iMac With M4 Chip Reviews: Nano-Texture Display Option and Center Stage Camera Tested

[MacRumors]

The new iMac will launch in stores and begin arriving to customers this Friday. Ahead of time, the first reviews of Apple's latest all-in-one desktop computer have been shared by select media outlets and YouTube channels.

While the iMac did not receive any major design changes this year, the computer can be configured with a matte nano-texture display for the first time in the Apple silicon era. This $200 upgrade option reduces reflectivity and glare on the screen, which can be helpful if you use your iMac near a window or under bright lights.

Six Colors' Jason Snell on the nano-texture display:

Using a nano-texture-covered display is a little weird—the reflections just stop at the screen edge, as if by magic. It works incredibly well. And most of the time, in more normal lighting conditions, I didn't really notice the nano-texture being there. (Yes, if you look closely you will notice a light scatter that can reduce contrast a bit.)

CNET's Matt Elliott:

Our M4 iMac test model featured the $200 nano-texture glass display upgrade. It was very effective in combating glare and reflections as I moved the iMac around my house to see how it stood up to direct sunlight or a bright overhead artificial light. In every instance, it did its job of keeping distractions away. As impressive as the nano-texture glass is, you probably don't need it if you plan to place your iMac in a room with normal lighting conditions. It's a feature that's more valuable on a MacBook or iPad that you will use in a variety of spots, including outdoors.

The new iMac is powered by Apple's latest M4 chip. Based on the results that were available in the Geekbench 6 database as of writing, higher-end iMac configurations with the 10-core M4 chip achieved an average score of 14,512 for multi-core CPU performance, compared to an average of 11,711 for the previous iMac with the highest-end 8-core M3 chip. That means the new iMac is up to nearly 25% faster than the previous model.

Apple has upgraded the iMac with a 12-megapixel front camera that supports Center Stage, a feature that keeps you centered in the camera's view as you move around. The new iMac and MacBook Pro models are the first Macs that support Center Stage without needing to be connected to a Studio Display. There is also a Desk View feature that shows your face and an overhead view of your desk at the same time.

Forbes' David Phelan on the Center Stage camera:

There are no other visible differences between the new iMac and last year's model, although the front facing camera is a different component, now called the Center Stage camera.

This comes with a feature called Desk View which means you can show your physical desktop as well as what's on screen to people at the other end of the call. This works very well. The camera is excellent and where some people had previously complained that video call quality was subpar, here it seems pristine, clear and highly watchable.

Macworld's Roman Loyola:

The M1 and M3 iMacs have a 1080p FaceTime camera that was…fine. It worked, but it wasn't impressive. With the M4 iMac, Apple finally upgraded to a 12MP Center Stage camera, the same one Apple introduced to the Mac lineup in 2022 through its Studio Display. Why we had to wait over two years to see it on an iMac only Apple knows, but it’s here and it's fantastic.

Jason Snell of Six Colors shared a side-by-side comparison of the Studio Display camera (left) and new iMac camera (right):

Many other new features and changes are straightforward: the iMac now officially supports dual external displays for the first time since it still used Intel processors, all configurations now have a minimum of 16GB of RAM, all four rear USB-C ports on higher-end configurations now support Thunderbolt 4, and there are refreshed color options. In addition, the Magic Mouse and Magic Keyboard accessories included in the box with the iMac are now equipped with USB-C charging ports, instead of Lightning ports.

Unboxing Videos

Article Link: iMac With M4 Chip Reviews: Nano-Texture Display Option and Center Stage Camera Tested

 

[jb310]

Looks like it's time for a new desktop Mac for me... happy holidays indeed.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

So, it’s not the same camera module as the Studio Display. Great news!

 

[sw1tcher]

It seems the days of real product reviews have been replaced by marketing disguised as reviews.

 

[BB1970]

It seems the days of real product reviews have been replaced by marketing disguised as reviews.

Not totally. Iphonedo still does a good comprehensive review of products. Thermometers etc for heat etc .. he gets into the weeds. I generally trust his takes

 

[Jay Tee]

I have windows behind me: just increase iMac's brightness a nudge.

If you still need this feature, for a desktop, you'd be better off rethinking your setup.

Glad it's an option though.

 

[HailstormX]

Hopefully they update the studio display with that camera and add 120hz.

 

[the future]

Not totally. Iphonedo still does a good comprehensive review of products. Thermometers etc for heat etc .. he gets into the weeds. I generally trust his takes

One man‘s comprehensive is another man‘s geeky. What percentage of the target market for an iMac needs (or wants) to know the temperature inside the machine? Very close to zero.

 

[markcres]

I am put off by the keyboard. I have a mechanical keyboard on my Windows PC as I do a lot of writing. The iMac keyboard is too thin and not suitable for a lot of typing. They should provide an option for a 'proper' mechanical keyboard.

 

[adamw]

Looks like all the new Mac models with M4 chips are a winner. I look forward to trying the new M4 Mac mini when my order arrives.

 

[klasma]

the reflections just stop at the screen edge, as if by magic

So it seems that Apple stupidly still made the bezel glossy, like on the iPad.

 

[Corefile]

It seems the days of real product reviews have been replaced by marketing disguised as reviews.

Apple product "reviews" that sound totally orgasmic from certain members of the in-crowd. It's gotten to the level of an Apple employee talking about being "thrilled" to announce the latest widget. They use every superlative in the book to describe the widget. I find it creeping in at work where somebody says in an email that they're "incredibly excited" to roll out a new version of Firefox. I mean, really?

 

[GeneticBloom]

I am put off by the keyboard. I have a mechanical keyboard on my Windows PC as I do a lot of writing. The iMac keyboard is too thin and not suitable for a lot of typing. They should provide an option for a 'proper' mechanical keyboard.

You can use any keyboard you want on the iMac also?

 

[ApplesAreSweet&Sour]

It seems the days of real product reviews have been replaced by marketing disguised as reviews.

Agree.

These days, you really have to wait for the not-on-Apple's-payroll channels and influencers to put out their reviews to actually get one.

The term "review" has definitely lost its meaning.

-I'm not looking for anything super in-depth on the tech in these machines. But when there's no mention of downsides, value, comparison to competing brands or the last model, etc., then it's really more what I consider "hands on" with the product.

 

[videojanitor]

You can use any keyboard you want on the iMac also?

Sure. I use a Logitech MX Keys keyboard with mine, connected via Bluetooth, as well as a Logitech trackball.

 

[BB1970]

One man‘s comprehensive is another man‘s geeky. What percentage of the target market for an iMac needs (or wants) to know the temperature inside the machine? Very close to zero.

I’d rather someone go overboard and I can take what I want from it than simply an overview with no real information beyond what the marketing says

 

[the future]

I’d rather someone go overboard and I can take what I want from it than simply an overview with no real information beyond what the marketing says

And maybe – just maybe – there is a grey zone between these extremes where most of the reviews actually are.

 

[svish]

Happy to see the bright colours being retained on the iMac.

 

[Geekett]

What really p… me off is the lack of Target mode (use the iMac as a monitor display) and that the nano texture option is not available for base model
They give 16 go ram on the base model but they now milk the money back on the upgraded models

 

[GeneticBloom]

I got mine on Friday. I didn't have any of the previous versions, but the new webcam is definitely better than the one on my M3 MacBook Air and the one on the M1 Pro MacBook Pro I had. It's better than the external 1080p Logitech one I used to use also. After so many models have bad cameras, I'm really happy with this one. Center stage is really cool also. I have the M4 iPad Pro which has it, but I've never used FaceTime on it to actually try it out.