Update 6:18 a.m. ET, October 29: Apple has removed references to 8K at 120Hz support from the iMac specs page.
- 8-core CPU and M4 GPU iMac: one external display up to 6K at 60Hz
- 10-core CPU and M4 GPU iMac: up to two external displays up to 6K at 60Hz, or one external display up to 8K at 60Hz
Apple confirmed to 9to5Mac that the mention of 8K at 120Hz support on its website was a mistake. The M4 iMac does not support that specification.
Apple on Monday unveiled a new generation of iMac, now powered by the M4 chip. While the new M4 iMac looks nearly identical to the previous model, it comes with several new features, one of which is support for 8K output at 120Hz for compatible displays.
M4 iMac supports 8K 120Hz external displays
As Max Tech's Vadim Yuryev noted, the specs for the new M4 iMac announced today confirm that it can output video to two external displays at 6K resolution at 60Hz, or to one external display at 8K at 120Hz. This is the very first Mac to support external displays in this configuration.
There are already a few Macs that can output 8K video, but they are limited to 60Hz. Models compatible with 8K 60Hz external displays include:
- 2023 Mac Studio
- 2023 Mac Pro
- 2023 Mac mini with M2 Pro
- 2023 MacBook Pro with M2 Pro and later
There’s a catch, though. 8K 120Hz support is only available on the top-end iMacs with 10-core GPUs. The entry-level model with 8-core GPUs is limited to just one external display with a 6K resolution at 60Hz. Presumably, other Macs with the M4 chip announced this week will also support 8K 120Hz in their top-end versions.
Interestingly, even Apple doesn’t have an external display with an 8K 120Hz panel. The company’s Pro Display XDR has a 6K resolution but a 60Hz refresh rate. As for the Studio Display, it has a 5K resolution at 60Hz. Of course, 8K 120Hz support makes the new iMacs more future-proof.
Learn more about the new iMac
In addition to the M4 chip, the new iMac comes standard with 16GB of RAM for the first time. Apple has also added an option for nano-texture glass, four USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 ports, and an updated camera with Center Stage. New color options are also available.
The new iMac starts at $1,299. Pre-orders open today, with shipping expected November 8.
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