Apple is expected to hold another keynote this fall, possibly in October. The company will likely update some Mac and iPad models, including the iMac. Here’s everything you should expect from Apple’s next product iMac Refresh.
new M4 chip
Apple last updated the iMac in October of last year, upgrading from the M1 chip to the M3 chip. Fortunately, the iMac won’t be skipping chips again, and we expect the M4 chip, based on TSMC’s second-generation 3nm process, to power the iMac later this year.
This upgrades your iMac from an 8-core CPU to a 10-core CPU, increasing performance by approximately 20-25%.
USB-C Magic Accessory
There are no specific rumors regarding this, but Apple must migrate all new devices from Lightning to USB-C by the end of this year to comply with European regulations.
So we can expect the next iMac to bundle USB-C with the Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard, and Magic Trackpad.
Additional integrated memory
A previous report from Bloomberg indicated that all M4 Macs will launch with at least 16GB of RAM, according to information provided in the developer log. This also applies to M4-powered iMacs, so all base model iMacs will come with 16 GB of RAM across the board, with an optional upgrade to 32 GB of RAM.
Previously, the maximum RAM for the M3 iMac was 24 GB.
More Thunderbolt ports
The port situation on the 24-inch iMac has always been a little strange. There’s a cheaper base model with only two Thunderbolt ports, and a higher-end model with two Thunderbolt ports and two additional standard USB-C ports.
There’s nothing to indicate that Apple will increase the number of ports on the base model, but it’s entirely possible that all four ports on the higher-end iMac models will be Thunderbolt instead of 50/50.
According to an analysis of the M4 die shot by Fred on Twitter, Apple’s M4 chip appears to have four Thunderbolt controllers, compared to two prior to the M3 chip. This could mean that Apple could include four Thunderbolt ports in the next M4 iMac.
summary
While it’s a minor refresh, there are a few things you can look forward to if you’re in the market for a new iMac. Unfortunately, there are no rumors indicating that Apple is still working on a larger iMac or any other iMac Pro. At least according to Apple, the 24-inch iMac is the only one it makes for now.
If you don’t like the 24-inch iMac for any reason, be it its size, design, or the fact that it requires an external power source, you’re definitely disappointed. Apple recommends that if you want a larger iMac experience, you can purchase a Studio Display and pair it with your Mac of choice.
Are you looking forward to the M4 iMac? Let us know in the comments.
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