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The 24-inch Apple iMac M1 (2021) has it allimportant, and changes were made where required. If you don't mind the thick white bezels around the display and the huge chin, you have the best all-in-one computer Apple has ever seen.
The word "Hello" is very important in the history of Apple,this is what you will see when you start your new iMac. It is reminiscent of the iMac's debut in 1984, and is a hint of what to expect from the new all-in-one. I tested a new computer, and I will share my opinion in the review.
Read also: Review of Apple iMac 27 5K (2020) fantastic candy bar
Specifications Apple iMac 24 M1 (2021)
Type of
Monoblock
Screen
Retina 4.5K at 4480 x 2520 pixels (218 ppi), True Tone, 500 nits, wide color gamut (P3)
CPU
Apple M1, 8-core, 16-core neural engine
Graphics
7/8 cores built into the M1
RAM
8/16 GB
Inner memory
256/512 GB and 1/2 TB SSD
System and software
macOS
Communication and connection
802.11ax Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, Gigabit Ethernet, 2 × USB 4 / Thunderbolt 3, 2 × USB 3.1 Gen 2, 3.5mm headphone jack
Camera
FaceTime 1080p, with image signal processing technology
Audio and sound
Six Hi-Fi speakers including subwoofer, Dolby Atmos spatial audio support, three directional microphone system
Video output
One 6K @ 60Hz
Other possibilities
Siri support, Magic Keyboard with Touch ID
Dimensions and weight
54.7 x 46.1 x 14.7 cm, 4.48 kg
Price
From 129 thousand rubles
Design and appearance
After Apple's presentation, the design of the iMac M1 was alarming for many. The candy bar has a very large "chin" under the display, when the colors caused a lot of questions.
There are seven body colors to choose from:orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, red and silver. And each of the shades in the front and back are slightly different. The front of the iMac 24 M1 (2021) looks nice - the colors are soft and not annoying. From the back, though, the computer looked a little pretentious and childish - especially the orange version.
In reality, everything is completely different.Light reflects pleasantly off the aluminum back surface, looking much more natural than you might think. The thickness of the Apple iMac 24 M1 (2021) is also striking - only 11.5 mm. This is less than many monitors, when for a monoblock the figure seems incredible at all. The computer can be placed anywhere - on any table or even in the kitchen, and it will not interfere.
The attention to detail is worth noting.The power supply and included Lightning cable are the same color as the front of the iMac - also touching the ultra-thin aluminum stand. Even standard screensavers on the desktop and many interface elements have the same shades. The design is holistic here: from physical elements to the operating system interface.
IMac 24 M1 screen (2021)
The display of the new Apple iMac 24 M1 (2021) impresses with incredible detail and wide viewing angles when the brightness is astounding.
The real screen diagonal is 23.5 inches,and the resolution is 4.5K (4480 × 2520 pixels). Even when you get close to the screen, you will not distinguish a single pixel. The pixel density is the same as the 27-inch Apple iMac 5K (218 ppi), but the brightness is higher. The maximum brightness reaches 530 nits, which is higher than most existing monitors. You will hardly need to set it above 75%, although on a bright sunny day, the maximum value will be useful.
The 24-inch iMac doesn't have a spray-on versionnano-textures on glass - Apple's matte finish that reduces glare on the screen. The display is glossy here, but it is surprisingly good at eliminating glare and reflections.
Apple iMac M1's excellent color profiles,100% sRGB and 90% AdobeRGB, which rivals the 27-inch iMac 5K and Microsoft Surface Studio 2. higher contrast.
Connectors and connections
Apple conceived the new 24-inch iMac as a versatile computer for everyday tasks, although for some reason there are not many connectors here.
We are already accustomed to this situation in the case ofcompany laptops, but desktop computers often require many peripherals to be connected. Unlike all other Macs, including the M1 Mac mini, the 24-inch iMac M1 (2021) only has two Thunderbolt 4s on the back. The headphone jack is located on the left side of the monitor, which is convenient.
If you are accustomed to using wirelessApple accessories, this won't be a problem. However, if you plan to connect multiple external drives, a monitor, and other peripherals, you will need to purchase a USB hub or Thunderbolt docking station. This is a clear flaw in the new Apple iMac 24 M1 (2021), although an Ethernet port is available on the PSU, it is not in the base version.
The computer is powered through a magneticMagSafe cable. The connection here is much more reliable - no one wants the iMac to shut down accidentally. Unlike the MacBook, Apple's all-in-one does not have a built-in battery, and you have to work hard to unplug the power cord.
Component performance
The 24-inch Apple iMac (2021) is powered by an M1 processor. It's the same chipset found in Mac mini, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and even iPad Pro.
If you've heard about the capabilities of the M1, the iMac 24 has youwill no longer surprise. But, you shouldn't worry about performance and the fact that the computer uses a mobile chipset. The Apple M1 inside the new iMac is incredibly powerful. The implementation of the M1 and the 24-inch all-in-one is the most powerful of all Apple devices so far. Although the difference is small - in the Cinebench R23 benchmarks, the multi-core performance is about 3% higher than that of the MacBook Pro and Mac mini.
In all configurations of the Apple iMac 24 M1 (2021) wewe get an 8-core processor, although there is a difference in the graphics cores (7 or 8 cores). The base build offers 8GB of RAM, while the extended 16GB and 1TB SSD. The latter also has two cooling fans, although you still won't hear them. 27-inch iMac with Core i9, this all-in-one is inferior in performance. It is suitable for editing, but video rendering will be 70-80% slower. But, many applications, including Adobe Premiere Pro, are not yet optimized for M1, after optimization the gain should be large.
Games were never the strength of the iMac,except for games on iOS and Apple Arcade. You will be able to run Fortnite and Civilization VI at medium 1080p settings at 50 fps, but no more. Overall, the iMac 24 M1 is no longer as disruptive as the first M1 devices. However, the performance of the new candy bar, given the thickness of the case, is impressive.
Webcam and sound
Apple M1 is not only responsible for computing tasks and graphics, processors have full access to the performance of all components: webcams, microphones, Touch ID technology and other options.
Thanks to this, Apple was able to improve the qualitywork functions to the limit. The 24-inch iMac's 1080p webcam features the same specs as the 27-inch version. In practice, in the new model, the camera copes noticeably better with low light - highlighting the skin and dark areas.
Apple iMac 24 M1 (2021) has six speakers, soundthey are loud and clean. The stereo effect creates a truly immersive experience when the bass is really tangible. The converters are more than enough to listen to music or watch movies, you only need headphones if you don't want to disturb others.
These small changes make the new iMac look so appealing.
Apple iMac 24 M1 (2021) add-ons
The iMac 24 M1 (2021) comes with two accessories: a Magic Mouse and a Magic Keyboard. The latter has a Touch ID, which users have been asking for for a long time.
Up to this point, the iMac did not have a biometricprotection, unlike other Apple devices - each time you had to enter a password. Magic Mouse is also slightly modernized, although not in the most successful way. Like the keyboard, it is colored to match the colors of your version of the iMac.
Alas, the inconvenient shape of the Magic Mouse case remainsusing peripherals for more than an hour is uncomfortable. Worse, you can't work with it while charging. Apple Magic Trackpad practically does not differ from the previous version, in the new only slightly rounded corners and added colors.
Total
Although the performance of the Apple iMac 24 M1(2021) is inferior to the 27-inch model, the power of the M1 processor is impressive. But, if you're using Apple's optimized apps, the 24-inch iMac is the perfect choice.
Perhaps the screen is not the largest, there are few connectors,and there is no discrete graphics card. But these problems should be solved by the next iMac Pro built for professional work. The 2021 24-inch all-in-one is more for everyday tasks.
Should I buy?
The 24-inch Apple iMac M1 (2021) is redefining the next-generation all-in-one and needs to be seen in person to truly appreciate.
Yandex Market Review of monoblock Apple iMac 24 M1 (2021) - video
Alexander Shaman Alexander has been writing foralmost two decades. Initially, he collected technology news for the local media. His love of science fiction has sparked an immense thirst for knowledge. Trying to understand how it works and whether it can work better, he gets so carried away, as if he is plunging into a trance. For this, among his colleagues at TehnObzor, he received the nickname - Shaman. The best iMac 24 of all time Design and construction 95/100 Display and display 95/100 Connectors and ports 90/100 System and control 95/100 Performance 95/100 Additional options 85/100 Total 92.5 M1 processor, multiple color options and a stunningly slim design. Advantages and disadvantages Extremely thin Reimagined design Powerful Apple M1 processor Better camera quality Color-matched accessories Fingerprint reader now available Still expensive Magic Mouse ergonomics Limited port selection