Today’s announcement of the M4 iMac shows how serious Apple is about its all-in-one desktop product line.
The M1 iMac created a lot of buzz. It’s back in color, features a giant iPad-like design, and has a larger display with higher resolution than the 4K 21.5-inch Intel iMac it replaced. Apple then introduced the M2 chip and put it in many Macs, leaving the M1 iMac alone.
This increased demand for the M3 iMac. The first M-series iMac revision had the same color options and still included the Lightning port mouse and keyboard peripherals. Meanwhile, the iPhone moved to USB-C, marking the end of the Lightning port. Not using USB-C was a bit weird.
It turns out that Apple was saving the switch from Lightning to USB-C peripherals in order to update its color lineup. Apple probably had a bunch of color-matched Lightning peripherals to sell initially.
And the M4 iMac goes far beyond the expected chip updates and USB-C peripherals. The new color options are night and day, but they show that Apple is still interested in making the iMac playful.
On the other hand, upgrading the base model from 8GB RAM to 16GB RAM is a huge deal for iMac customers. Sure, the M1 and M3 iMacs can be configured with 16GB RAM, but we think many iMac customers will opt for preconfigured builds that are readily available in stock at retailers. This also holds promise for the expected M4 MacBook Air refresh early next year.
Finally, although I’m writing this from a Nano Texture iPad Pro, using Nano Texture on an M series iMac is an option. Apple introduced nano textures with the Pro Display XDR and later as an option on the 27-inch Intel iMac. Nano textures are an option on the Studio Display, but disappeared from the iMac line after the last Intel model was discontinued. Very cool for those who like anti-glare or anti-reflective screens.
What’s the biggest problem with the M4 iMac? The Magic Mouse still charges from the bottom, but uses USB-C instead of Lightning, but that’s always been more of a meme than a real problem . Welcome back, iMac!
Follow Zac: X, Threads, Instagram
FTC: We use automated affiliate links that generate income. more.
