Apple iMac 24-inch (M4)

Source

Snazzy Labs

Key Takeaways

• Base configuration is aggressively crippled: only two Type-C ports, no Touch ID keyboard, and no Ethernet on the power brick.
• Complete lack of Target Display Mode means this magnificent 4.5K panel becomes instant e-waste once the logic board ages.
• Locked down to a mundane 60Hz refresh rate while the rest of the industry has moved to silky 120Hz/144Hz standards.
• Zero front or side I/O ports; plugging in flash drives or headphones forces clumsy blind groping behind the screen.

✅ Pros

• M4 silicon brings class-leading single-core efficiency
• Sublime 4.5K color rendering and crispness
• Beautiful color-matched braided cabling

❌ Cons

• Brutally crippled 2-port base model
• No Target Display Mode turns panel into future e-waste
• Stuck on dated 60Hz refresh rate
• Awkward rear-only port ergonomics

📝 Verdict

"M4 iMac has great silicon marred by a crippled base tier and the refusal to let the 4.5K screen function as an external monitor."

Source

• Video: Apple M4 iMac Review: Best M4 Mac for EVERYONE?
• Channel: MacRumors | Type: Review after several weeks of use (2024) | Based on: YouTube transcript (fetched with youtube-transcript-api)

Key points

• It looks much the same as the M3 and M1 versions; for anyone still on an Intel iMac or finding the M1 insufficient, he thinks now is a good time to upgrade.
• The M4 chip handles browsing, office work and video calls with ease; at the event he saw games such as Cyberpunk 2077 running smoothly on M4 Macs.
• What he considers the most underrated change: all 4 ports on the 10-core model are Thunderbolt 4 (only 2 were Thunderbolt on the previous generation); the 8-core base model still has only 2 Thunderbolt ports.
• The new 12MP Center Stage camera supports Desk View; he uses the yellow model, whose back leans toward a mustard gold; the iMac is a machine where looks matter, and if you don't care, silver is a classic that never gets old.
• Starts at $1,299 in the US; he recommends upgrading to the 10-core model for more performance and 4 ports, adding storage, and going with 24GB of memory to be safe for long-term use. Apple Intelligence Writing Tools and notification summaries are the features he uses most.

✅ Pros

• M4 performance is enough for daily use and light gaming
• All 4 ports on the 10-core model are Thunderbolt 4
• Center Stage camera
• Colors with personality

❌ Cons

• The 8-core base model has only 2 ports
• Same design as the previous generation
• Small base storage

📝 Verdict

An all-round desktop for most people: unless you need M4 Pro / Max–level performance, the M4 iMac is more than enough for daily use and creative work; the 10-core, 4-port model is recommended.

Source

• Video: iMac M4 After 1 Week: Apple's BEST Value Desktop Yet!
• Channel: Kyle Erickson | Type: One-week review (2024) | Based on: YouTube transcript (fetched with youtube-transcript-api)

Key points

• He thinks the M4 iMac is the most underrated product of the year: although it lacks Pro / Max chips, most people don't need them.
• The value math: for a 10-core M4, 16GB, 256GB configuration, buying a Mac mini, a Magic Keyboard with Touch ID ($149), a Magic Mouse ($79) and a Studio Display–class monitor separately would still cost more than the iMac, even with the Studio Display's price cut in half.
• With 16GB of memory, photo editing, graphic design and Final Cut Pro editing are all smooth, though some heavy plugins are slower than on the M4 Pro; the Xcode benchmark is about 27% faster than the M3 and about 25% slower than the M4 Pro.
• The six speakers have excellent detail and clarity, with Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio support; the three microphones pick up sound well; the new camera's image quality beats the M3 iMac, Center Stage is very practical, while Desk View is more of a gimmick.
• He thinks the most important upgrades are the M4 chip and the base memory going from 8GB to 16GB at no extra cost; apart from more storage, most people don't need higher specs.

✅ Pros

• Buying the whole package is better value than assembling it separately
• 16GB base, enough for daily use and creative work
• Excellent speakers and microphones
• Practical Center Stage camera

❌ Cons

• Noticeably slower than the M4 Pro with heavy plugins and large projects
• Base storage needs upgrading
• Desk View is more of a gimmick

📝 Verdict

The best-value complete Mac desktop setup: if you need to buy a whole new system, the M4 iMac's overall value is hard to beat.

Source

• Video: M4 iMac 2024 - 10 MAJOR Reasons to Upgrade!
• Channel: Max Tech | Type: Breakdown of reasons to upgrade (2024) | Based on: YouTube transcript (fetched with youtube-transcript-api)

Key points

• The biggest upgrade: base memory goes from 8GB to 16GB while the price stays at $1,299; he thinks this was long overdue and matters most for consumers who buy the base model in stores.
• All 4 ports on the 10-core model support Thunderbolt 4 (the M4 has four Thunderbolt controllers); but the $1,299 base model still has only 2 ports.
• The included Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad all switch to USB-C; multi-core performance is about 27% faster than the previous generation, on par with the pricier M3 Pro, and graphics performance improves too.
• The 12MP Center Stage camera automatically follows to keep you framed; the memory ceiling rises to 32GB for the first time; the new colors are more vivid.
• Downsides: the 8-core base model's GPU is cut to 8 cores (the previous base model had the full 10 cores); Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 weren't upgraded. M3 owners won't see much difference, but M1 owners have good reason to upgrade; he recommends the $1,499 10-core model.

✅ Pros

• 16GB base at no extra cost
• 4 Thunderbolt 4 ports on the 10-core model
• Accessories switch to USB-C
• Memory ceiling raised to 32GB

❌ Cons

• The base model has only an 8-core GPU and just 2 ports
• No wireless upgrade
• Small upgrade for M3 owners

📝 Verdict

A good upgrade for M1 owners: the M4 iMac improves more than its looks suggest, and the 10-core model is the most balanced choice.