M4 24-inch iMac vs M3 24-inch iMac compared — Apple's iconic Mac gets a speed boost

Apple's launch of the new M4 iMac comes months after the chip first debuted in the 2024 iPad Pro. It also arrived in same week that the M4 Mac mini and M4 MacBook Pro were unveiled.

This refreshed M4 iMac replaces the M3 iMac that went on sale in October 2023. With a familiar design, it's fair to say that all the biggest changes are on the inside.

Apple's refreshed M4 iMac is exactly the same size as the outgoing model, albeit a machine that is lighter by just 0.08 pounds. That's 9.79 pounds for the M4 iMac vs the 9.87 pounds of the M3 iMac.

With that in mind, it's no surprise that the two iMacs look identical on the outside.

While the two iMacs are offered in the same colors, that doesn't mean they look identical. Buyers will notice that the green, pink, silver, orange, yellow, blue, and purple have different hues compared to the previous model.

The M3 24-inch iMac.

In terms of actual dimensions, the iMac measures 18.1 inches tall by 21.5 inches wide. The depth with the stand included comes in at 5.8 inches.

This upgraded M4 iMac's identical design to the previous model also means that the display is the same as well. It's a 24-inch panel with a 4.5K resolution and a brightness of 500 nits.

As has become the norm for Apple's Mac displays the M4 iMac includes both P3 wide color and True Tone support.

Where things do differ is the option for a nano-texture finish on the M4 iMac's display. The finish diffuses light to minimize reflections but it does cost an additional $200 so it won't be for everyone.

The M4 chip is the big news here and it's offered in 8-core and 10-core CPU configurations. Four of those are performance cores regardless of which chip you choose, but the 10-core chip has two additional efficiency cores for a total of six compared to the 8-core's four.

Both of the M4 chips offered come with a 10-core GPU, matching the previous-gen M3 chip. The older chip is only available with eight CPU cores, however.

In terms of other key specifications, M4 iMac buyers can configure up to 32GB of RAM compared to the 24GB limit of the M3 iteration. The base configuration has also been doubled to 16GB for the M4 iMac, up from just 8GB in the M3 variant.

That memory is also faster with a memory bandwidth of 120GB/s topping the M3 chip's 100GB/s while both machines have the same 16-core Neural Engine. Apple's M-series Media Engine is unchanged and retains support for hardware-accelerated H.264 and HEVC support, among others.

While the built-in camera might not be a key reason for many people to buy a new iMac, the M4 variant does offer a notable upgrade. While the M3 iMac has a FaceTime 1080p HD camera the M4 iMac features an upgraded 12-megapixel Center Stage Camera.

The new camera means buyers can look forward to support for Desk View and 1080p video recording in an iMac for the first time.

A close-up of the display and webcam of the M3 24-inch iMac

The same six-speaker audio system with support for wide stereo sound and Dolby Atmos has made the switch from the M3 iMac to the M4 iMac.

A built-in 3.5mm headphone jack and a studio-quality microphone array are also present, too.

Those buying the M4 iMac can choose up to a 2TB SSD which is the same as the previous model — albeit only if you choose the four-port model. The base 256GB model also remains with 512GB and 1TB options also available.

Accessories provided include a Magic Keyboard and a Magic Mouse, with a Magic Trackpad are also available. All of these accessories offer USB-C connectivity and charging.

The rear port selection of the four-port M3 24-inch iMac variant.

Connectivity options are also the same across the board, with the M4 iMac featuring Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) wireless networking and Bluetooth 5.3 support.

Around the back, the two-port M4 iMac has a pair of Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports that are upgraded to four Thunderbolt 4 ports when choosing the upgraded model.

Gigabit Ethernet is a configurable option on the two-port model while it's standard on the four-part iMac. This all closely mimics that of the M3 iMac although the older model is limited to two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports and two USB 3 ports when buyers choose the four-port configuration.

Apple has stuck to the $1,299 starting price for the M4 iMac while upgrading to the four-port model means paying an additional $200.

M4 24-inch iMac vs M1 24-inch iMac - The Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse

Upgrading to 24GB of RAM costs $200 while a 512GB SSD costs the same $200. A larger 1TB option is available for an additional $400.

Those looking for the most storage can choose the 2TB model for an additional $600 but, again, this option is only available on the $1,699 four-port M4 iMac.

Apple ships the M4 iMac with a Magic Keyboard as standard but an extra $30 can be handed over to receive a Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keyboard instead.

The simplest approach to choosing a new iMac is to buy the newest model wherever possible. The M4 iMac comes with some nice upgrades, not least that new chip with more cores and improved performance.

Apple's decision not to increase the price of the iMac with this refresh also makes the M3 version less appealing. There are instances where things might not quite be that simple, however.

Third-party retailers often sell older models at a discount to make space in their warehouses. That means you might find a great deal on an M3 iMac while stocks last.

While the M4 iMac is undoubtedly the better model we would recommend checking M3 iMac sale prices before placing your order. Especially if you don't find the new upgrades compelling.