Apple is rumored to refresh its 24-inch iMac by 2024, potentially introducing a new model featuring the M4 chip before the year concludes. This update is part of Apple’s broader initiative to revamp the entire Mac lineup with AI-optimized M4 chips, including the iMac.
M4 iMac Features
This overview covers all the details we know about Apple’s plans for the M4 iMac.
M4 Chip
The upcoming 24-inch iMac is anticipated to incorporate the M4 chip, the same one found in the latest iPad Pro models. Currently, iMacs are equipped with the M3 chip, making the M4 a direct successor.
The M4 chip is built on the same 3-nanometer technology as the M3, but as a second-generation chip, it offers enhanced speed and efficiency. In Geekbench benchmark tests, the M4 demonstrated up to a 25% increase in performance over the M3.
Specifically, the M3 achieved a single-core score of 3,087 and a multi-core score of 11,702. In comparison, the M4 recorded a single-core score of 3,695 and a multi-core score of 14,550.
The M4 chip features a 10-core CPU and a 10-core GPU, comprising six efficiency cores and four performance cores. There’s a version of the M4 with a 9-core CPU used in the iPad Pro, but it’s unlikely that this variant will be available in the iMac.
While other Macs will receive M4 Pro, M4 Max, and M4 Ultra upgrades, the 24-inch iMac will solely feature the M4 chip. It is positioned as an entry-level product, similar to the MacBook Air.
iMac M4 Rumors: Design
Apple’s last redesign of the iMac occurred in 2021, and there’s no indication of a new design for the 2024 model. The upcoming refresh is expected to focus on internal improvements rather than external changes.
The iMac remains an all-in-one machine combining a computer and display. It measures just 11.5mm thick and maintains a sleek profile that fits neatly on a desktop. It comes in various vibrant colors, with a matching pastel-colored chin.
Currently, the only known update for the iMac is the inclusion of the M4 chip.
Larger iMac?
Rumors of a larger iMac, potentially around 30 inches, have persisted. However, as of mid-2023, this model was still in early development stages, with no clear release date. It’s possible we might see it in 2025, but it won’t be arriving in 2024. This year, Apple will continue with the 24-inch iMac, following the discontinuation of the 27-inch model in 2022.
iMac M4 Rumors: Release Date
In April, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman suggested that the 24-inch iMac might receive an M4 chip update “around the end of the year.” Apple often holds events in October or November for new Mac releases. This makes this timeframe plausible for the iMac’s launch.
Apple is also expected to update the MacBook Pro and Mac mini models before the year’s end. The iMac was last updated in October 2023. Therefore, a new release in October 2024 would align with its annual update cycle.
