Apple today took wraps off the long-rumored update to the 24-inch iMac at its “Scary Fast” event. The new iMac is one of the first Macs to receive the next-generation M3 chip which the company also unveiled today.
The refreshed iMac carries the same industrial appearance as its predecessor with a svelte and thin design, a 4.5K Retina display, and USB-C ports. The new iMac is also equipped with a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, an advanced six-speaker sound system, and studio-quality microphones.
The new iMac refresh includes the just-announced M3 chip, a massive upgrade from the ailing M1 found in the previous generation. Apple says that the new iMac is up to two times faster than the previous M1-equipped mode thanks to the M3. The new iMac can now be configured with a 10-core GPU and 24GB of unified memory for the first time thanks to the M3.
Apple says the new iMac is faster across the board compared to the previous generation no matter the task. For example, Safari on the new iMac is 30% faster, and games are smoother than ever with 50% faster frame rates.
Content productivity is taken to the next level on the new iMac. Users can now play up to 12 4K video streams on apps like Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro, with both now running twice as fast as before. Adobe Photoshop also runs two times faster than ever.
Apple says the new iMac is leaps and bounds faster than any Intel-based iMac, with four times faster performance than the most capable 21.5-inch Intel iMac, and 2.5x faster than any 27-inch Intel model.
Wireless connectivity is more robust than ever on the new iMac, with support for WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 thanks to the M3 chip. The new iMac also supports up to a single 6K external monitor.
Like its predecessor, the iMac is available in seven colors including silver, pink, purple, blue, green, orange, and yellow. The new iMac still starts at the same $1,299 price point as its predecessor.
Apple says the new iMac will be available to order today. Pre-orders will begin shipping next week on Tuesday, November 7.
