Image: Apple · source
iMac 24-inch (M1)
Seven colors, 11.5 mm thin, and an M1 chip behind a 4.5K screen.
Overview
The M1 iMac was the biggest redesign in the product's history since 2004. With the logic board shrunk, the whole computer measured only 11.5 mm thick, with a flat back in seven candy colors and a pale front border. The 24-inch 4.5K Retina display reached 500 nits with P3 color and True Tone.
The Apple M1 chip with an 8-core CPU and a 7-core or 8-core GPU provided the power, with 8 or 16 GB of unified memory and 256 GB to 2 TB of storage. A 1080p FaceTime camera, three studio-quality microphones and a six-speaker system with Spatial Audio were integrated.
A magnetic power connector with a braided cable supplied power and Ethernet on higher models. Apple also introduced the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID in matching colors.
Why it mattered
It reinvented the iMac in color and marked the end of the Intel iMac design era.
At a glance
- Announced
- April 20, 2021
- Released
- May 21, 2021
- Launch price
- $1,299
- Chip / processor
- Apple M1
- Display
- 24"
- Storage
- 256 GB to 2 TB
- Status
- Available
Highlights
- Seven color finishes, 11.5 mm thin
- 24-inch 4.5K Retina display
- Apple M1 chip
- 1080p camera and six-speaker audio
Tech specs
Specifications as published at launch. Some values (like battery life) are manufacturer estimates.
Display
- Size
- 24-inch
- Type
- Retina 4.5K, 500 nits, P3 wide color, True Tone
- Resolution
- 4480 x 2520
Chip
- Chip
- Apple M1
- CPU cores
- 8 (4 performance + 4 efficiency)
- GPU cores
- 7 or 8
- Neural Engine
- 16-core
- Process node
- 5-nanometer
Memory
- RAM
- 8 GB or 16 GB unified memory
- Storage options
- 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB SSD
- Memory bandwidth
- 68.25 GB/s
Ports
- Ports
- 2 Thunderbolt / USB 4 (plus 2 USB 3 and Gigabit Ethernet on higher models), headphone jack
Connectivity
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
- Bluetooth
- 5.0
Camera
- Camera
- 1080p FaceTime HD with M1 image signal processor
Audio
- Speakers
- Six-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio
- Microphones
- Three-mic array
Design
- Dimensions
- 46.1 x 54.7 x 14.7 cm (18.1 x 21.5 x 5.8 in) with stand
- Weight
- 4.48 kg (9.88 lb)
- Thickness
- 11.5 mm
Software
- Launch OS
- macOS Big Sur 11.3
In the box
- Accessories
- Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse in a matching color
Display support
- External displays
- One external display up to 6K at 60 Hz
Availability
- Announced
- April 20, 2021
- Released
- May 21, 2021
- Launch price
- $1,299
Colors
- Finishes
- Blue, Green, Pink, Silver, Yellow, Orange, Purple
How it compares
More in the iMac family
iMac (Early 2006)
The first Intel Mac, in the familiar white iMac G5 body.
iMac (Mid 2007)
The all-aluminum, glass-front iMac arrives.
iMac (Late 2009)
The first 27-inch iMac and the first Magic Mouse.
iMac (Mid 2011)
Quad-core Sandy Bridge and Thunderbolt in the iMac.
iMac (Late 2012)
Five millimeters thin at the edge, with no optical drive.
iMac with Retina 5K Display (Late 2014)
Fourteen and a half million pixels in one 27-inch screen.
iMac (Late 2015)
A 4K Retina display comes to the 21.5-inch iMac, plus wide color.
iMac (Mid 2017)
Kaby Lake, Thunderbolt 3 and brighter, wider displays.
iMac (2019)
Up to 8 cores and Vega graphics in the familiar iMac body.
iMac (27-inch, 2020)
The last Intel iMac, with a 1080p camera and a nano-texture option.
iMac 24-inch (M3)
Same colorful slab, now with the 3-nanometer M3 chip.
iMac 24-inch (M4)
M4, 16 GB of memory and a nano-texture glass option.