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iMac 24” — Wait for M2/M3 or Buy Now?
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Tough pickle. If you can swallow the idea of using a laptop as a desktop, there's a brand new MacBook Pro coming soon that has M2 Pro and M2 Max chips (better than standard M2), which you can preorder. However, if you *really* want an iMac, and you have a decent device on hand that you can use until then, you should wait.
Really depends on what your current and anticipated needs are. I do a lot of graphic design, a little video and audio editing and find the M1 iMac is incredibly zippy and fast for everything I've managed to throw at it. The only thing that seems to slow it down is when I've got several user accounts running at the same time (work, home, and a third one my wife uses) and it hiccups for a moment right after switching. I'd consider upgrading to some new iMac would be if they finally released a bigger display, on par with the 5K Intel iMacs -- but otherwise I'm good.
Maybe your needs are more demanding. If you're on the fence you could always get an M1 iMac, try it out through the return window and make the call then. If it suits your needs, you could stick with it and know you can upgrade to an M2 iMac further down the road, when you could probably pick one up as a refurb or on sale.
Maybe your needs are more demanding. If you're on the fence you could always get an M1 iMac, try it out through the return window and make the call then. If it suits your needs, you could stick with it and know you can upgrade to an M2 iMac further down the road, when you could probably pick one up as a refurb or on sale.
OP: It's a bummer that they didn't update the iMac.
Depends on what you do with the machine. The M1 is really good. And the iMac is a great package (if you are okay with the screen size). Arguably the best "value" in the line-up. I had one and ultimately replaced it because I couldn't deal with the screen size (it's beautiful otherwise)
I will say this: the M2 is noticeably faster loading web pages than the M1. The M1 is by no means bad - the improvement from Intel to Apple Silicon is much bigger than the delta b/w the M1 and M2. But the M2 is demonstrably faster.
Depends on what you do with the machine. The M1 is really good. And the iMac is a great package (if you are okay with the screen size). Arguably the best "value" in the line-up. I had one and ultimately replaced it because I couldn't deal with the screen size (it's beautiful otherwise)
I will say this: the M2 is noticeably faster loading web pages than the M1. The M1 is by no means bad - the improvement from Intel to Apple Silicon is much bigger than the delta b/w the M1 and M2. But the M2 is demonstrably faster.
Are you set on an iMac?
Another option could be the new 2023 mid tier Mac mini M2 (8-Core CPU, 10-Core GPU, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) at $799 plus an LG 5k 27" monitor at $1100 for a total of $1899.
Compared to the 2021 top tier iMac (8-Core CPU, 8-Core GPU, 8GB RAM, 512GB SDD) for $1,699.
So for $200 more you get a bigger monitor, a little faster processor and perhaps an extra year of macOS upgrades.
And if you are willing to wait a few more months, Samsung is coming out with the ViewFinity S9 5k 27" monitor that may be comparably priced to the LG monitor I recommended above but with an aesthetic closer to the Apple Studio Display.
Another option could be the new 2023 mid tier Mac mini M2 (8-Core CPU, 10-Core GPU, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) at $799 plus an LG 5k 27" monitor at $1100 for a total of $1899.
Compared to the 2021 top tier iMac (8-Core CPU, 8-Core GPU, 8GB RAM, 512GB SDD) for $1,699.
So for $200 more you get a bigger monitor, a little faster processor and perhaps an extra year of macOS upgrades.
And if you are willing to wait a few more months, Samsung is coming out with the ViewFinity S9 5k 27" monitor that may be comparably priced to the LG monitor I recommended above but with an aesthetic closer to the Apple Studio Display.
Looks like Apple's upgrading most M1 based hardware to M2. I think the probability of an iMac M2 and M2 Pro is quite high this year. If you don’t need the hardware acceleration for video or the additional RAM, then get the M1 now. It will disappear from the lineup this year (probably earlier than later).