The M4 iMac that Apple launched Monday looks the same as its predecessor but brings some big changes internally. So, how does the M4 iMac compare to the M3 iMac, which arrived less than a year ago? Our M4 iMac versus M3 iMac comparison will show you  how the 2024 model ups the ante on performance.

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M4 iMac vs. M3 iMac comparison

Ever since the original model’s launch in 1998, the iMac has been among the world’s most popular all-in-one computers. The new M4 iMac is a complete package, featuring a 24-inch 4.5K Retina display in a slim profile, powerful internals and an amazing six-speaker setup.

Given the M4 iMac arrives just a year after the M3 iMac, does it pack any other improvements apart from a faster chip? Find out in our comparison.

Table of contents: M4 iMac vs. M3 iMac comparison

Design and display: Same package in new colors
The new iMac with Apple’s M4 chip comes in a parade of playful colors.Photo: Apple

M4 iMac: 18.1 inches x 21.5 inches x 5.8 inches, 4.42 kg; 24-inch Retina display, 4.5K resolution, 500 nits brightness, wide color (P3)
M3 iMac: 18.1 inches x 21.5 inches x 5.8 inches, 4.43 kg; 24-inch Retina display, 4.5K resolution, 500 nits brightness, wide color (P3)

From a design perspective, the M4 iMac looks the same as the M3 iMac (and the M1 iMac ). The dimensions are also the same. The only change is the new color options for the M4 model: green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, blue and silver. Unlike before, you can get the base M4 iMac in any of the seven colors. (The entry-level M3 iMac only came in four colors.)

The display on the M3 and M4 iMacs is also the same: a 24-inch Retina panel with a 500-nit brightness. The only change is that you can configure the M4 iMac with nano-texture glass, which reduces reflections and glare.

All M4 iMacs also ship with color-matched Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse accessories featuring a USB-C port (versus last year’s Lightning versions).

SoC: M4 vs. M3
Apple’s M4 chip is a powerhouse.Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

M4 iMac: M4 chip with 8-core CPU, up to 10-core GPU, up to 32GB unified memory, up to 2TB storage, hardware-accelerated ray tracing, 120GB/s memory bandwidth, ProRes encode and decode engine, AV1 decode
M3 iMac: M3 chip with 8-core CPU, up to 10-core GPU, up to 24GB unified memory, up to 2TB storage, hardware-accelerated ray tracing, 100GB/s memory bandwidth, ProRes encode and decode engine, AV1 decode

The 2024 iMac’s main highlight is Apple’s newest M4 chip. Fabricated on TSMC’s latest 3nm node, it offers a big leap in performance and efficiency. The base model M4 iMac, which Apple says features the “world’s fastest CPU core,” packs an 8-core CPU and GPU. While this is similar to the M3 iMac, the newer CPU cores and higher memory bandwidth deliver improved performance.

More importantly, the M4 iMac ships with 16GB of unified memory as standard. Compared to the base model M3 iMac’s 8GB of RAM, this will enable the M4 iMac to run multiple apps smoothly. You also can configure the machine with up to 32GB memory now — up from 24GB.

The M4 chip’s faster Neural Engine will enable the 2024 iMac to process Apple Intelligence and other AI/ML tasks faster. The additional horsepower also should come in handy in the future as Apple adds more features to its suite of AI tools.

Like before, the base M4 iMac ships with two USB 4 ports, with models starting from $1,499 featuring four Thunderbolt ports.

Thanks to the M4’s more powerful GPU, the new iMac can drive up to two 6K external displays.

Camera: A better FaceTime experience
The M4 iMac is a computer for the whole family.Photo: Apple

M4 iMac: 12MP Center Stage camera, Desk View support, 1080p HD video recording
M3 iMac: 1080p FaceTime HD camera with Center Stage support

The video calling experience gets a big boost on the M4 iMac. Apple upgraded the front camera to a 12MP shooter, a significant step up from the M3 iMac’s 1080p sensor. Besides Center Stage , which automatically keeps you in focus on video calls, the M4 iMac also supports Desk View. This uses the wide-angle lens to “simultaneously show the user and a top-down view of their desk, which is useful for educators presenting a lesson to students, or creators showing off their latest DIY project,” Apple says.

Price: Same as before

M4 iMac:  Starts at $1,299
M3 iMac: Started at $1,299

Despite the higher base unified memory and faster M4 chip, the 2024 iMac carries the same $1,299 starting price as its predecessor.

Conclusion: M4 vs. M3 is the same iMac experience, just better

The M4 iMac is not a gigantic upgrade over its predecessor. The faster M4 SoC is a welcome improvement, bringing a greater leap in performance that will come in handy in the future. And if you are heavily into video calls, the 12MP FaceTime camera is also a nice addition. However, none of these changes are big enough for you to upgrade from the M3 iMac.

However, if you own an M1 iMac and find it struggling to keep up with your workload, upgrading to the M4 iMac could be well worth it. Remember not to upgrade just for Apple Intelligence alone, as all Apple silicon Macs can run the suite of features currently rolling out.

Finally, if you own an Intel-based iMac, the upgrade to the M4 iMac is a no-brainer. The 2024 model brings a massive performance leap, greatly speeding up your workflow, as well as support for Apple Intelligence.

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