Webcam on 2020 27” vs 2024 M4 24” iMac

[pedregosa]

I have a 2020 27-inch Intel-based iMac — i.e., the last version of the 27-inch model. And it is the entry-level configuration (8MB RAM, 256GB SSD, etc.). It’s been a solid workhorse and still is. But it’s obviously showing its age. I am a heavy Zoom user for my work. I frequently host events that can run for hours. The webcam on my 27-inch iMac is decent (better than on the Studio Display). But I think the one on the new 24-inch M4 iMac may be better still. So I’m contemplating switching. I love the display on my 27-inch model, but think I’d be fine with the smaller one.

If anyone has any experience with — or thoughts about — the webcam on the new M4 iMac, I’d be most interested.

 

[GeneticBloom]

I don't have any experience with the old one, but I got my M4 iMac on Friday and was really impressed with the webcam when I was testing it out. It's better than the Logitech 1080p one I used to use, and pretty significantly so in light. Center stage is really cool also, and even when it crops in to focus on you, the image still looks great.

 

[wilberforce]

I have both machines (2020 iMac and M4 iMac). From my end, the M4 webcam looks natural and sharp, but of course what matters is how it looks and sounds for the people on the other end of the Zoom meeting, which I don't know. Center stage is useful in that it compensates for incorrect tilt of the iMac. However if you do long presentations you may wish to have more control of exactly what is in view, and thus not use center stage. Instead, you can turn off center stage and manually pan and zoom the view. This is very useful and much better than physically moving the iMac around to get just the right view transmitted to others. This is easy to do even during a meeting.
I notice that Zoom appears to sometimes crop (about 0.75x) the video on the M4 iMac webcam, which somewhat negates its higher resolution and wider field of view.

 

[mysticmanix]

Center stage on the M4 corrects for tilt when even continuity camera with iPhones don't, this is a significant upgrade in my opinion. I've tested it on both the iMac and Macbook Pro. With laptops the tilt is even more severe and it still auto-corrects.

 

[butterwm]

We just got the new M4 iMac and coming from a 27” intel iMac. I can tell you the webcam quality is night and day compared to the older iMac. Sound is a lot more natural too. We also own M2 iPads and a M1 MacBook Pro and the camera quality on the new iMac is better than those too. It is definitely a welcome upgrade!

 

[GeneticBloom]

We just got the new M4 iMac and coming from a 27” intel iMac. I can tell you the webcam quality is night and day compared to the older iMac. Sound is a lot more natural too. We also own M2 iPads and a M1 MacBook Pro and the camera quality on the new iMac is better than those too. It is definitely a welcome upgrade!

What do you think about the size coming from the 27"? Online people are always complaining that 24" is too small, but I got mine and I think the size is just fine. I don't find myself wanting more screen real estate.

 

[TSE]

The newest webcam on the iMac m4 is the best webcam on the market today.

 

[wilberforce]

We just got the new M4 iMac and coming from a 27” intel iMac. I can tell you the webcam quality is night and day compared to the older iMac. Sound is a lot more natural too. We also own M2 iPads and a M1 MacBook Pro and the camera quality on the new iMac is better than those too. It is definitely a welcome upgrade!

Rather depends on which model year of 27" iMac you are coming from. The webcam (and sound) on the 2020 27" iMac was a great improvement over previous model years.

 

[butterwm]

What do you think about the size coming from the 27"? Online people are always complaining that 24" is too small, but I got mine and I think the size is just fine. I don't find myself wanting more screen real estate.

I think we are going to be alright. Only had it setup for a few days now but already getting used to the new size. If anything, it isn’t as massive on the desk as the 27” was. This was a big concern of mine too but I gave up waiting for another 27” iMac to come to the market.

 

[pedregosa]

Rather depends on which model year of 27" iMac you are coming from. The webcam (and sound) on the 2020 27" iMac was a great improvement over previous model years.

Exactly. But it appears the M4 24-inch webcam is better still.

 

[GeneticBloom]

I think we are going to be alright. Only had it setup for a few days now but already getting used to the new size. If anything, it isn’t as massive on the desk as the 27” was. This was a big concern of mine too but I gave up waiting for another 27” iMac to come to the market.

Yeah, I quite like it actually. Takes a little adjustment at first, but it fits very nicely on my desk that is 55"x28".

 

[GeneticBloom]

The newest webcam on the iMac m4 is the best webcam on the market today.

It really looks nice. You aren't going to be able to find one that even completes unless you are buying a 4K model.

 

[fstevens]

I set up my new M4 iMac last night, moving from a 2019 27" iMac. I haven't made any actual video calls, just started up FaceTime to take a look at the webcam quality. Granted, the room I'm in has great light right now, but wow! It's kind of better quality than I'd like, actually . . . Being WFH since COVID, I have been relying on the crappy webcam connected to my work computer (we can't use our own equipment) to compensate for not bothering with makeup . . .