Early 24" iMac Reviews...

[MistrSynistr]

Just so we can keep track of how we like these things.

I'm coming from a 27" 5k 2015 iMac with 32GB of ram.

First to clear the air, the white/gray bezels are not a thing. You don't even think of them or 'see' them 5 mins into using the new iMac.

I have the blue color and it's sleek. In certain light the mouse/keyboard and stand look silver, and in others a nice light blue.

The chin is more baby blue but I hardly notice it especially in my room with darker blue walls.

Had a slight issue moving a 11.3.1 to a 11.3 with some beach balls and whatnot but once I upgraded the 24" to 11.3.1 it's smooth.

I do a lot of RAW photo work and in Photoshop they come up immediately and are more fluid than my 27". This is with 16GB of RAM vs 32 on the old Mac.

Screen size is much more fitting, I was cranking my neck trying to look at all the corners of the 27".

I'll post some desk set up photos in the next day or so.

Feel free to add on about your experience!

 

[4sallypat]

Just so we can keep track of how we like these things.

I'm coming from a 27" 5k 2015 iMac with 32GB of ram.

First to clear the air, the white/gray bezels are not a thing. You don't even think of them or 'see' them 5 mins into using the new iMac.

I have the blue color and it's sleek. In certain light the mouse/keyboard and stand look silver, and in others a nice light blue.

The chin is more baby blue but I hardly notice it especially in my room with darker blue walls.

Had a slight issue moving a 11.3.1 to a 11.3 with some beach balls and whatnot but once I upgraded the 24" to 11.3.1 it's smooth.

I do a lot of RAW photo work and in Photoshop they come up immediately and are more fluid than my 27". This is with 16GB of RAM vs 32 on the old Mac.

Screen size is much more fitting, I was cranking my neck trying to look at all the corners of the 27".

I'll post some desk set up photos in the next day or so.

Feel free to add on about your experience!

I like this thread - thanks @MistrSynistr !

Yes, the blue M1 iMac is much better in person than watching videos...

I am coming from a 21.5" 4K 2019 iMac which was a slug.

This M1 iMac is the base model w/ optional keyboard, ethernet & Pro Apps - all semi custom options delivered on launch day: 5/21.

Will be connecting a 24" Cinema and 27" Thunderbolt Display to compare side by side appearance..

Having used the base M1 Mini for 6 months, I will be comparing how Adobe CC works compared to Final Cut Pro on this iMac.

Still waiting for Apple to email me the keycodes for the Pro Apps Bundle (EDU)....

Wireless is amazingly fast even though I use wired ethernet....

 

[MistrSynistr]

I like this thread - thanks @MistrSynistr !

Yes, the blue M1 iMac is much better in person than watching videos...

I am coming from a 21.5" 4K 2019 iMac which was a slug.

This M1 iMac is the base model w/ optional keyboard, ethernet & Pro Apps - all semi custom options delivered on launch day: 5/21.

Will be connecting a 24" Cinema and 27" Thunderbolt Display to compare side by side appearance..

Having used the base M1 Mini for 6 months, I will be comparing how Adobe CC works compared to Final Cut Pro on this iMac.

Still waiting for Apple to email me the keycodes for the Pro Apps Bundle (EDU)....

Wireless is amazingly fast even though I use wired ethernet....
View attachment 1780570

Very cool! Your photo makes the stand look MUCH more blue than it is in person. Everyone who saw my new iMac was wowed with it. No one talked trash about bezels or colors, I think these will sell like crazy.

 

[glenthompson]

Very similar experience except I upgraded MacOS before moving stuff over. While working the light bezels are a non-issue. When screen is off, you do notice them more but it’s not objectionable. I came from a 2015 MacBook Air and the performance increase is amazing. My Air would occasionally get sluggish if I was doing a lot at once. Haven’t been able to overstress the iMac. I was using the Air with a Thunderbolt Display and it was just too large. Much prefer the 24”. After my wife has seen it she’s decided she wants one.

 

[Warped9]

I’m looking forward to see others’ firsthand real world experiences.

 

[za9ra22]

Mine is a blue 8/8/512, replacing a 2015 27-inch iMac with 2Gb fusion drive, which has been in use every day since it was new.

The new 24-inch is a bit smaller (of course) and since it is not as tall, it is far more comfortable to use. I used to try and keep windows away from the top/menu bar so I didn't have to continuously flex my neck up and down, and the 24 is rather more perfect in these circumstances.

It is also much easier to focus on what I'm doing, because - as you can see from the photo - my workspace is mostly beige (actually, off-white), and the black surrounds to the display were a distraction from the screen, and made the system seem even bigger than it was.

My desk now isn't so dominated by the system as it was, for which I'm grateful. And I must admit that I was second-guessing the color choice for the 3 weeks from ordering to delivery, but this is perfect! The dark blue on the back really pops when I come into the room, and the pale colors on the front are nicely subdued and fit in the space much better than silver and black. This makes that look very, very dated.

I'm going to dump the 'magic' keyboard in favor of a mechanical switch model, but the mouse can stay!

The iMac was delivered to my home on Friday, so I did a bit of the setup there over the weekend, but I brought it into the office this morning, because this is where it will be used. It was amazingly light to transport, though taking the 27-inch home will need a bit more muscle!

I've only been working this morning on installing software and some updates to our intranet, so not much to report in terms of speed and performance overall, but it is very responsive. Apps such as GIMP and LibreOffice open much faster, and there's no lagginess in the tools in EverWeb - which is not a great software tool, but good for rapid site updates.

Early days, but this is an update to my office systems that I've been looking for for a while, and so far, I'm very pleased with it. It looks thoroughly suited to the space, and it feels much smoother and sharper in performance than the 27-inch - which was fast enough, but did sometimes get a bit hesitant.

Only using 2 of the ports so far. My USB hub seems plenty good enough for what I need.

 

[za9ra22]

Ok, after a full day of use as the daily driver in the office, there are several observations to add to yesterday's.

First: Magic keyboard is horrid. Actually very marginally better than prior magic keyboards, but outclassed totally by my (gas-for-breath) white, TKL, black key with blue LED backlit mechanical keyboard. Yes, it means a USB cable stretching across my desk to the hub, but far more usable.

Second: The 24-inch positively flies in comparison to the 27-inch. Admittedly, the 27-inch was/is a 2015 model so that's not totally surprising despite the 2Tb fusion drive which is actually not bad, but the 24-inch is very, very smooth, much faster in disk operations, seamless to use, and doesn't baulk at all with my usually array of multiple apps open.

Third: The screen is incredibly sharp, and has extremely good contrast. Very easy to work with. Smaller than the 27 (well, duh) and I do miss a tiny bit of the extra space, but is far more readily contained in a single look - there's none of the looking-around-the-screen-for-something, which was a bit of a frustration at times in the past.

Fourth: The bezels. Actually the design overall, seems to make this rather more relaxing to use. The 27 was rather dominant because my desk isn't that deep so it always felt like it was really in my face, while the 24 is far more manageable and ergonomically suited to my workspace. And really, it doesn't have the distraction of a black border. I'm not a dark view user, and black bezels might suit that better, but trying it right now, I don't think so.

Fifth: It is a bit unstable. I'm used to the 27, which you couldn't wobble from side to side with much less than an earthquake, but the 24 can be tipped sideways much more easily. Of course typically you wouldn't be doing that, but snagging the power cable, or nudging the iMac while moving stuff on the desk can be a bit more alarming than I'm used to!

Sixth: Worth every penny. While this is subjective of course, people who talk about how this iMac is expensive or premium cost for what it is, really need to sit and use one for a while.

 

[neilw]

I have Blue/16GB/1TB, replacing a 2013 21.5". For me, the transition also includes a move from Mojave to Big Sur, which has mostly been fine.

To my eyes the new machine is beautiful. In use, the white bezel does not bother me, but I believe I would prefer black. When not in use, the white looks very good in concert with the rest of the machine. Unfortunately, my current desk setup completely hides the back of the machine; hopefully that'll change at some point.

I love the screen. This is my first retina desktop; it looks really good and the extra working space over my old 1080p display is very welcome. For me, this 24" is just about the perfect size.

Performance is very good, noticeably snappier than the old machine. The ML-enhanced functions in Pixelmator Pro are approximately 1 jillion times faster than the old machine.

Most of the day the machine is dead silent, and I can barely feel warm air coming from the vents. When I did a transcode of a movie using the latest native Handbrake beta, that maxed out the CPU and got the fans running to what I would guess was full blast, which was loud but not obnoxiously so, and then there was *plenty* of hot air coming out.

I only have a couple of apps that I use regularly running under Rosetta2, and it is seamless and they perform fine.

The speakers seem very good; I haven't used the front camera yet.

Overall: big thumbs up from me. Originally I had hoped this machine would come with an M1x and allow me to get 32 GB, but now I realize that it really wasn't necessary. This machine will suit me just fine for years.

 

[azentropy]

Received the Blue iMac mid-model today (Costco). This is for my parents to replace their 2011 21.5" iMac but I'm putting it through its paces before taking it over this weekend to swap out.

The darker blue on the back and the blue stand/keyboard/mouse are absolutely gorgeous colors and work well together. However not a fan of the flat baby blue chin at all. Not sure why they didn't use one of those same colors/material for the chin even if it was covered in glass. As others pointed out, it doesn't look like the promo pictures or even the pictures on the box itself in my lighting. It just looks really mismatched to me.

Seems super quick and was super easy to set up. Screen is sharp, however as expected I don't like the light bezels. They do cause me eye strain. Not something I'd want to go back to and was a reason I didn't get iMacs for myself back when they had light bezels previously.

It is really light which has it's pros and cons. It is really easy for me to tilt my 2019 27" iMac with one hand. For the 24" I have to use two to keep it from sliding around or tipping over. I think the hinge is tighter too.

I did just a few speed comparisons with my iMac and also with my 7-core M1 MBA with a custom app (written in Java). It is slightly faster than the MBA, but did get quite warm running one of my stress tests compared to the MBA. It was very warm to the touch on the back under the power plug and the fans did kick in. This same test on my old 2020 13" i5 MBP (with 32GB of RAM) would cause it too to get very warm and blast the fans almost immediately. It does the same on my i9 iMac (with 40GB RAM). The 24" iMac and the MBA outperformed the 2020 MBP, however the 27" iMac with 8 performance cores was faster overall by about 25% under full load which is really impressive. When Apple releases Apple Silicon with more than 4 performance cores it is going to be amazing. The single core performance is already fantastic and in those tests it was nearly 2x as fast.

The front camera for FaceTime looks leaps and bounds better. It handles the different light conditions much much better.

Speakers are quite good. They don't go as loud as the 27", but the quality seems to me just as good. Of course I'm 50 now and have attended too many Metallica concerts so my hearing isn't what it used to be either!

Anyway, nice machine overall. My parents are going to love it. I wouldn't get one for myself because of the light bezels. I also do really wish the chin was the same color as the base. I love that color - it reminds me of the Steel Blue Metallic BMW that I had for 17+ years.

 

[Apple_Robert]

These kind of actual user reviews are what should be focused on, versus the unicorn and rainbow Apple paid for YouTuber yes people reviews.

Thanks, gents.

 

[Altis]

These kind of actual user reviews are what should be focused on, versus the unicorn and rainbow Apple paid for YouTuber yes people reviews.

Thanks, gents.

Yeah they're pretty insufferable these days -- influencers rather than reviewers, really. Owner reviews tend to be more helpful and offer more real-world perspectives.

Following this thread to see how things go. I'm tempted by the silver model, but it's a whopping CAD$900 more than the similarly-spec'd M1 Mini (CAD$1050 vs $1950).

 

[Apple_Robert]

Yeah they're pretty insufferable these days -- influencers rather than reviewers, really. Owner reviews tend to be more helpful and offer more real-world perspectives.

Following this thread to see how things go. I'm tempted by the silver model, but it's a whopping CAD$900 more than the similarly-spec'd M1 Mini (CAD$1050 vs $1950).

That is a huge difference, indeed.

 

[Dazultra1]

Its a great computer but it a kids/mums/girls computer! ;/ Let’s be honest it rediculously small screen size is like going back over a decade in computer use. It’s a fun sized computer. even the keys feel small. I had to hock it up to an ugly 32” monitor which defetes the point. So i think it will be going back for the base model. And. Then wait for the real size to be released. I hate the way apple dose this! They do it every tIme. At least give us a hint at what is coming so we can wait. I do love the new mini led iPad and keyboard though. Both improvements on the old. Once you have seen mini LED its hard to want anything else

 

[Warped9]

Too many seem to think it’s a child’s computer.

WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!!

Too many also seem to think it’s a replacement for the 27in.

WRONG, WRONG WRONG!!

It’s the replacement for the 21.5in. The 27in. replacement will be released later this year.

🙄

 

[iPadified]

Too many seem to think it’s a child’s computer.

WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!!

Too many also seem to think it’s a replacement for the 27in.

WRONG, WRONG WRONG!!

It’s the replacement for the 21.5in. The 27in. replacement will be released later this year.

🙄

I agree 100%. Size and colours are preferences and has nothing to do with professionalism, gender or age. Too many have apparently issues with their masculinity.

 

[AVonGauss]

Deleted.

 

[glenthompson]

For me the 24” was a perfect replacement for my MBA with Thunderbolt Display. When using it the white bezels disappear and are less noticeable than the black bezels when in light mode. If you like dark mode it might be different.

 

[Surfman]

Mine is a blue 8/8/512, replacing a 2015 27-inch iMac with 2Gb fusion drive, which has been in use every day since it was new.

I just sold my iMac today same model, got $1500AUD had 24gb ram, just using my new 12.9” iPad Pro for now, 4-5 week wait here.
Is the 8gb ram enough?

 

[mattopotamus]

I actually prefer the 24" size rather than a larger display, if I wanted a TV (ehm, presentation monitor) on my desk, I would just get one. I think you were partially joking, but I wish Apple would stop associating screen size with performance.

I use to always use the multiple desktops via "3 finger swipe up" and two monitors. but once I upgrade to a larger screen, I much prefer everything open on a single display. Can't wait to check these out in store to see if 24" will work for me because not using the display defeats the purpose.

 

[petvas]

Too many seem to think it’s a child’s computer.

WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!!

Too many also seem to think it’s a replacement for the 27in.

WRONG, WRONG WRONG!!

It’s the replacement for the 21.5in. The 27in. replacement will be released later this year.

🙄

Yes, and it will be 30" or 32" big. This is too big for me and that's why I will switch to the 24" iMac.

 

[4sallypat]

....
Is the 8gb ram enough?

Yes, the 8GB M1 iMac is more than enough for 90% of users.

I am a daily M1 Mini user with 8GB (Base model) and it runs so much faster than any of my Intel Macs.

Unless you plan on using intensive graphics, 4K/8K video editing, large photo files, etc....
If you are planning on using more robust apps & files, then plan on getting the 16GB version.

As Luke Miani and I agree on reselling values buying the base Macs:

 

[Warped9]

Yes, the 8GB M1 iMac is more than enough for 90% of users.

I am a daily M1 Mini user with 8GB (Base model) and it runs so much faster than any of my Intel Macs.

Unless you plan on using intensive graphics, 4K/8K video editing, large photo files, etc....
If you are planning on using more robust apps & files, then plan on getting the 16GB version.

This is something I am thinking about. I have a 2011 21.5 with an i7, 32GB RAM and 500GB SSD. I do 3D modelling with SketchUp and Maxwell Rendering. My current setup handles it well (for its vintage) so I’m wondering the M1 with 16GB should do well in comparison, but should I wait for the availability of 32GB given I want the computer to last me several years? And remember we cannot upgrade the RAM or processor in these machines.

I am also in the camp where the 24 display would be a welcome step up from 21.5, but not be overwhelmed by a 30-32 machine.

 

[4sallypat]

This is something I am thinking about. I have a 2011 21.5 with an i7, 32GB RAM and 500GB SSD. I do 3D modelling with SketchUp and Maxwell Rendering. My current setup handles it well (for its vintage) so I’m wondering the M1 with 16GB should do well in comparison, but should I wait for the availability of 32GB?

I am also in the camp where the 24 display would be a welcome step up from 21.5, but not be overwhelmed by a 30-32 machine.

16GB M1 will outrun any Intel machine of the past.

Don't confuse Intel RAM and Apple Unified Memory - they don't perform the same.

I had Intel 16GB and 32GB Macs and they don't compare to my measly base 8GB M1 Mini and base M1 iMac.

Once people stop being brainwashed from Intel chipped systems that needs more and more RAM equalling performance, Apple has flipped Intel upside down...

Try it out - you will find there is no need to go above 16GB - for 99% of users.

 

[neilw]

As Luke Miani and I agree on reselling values buying the base Macs:

For my last Mac, I made an exception to my own rules and maxed out the CPU and memory, specifically for the purpose of being able to run Logic Pro without limitations. As it turned out, it worked out well. I haven't used Logic so much, but the machine worked fine for me for over 7 years. I feel certain that if I had gone with a lower spec model (particular if I went with 8 GB) I would have had to replace it sooner.

Maybe getting a cheaper machine every 4 years would be better, but given that I am willing to stick with a machine as long as it continues to perform satisfactorily, I've changed my thinking and now am more likely to up-spec things for better longevity. Not usually all the way up, but definitely above the base model.

 

[za9ra22]

Its a great computer but it a kids/mums/girls computer!

Well, on behalf of all the users who have bought one of the new iMacs, and who are not among the kids/mums/girls group (which I must say, is a bit homogenous, there are some girls who are more like boys than boys, and some boys who are more like girls than girls, and some mums who are dads too, and some dads who are mums too, but you don't mention these) I would like to thank you wholeheartedly for pointing this out while we're all in the 14-day returns/refund window.

I'm sure that none of us really want to be stuck with a computer that isn't made for us. Even if it is great.