What it is? Apple introduced the 24-inch iMac in April 2021. It’s a new take on the iMac and the first update in over a decade with a cleaner design, Apple silicon, and a choice of colors.

Who is it for? iMac is great for both beginners and demanding users. It handles versatile and heavy tasks equally well. This is the ideal solution for those who need to purchase a complete computer (keyboard, mouse or trackpad and display) and get the most out of their workspace. The 24-inch iMac is a design icon that will look great in any office.

How much does an iMac cost? Unfortunately, iMac prices outside of the US increased in January 2023, making an already expensive machine even more expensive. There are three standard configurations starting at $1299 / £1399 (was £1249) for the 24″ iMac M1 with 7-core GPU and 256GB SSD, $1499 / £1599 (was £1449) for the 24″ iMac M1 with 8 GPU and 256GB SSD and $1,699 / £1,799 (was £1,649) for the 24″ iMac M1 with 8-core GPU and 512GB SSD.

What are the specifications? The 24-inch iMac uses the Apple M1 chip rather than Intel processors and is available in multiple configurations, as well as build-to-order options:

• Apple M1 SoC with 8-core processor (4 performance cores, 4 efficiency cores), 16-core Neural Engine, and 7-core graphics processing unit (GPU); 8 GB memory; 256GB SSD
• Apple M1 SoC with 8-core processor (4 performance cores, 4 efficiency cores), 16-core Neural Engine, and 8-core graphics processing unit (GPU); 8 GB memory; 256GB SSD
• Apple M1 SoC with 8-core processor (4 performance cores, 4 efficiency cores), 16-core Neural Engine, and 8-core graphics processing unit (GPU); 8 GB memory; 512 GB SSD
• Additional options: 16 GB of single memory and up to 2 TB SSD.

What are the specifications of the display?

The 24-inch 4.5K Retina display has 11.3 million pixels and supports the P3 wide color gamut, over a billion colors, 500 nits brightness, and True Tone. Apple coats the display with an anti-glare coating to improve readability.

Why is it different from other iMacs? The design of the 24-inch iMac is very different from the discontinued 21.5-inch and 27-inch models. The bezels around the display are much smaller than on older iMacs, but it still has a “chin”—the section below the display that houses the iMac’s internal components. There is no Apple logo on the front chin. Instead, it is at the back. Specifically, the 24-inch iMac comes in multiple colors: the $1,299 model is available in blue, green, pink, and silver, while the $1,499 and $1,699 models are available in the same colors plus orange, purple, and yellow.

How to connect things? The $1,299 24-inch iMac 24 has two Thunderbolt 3 ports that also work with USB-C devices. The $1499 and $1699 iMacs have two additional USB-C ports. If you have a USB-A device, you’ll need to buy an adapter, such as the Apple USB-C to USB Adapter ($19). If you have multiple USB-A devices and other items, consider using a Thunderbolt hub. The 24-inch iMac also has a headphone jack on the side.

The 24-inch iMac, unlike older iMacs, does not have an SDXC slot. Again, you’ll need an adapter, such as the Anker SD card reader ($17). However, it does have a very cool magnetic power cord.

Built-in Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0. Apple doesn’t put a gigabit Ethernet port on the 24-inch iMac – instead, it’s on the power adapter. But this Ethernet power adapter is standard on the $1499 and $1699 models. it No included with the $1299 model, but you can select it as an option at the time of purchase – and yes, that means you’ll have to pay extra for it.

How fast?: Since the 24-inch iMac has the same M1 as the Mac mini, its speed is very similar. This means it’s fast, and it’s much faster than the 21.5-inch models it replaces. It has everything that ordinary consumers need and can run professional applications without any problems. However, the $1299 model only has one fan inside the case, while the $1499 and $1699 models have two fans. This means that expensive models do a better job of cooling internal components. The $1299 models may need to reduce performance when doing heavy tasks to maintain proper temperatures.

Macworld Buying Tip: Everything about the iMac has been vastly improved with the 24-inch model, from design to display to performance. However, it’s been over two years and Apple is certainly working on an M2 model – and hopefully an iMac Pro model to replace the discontinued 27-inch iMac. If you’re buying it, the $1499/£1599 model is your best bet, which gives you more ports, Touch ID and Ethernet.