In the near term, Apple is preparing to release a revamped 24-inch iMac in early 2024, suggesting that we could see a new model with an M4 chip by the end of this year. It is working on revamping the entire Mac lineup with AI-oriented M4 chips, and that includes the iMac. A complete guide to Apple’s M4 iMac.
More About Apple M4 iMac
M4 Chip
With the 24-inch iMac, Apple is expected to introduce a new model number: M4. This chip has been reported in other rumors as identical to the defective version that went into some iPad Pro models recently, with stress test results pointing towards many of these launched products using just a single more capable GPU core out of eight. M4 directly upgrades the M3 chip on today’s iMacs.
Also based on 3-nanometer tech, the M4 follows a slightly faster and more efficient second-generation iteration of the M3. According to the benchmarking results, M4 outperforms the M3 chip by up to 25% in performance. The M4 is equipped with a 10-core CPU and GPU – six efficient cores and four performance cores. Although one of the M4 variants contains a 9-core CPU, this would be unlikely for the iMac chip.
Design
It seemed that we would not see a change in the device for a long time as the latest iMac was redesigned in the year 2021. Although the 2024 iMac will be a complete redesign, from an external design change perspective. Keeping the minimalist form factor, with just 11.5mm of chassis material featuring a built-in computer and display, the iMac is available in seven different colors but has a white chin to match the color palette. We have not heard of any other changes with the M4 chip added.
Larger iMac
While one can still find rumors for a larger 30″ iMac, this device is now said to be in the earliest stages of development as of mid-2023 without an expected release date before 2024. Although Apple hopes to launch the device in 2025, this may not be realistic despite replacing the 27-inch model in 2022 as there is still so much emphasis on the M1 iMac.
Release Date
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the 24-inch iMac is likely to receive an M4 chip update “around the end of the year.” Apple typically hosts events in October or November for new Mac releases, aligning with expectations for the iMac’s debut during this timeframe. Alongside the iMac, updates for MacBook Pro models and the Mac mini are also anticipated before year-end. As the iMac received its last update in October 2023, an October 2024 launch would coincide with the one-year mark.
