Apple’s new M1 iMac (2021) is an impressive reinvention of the all-in-one Mac we came to love for over a decade. Sporting a modern design, it replaces the previous model’s 21.5-inch screen with a more prominent 24-inch display.
It’s also considerably lighter than its predecessor, and it’s available in seven bold colors that match the keyboard, mouse, and trackpad and the elements of the user interface. Apple seems to be heading in an exciting direction without being afraid of showing its playful side.
If we look under the hood, we find the M1 chip instead of the Intel hardware we were previously used to. This is partially why the new iMac is smaller, lighter, and sleeker than its older brother.
The new iMac is a joy to work with, paired with the gorgeous 4.5K Retina display, high-quality speakers, and an HD webcam. It might not be the most powerful computer on the market since it doesn’t come with a dedicated GPU, but handling it is a smooth experience.
There are many reasons to love Apple’s M1 iMac, but the best of all is that we get all of these improvements for the same price as its predecessor. But will it truly live up to the hype?
Design
We’re happy to see that Apple decided to move in a different direction with their design considering that it was mostly unchanged since 2009. Overall, the new iMac looks utterly different while still maintaining that look that screams “Apple.”
Unlike its predecessor, it comes in seven colors: silver, yellow, orange, green, pink, purple, and blue. However, the basic model is limited to just four colors (silver, pink, green, and blue). The new paint job is a welcome one, especially since this color variety reminds us of Apple back in the early 2000s before switching to the gray color scheme.
Color aside, the new iMac has a slightly different shape as well. It’s more rectangular, matching the design of the latest line of iPhones, and it’s more compact thanks to the slimmer M1 chip.
The volume of the device shrunk by 50% despite increasing the size of the display to 24 inches. In essence, the new iMac is 30% smaller than its predecessor and significantly lighter (9.88 pounds instead of 12.52 pounds).
All in all, the new iMac looks modern, is more compact, and can easily be installed or carried around anywhere.
Display
Apple’s focus on making devices thinner is apparent when looking at the screen itself. The bezel around the display was reduced by nearly 50%. This is one of the main reasons why the new iMac seems so modern. Nobody likes old-school chunky screen borders.
The display itself is one of the highlights of this all-in-one system, thanks to the 4.5K Retina display (4480 x 2520 pixels) and its 218 PPI pixel density. This is a significant improvement over the previous model’s 4K resolution.
The screen delivers vibrant and accurate colors. The 500 nits brightness and P3 wide color gamut ensures that images are displayed accurately. This means the iMac is a solid choice for photographers, videographers, and content creators in general.
Performance
The 2021 iMac is the first iMac powered by the M1 chip that replaced Intel’s processors. The M1 CPU is the same 8-core processor used in the MacBook Air, Mac mini, and MacBook Pro. It also includes a GPU that has up to 8 cores.
The new generation iMac powered by the M1 chip is supposed to be significantly faster than the previous generation that relied on Intel processors. Along with 16GB of RAM, which is the most memory you can have with the new iMac, the apps you use should run quite fast. Furthermore, an SSD is included to load the app faster and transfer files at high speeds.
Overall, the new iMac is a solid multipurpose computer that should satisfy most users.
Connectivity
We’re excited to see how thin and light the M1 iMac is, but that comes with a downside. Apple’s focus on sleek designs pushed the designers to use a minimal number of ports.
The entry-level iMac comes with just two USB-C ports. The more expensive version includes two additional USB-C ports and a 1Gbps Ethernet port. There are no standard USB ports, HDMI ports, or SD card reader.
Connectivity feels somewhat lacking, and adapters will be required if you plan to use any device that doesn’t connect through a USB-C port.
Speakers
The sound quality is overall excellent, and the speakers complement the new iMac quite well. Most users won’t need external speakers to enjoy music and videos because the integrated speakers can fill an entire room without hearing distortion.
The bass is also pretty good, considering the size of the speakers. All in all, the speakers are better than what we find in other all-in-one computer systems.
Furthermore, the iMac comes with a three-mic array that can record your voice clearly from any direction. You shouldn’t have issues communicating with others, thanks to the noise-canceling feature that ensures a crisp sound.
Webcam
Apple improved the iMac’s webcam and upgraded the previous 720p camera to a 1080p HD camera. With a higher resolution and a larger sensor, the webcam performs well in low-light conditions as well. In addition, the M1 processor boosts the quality of the image further.
The new webcam records clearly, with accurate colors and unnoticeable lag (provided you have a good connection). If you work from home or rely heavily on video calls for social purposes, the new iMac offers a highly reliable webcam and mic.
Final Thoughts
The new M1 iMac is one of the best all-in-one computer systems you can buy without breaking the bank. With a sleek design and a more powerful processor, you can enjoy performing daily tasks on it, as well as editing photos and videos. If you’re a content creator or streamer, the iMac’s design is ideal for you.
On the other hand, if you’re on a tight budget, you might want to take a look at the Mac mini, which offers similar performance for a lower price. However, if your work demands a heavy-duty GPU, you’ll need to look elsewhere because the iMac’s integrated graphics can’t be compared to a dedicated GPU.