4 model weighing 9.79 pounds, while the two-port model weighs 9.74 pounds. The M1 equivalents weigh 9.88 pounds and 9.33 pounds, respectively.
Sure, there has been a slight weight loss over the years. But since we're talking about a Mac that sits on a desk and isn't meant to be moved around, that's not a major factor.
The front still has a thin bezel around all edges, with a hole at the top for the camera. On the back, there are two or four visible USB Type-C ports, depending on the variant, as well as a headphone jack on one side.
M4 24-inch iMac vs M1 24-inch iMac – Display
The display on the 24-inch iMac is virtually identical in both versions. It's a 23.5-inch 4.5K Retina display with a resolution of 4480 by 2520 pixels and a pixel density of 218 pixels per inch.
There's also no change in terms of 500 nits of brightness, Wide Color (P3), or True Tone support. Indeed, the M4 is essentially the same display you'd get on the M1 model.
M4 24-inch iMac vs. M1 24-inch iMac — same screen, but now with Nano-texture options.
The difference is on the four-port M4, as there's a new option to configure it with Nano-texture glass.
Nano Texture Glass refers to the etching feature most famously seen on the Pro Display XDR. It applies a texture to the glass to minimize glare and reflections, making the screen more visible in bright conditions.
M4 24-inch iMac vs M1 24-inch iMac – Performance
As the name suggests, the M1 24-inch iMac includes the M1 chip. It consisted of an 8-core CPU with four performance cores and four efficiency cores, as well as a 16-core Neural Engine.
It also had a 7-core GPU for the dual-port model, an 8-core GPU for the quad-port variant. Memory consisted of 8GB and 16GB Unified Memory configurations.
The dual-port M4 model has an M4 chip with an 8-core CPU, again splitting the performance and efficiency cores evenly. The quad-port model has a 10-core CPU with four performance cores and six efficiency cores.
The GPU on the M4 models is also more powerful, with 8 cores and 10 cores for the dual-port and quad-port variants, respectively. The GPU also has hardware-accelerated ray tracing, which helps with visuals for 3D graphics like games.
Memory on the M4 starts at 16GB, with 24GB available as a maximum for the dual-port model, and 32GB for the quad-port version.
More memory bandwidth is available on the M4 models than on the M1. The M1 chip has a memory bandwidth of 66.67 GB/s, while the M4 has 120 GB/s, which is almost double that.
Both generations have 16-core Neural Engines that can handle Apple Intelligence queries. Apple claims that the M4 Neural Engine is three times faster than the M1 version.
We can't accurately compare the M1 and M4 models via benchmarking, simply because we're waiting for the results to come in. We also can't use the iPad Pro for comparison, as it has more thermal and power limitations to consider.
For now, we'll have to stick with Apple's launch announcements, but benchmarks will be revisited at some point in the future.
Apple claims the M4 chip makes the iMac 1.7x faster than the M1 when it comes to the CPU. The GPU is also said to be 2.1x faster, allowing for double the frame rate in games.
M4 24-inch iMac vs M1 24-inch iMac – Camera and Audio
The M1 iMac uses a 1080p FaceTime HD camera. It's paired with an advanced image signal processor for computational video, which helps improve imaging.
In the M4, it's called the 12MP Center Stage camera, which can still shoot 1080p video. It also benefits from an improved image signal processor.
This time, Apple also says it supports Desk View, a Continuity Camera feature for when you use your iPhone as a webcam. It can create a facsimile of a top-down view of your desk, which can be useful for showing something on your physical desk.
M4 24-inch iMac vs M1 24-inch iMac – All ports on the four-port M4 variant support Thunderbolt.
On the audio side, there's the same high-quality six-speaker system with force-compensating woofers used by both generations. They offer wide stereo sound and support Spatial Audio for Dolby Atmos content.
There's also a “studio-quality” three-mic array that hasn't changed in years. It still has a high signal-to-noise ratio and directional beamforming.
There is a difference in the headphone jack, though. The new version includes support for high-impedance headphones, which will be more useful for audiophiles.
M4 24-inch iMac vs. M1 24-inch iMac – Storage, Connectivity, Peripherals
The M1 iMac offered a starting capacity of 256GB, which increases to 1TB for the two-port model or 2TB for the four-port version. This has not changed for the M4 releases.
One of the current options in the iMac lineup is whether users want two ports in the back or four. This is still the case for the M4 generation.
The dual-port model has a pair of Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports on the back, on both generations we're looking at here.
For the quad-port variant, the M1 model adds two more USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C ports. On the M4, the extra two ports are Thunderbolt/USB 4.
Another physical connection to consider is Ethernet. In both generations, the two-port model doesn’t have it unless you pay $30 to add it to the power supply, while the four-port model has it standard.
The M1 model supports Wi-Fi 6, but the M4 is a step up to Wi-Fi 6E. This can be useful if you don’t use Ethernet or have home Wi-Fi that uses a newer standard.
Bluetooth 5.0 was used in the M1, but it’s also been upgraded to Bluetooth 5.3 in the new model.
M4 24-inch iMac vs. M1 24-inch iMac – Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse
With the M1 iMac, you get a color-matched Magic Keyboard, as well as a Magic Mouse or trackpad. This is still true for the M4 versions, with the option of a keyboard with or without a numeric keypad.
Touch ID is included on the four-port M1 model, but is an optional extra on the two-port version. This is still true for the M4 versions.
M4 24-inch iMac vs. M1 24-inch iMac Pricing
The M1 24-inch iMac started at $1,299 for a two-port model with 8GB of memory, a 7-core GPU, 256GB of memory, and no Ethernet. The $1,499 starting price for the four-port model included an 8-core GPU, 8GB of memory, a 256GB SSD, and Ethernet.
The M4 variants have identical starting points of $1,299 and $1,499. They also start with fairly similar base configurations.
If you want to go from 16GB to 24GB of storage on the dual-port model, it'll cost you $200. It'll cost you another $200 to get 32GB on the quad-port model, though you'll also need to upgrade the storage.
Speaking of storage, upgrading from 256GB to 512GB will cost you $200, another $200 for 1TB, and then another $400 for 2TB.
M4 24-inch iMac vs. M1 The 24-inch iMac is the color variant of the M4 version.
The Magic Mouse is included by default, but you can pay an extra $50 to get the Magic Trackpad instead.
The Magic Keyboard without Touch ID can be upgraded to Touch ID and a numeric keypad for $80 on the two-port model. Upgrading the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and a numeric keypad on the four-port model is $30.
Adding Ethernet to the two-port M4 model is $30.
If you want to use Nano-texture on the four-port M4 model, that adds $200 to the price.
M4 24-inch iMac vs M1 24-inch iMac – Which One to Buy?
Consumers often put off purchasing Apple hardware for a long time for a variety of reasons. In the case of Apple Silicon models, it’s certainly because the performance of the original models is still quite strong, even several years after their release.
That said, there are a lot of performance improvements that could have been made in three years.
The M1 iMac was a great product for its time, and it’s still fully usable today. What the M4 models offer is, simply put, even more power.
With better performance than the M1, the M4 could be an attractive proposition for those who need that processing power at their fingertips. The higher memory capacity is also a bonus, as are the port options.
The nanotexture isn’t essential, but it’s nice to see on a more consumer-focused product. Even if it does cost an extra $200.
It's unlikely that M1 iMac owners will want to pay for the upgrade at this point. It's more of a spec refresh with minor tweaks than a completely new model, and not everyone wants to get essentially the same thing as an upgrade.
What it does do is make the M4 24-inch iMac a much better computer for consumers to go out and buy if they're not upgrading from an earlier model.
The 24-inch iMac is a great computing device. It's just that things happen a little faster this time around.
M4 24-inch iMac vs M1 24-inch iMac – Where to Buy
The M4 24-inch iMac is available for pre-order from Apple Authorized Reseller B&H Photo, and Payoo cardholders are eligible for instant sales tax refunds in eligible states.
Expect retailers to offer discounts on the 2024 models, especially with Black Friday approaching. You can shop the best iMac deals from the new lineup in our M4 iMac Price Comparison Guide.
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