Apple today released a redesigned iMac with a slimmer screen, Apple Silicon chip, and a bright, eye-catching colored protective cover, harking back to the classic colorful all-in-one iMac. Apple said that the new iMac is completely designed for the M1 chip.
The new iMac has a 24-inch 4.5K display with narrower bezels on the top and sides. It still has a large chin on the bottom, but the back of the screen is now flat instead of curved. Apple said sales are down by more than 50%. The display also has Apple’s True Tone technology, which can automatically adjust the color temperature.
Apple also promised to make much-needed updates to the iMac’s camera and microphone so it can be seen better during video calls. Now, it has a 1080p resolution and a larger sensor.
The thickness of the new iMac is 11.5mm, but Apple says it should be quieter and cooler than previous models due to the M1 chip. The company said the new model has “two small fans”, replacing the “big heating system” of the previous generation iMac.
There is also a new magnetic cable, which looks a lot like the old MagSafe cable, attached to the back. Ethernet can be connected to the power brick and transmitted over the same cable. Entry-level models will be equipped with two USB-C / Thunderbolt ports on the back, while high-end models will add another two USB-C ports (Thunderbolt is not supported). Unbelievably, there is still a headphone jack.
In addition to the new iMac, Apple also introduced matching keyboards, mice, and trackpads. The keyboard has a Touch ID button for logging in.
The new iMac starts at $ 1,299, though some of the colors are reserved for the higher-end $ 1,499 model. It will be available in the second half of May and will begin accepting orders on April 30. There are seven color options. The basic model is equipped with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of SSD. It can be upgraded to include up to 16GB of RAM and 2TB of storage.
This is the first iMac to switch to Apple Silicon, a chip designed in-house by Apple. The company first added Apple Silicon chips to MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini in November. Apple plans to eventually promote these Arm-based chips across its entire Mac product line. Although the transition means that macOS software must be updated to support the new chip, it has paid off so far. The first-generation Mac M1 was widely acclaimed and the new chip provides increased power and battery life.