Why the chin on the M1 iMac?

[NeonIbis]

That X-ray picture suggests there are technical advantages (if not outright needs). Even if it was unnecessary, it makes the iMac more interesting and distinctive. It would look like any old monitor otherwise. Plus, it's a handy spot for post-it notes (even if they don't stick as well these days).

Quite apart from that, I don't see the problem. Who stares at the bottom border of a screen? I also wonder if the very use of the word 'chin' is part of what people object to. It's a nice shiny strip of glass. Not a chin.

 

[ADGrant]

That X-ray picture suggests there are technical advantages (if not outright needs). Even if it was unnecessary, it makes the iMac more interesting and distinctive. It would look like any old monitor otherwise. Plus, it's a handy spot for post-it notes (even if they don't stick as well these days).

Quite apart from that, I don't see the problem. Who stares at the bottom border of a screen? I also wonder if the very use of the word 'chin' is part of what people object to. It's a nice shiny strip of glass. Not a chin.

I don't see the problem either but I don't think the decision to retain the chin was driven by any technical advantages, the chin is part of the iMac design language and Apple chose to retain that design language when designing the M1 iMac.

 

[rpmurray]

Has anyone made a decal of the Apple logo that could be placed on the chin to make it look more like a real iMac?

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

The chin houses the compute unit, leaving the actual screen area primarily for the screen, antenna and part of the speaker enclosure.

It's no secret that the company has been more focused on putting utility and function before form since the Apple Silicon transition and Ive's departure from the company. The new iMac design makes sense from this standpoint and I would argue is very attractive, at least continuing to give the device a personality that's unique to Apple.

 

[theluggage]

What issues? My 2020 iMac has a 10 core i9 and a 5700XT behind the screen. Much hotter than the tiny M1 in the iMac.
Why does thinness matter in a desktop Mac?

The 2020 iMac has a huge bulge at the back and gives the illusion of being thin by tapering the edges. There’s a lot more space for “gubbins” inside.

I don’t know why Apple decided to make the new iMac so thin apart from “form over function” - but that decision is why it still needs a chin. To get rid of the chin you’d have to go back to the drawing board- you can’t “just” get rid of it.

 

[russell_314]

What issues? My 2020 iMac has a 10 core i9 and a 5700XT behind the screen. Much hotter than the tiny M1 in the iMac.
Why does thinness matter in a desktop Mac?

Apple designs products for what they think most customers want. Some people are limited in space so thin is better. For me if it was ten times as thick it would be a non issue. For me the chin is a non issue as well. Other than trying to put something under the screen I don’t see how it’s a negative. I mean if it was a huge chin on the side then it’s taking up desk space but not below it.

I think it was a design choice and it’s simple as that. Just like it was a design choice to make the new Air without a bevel or the iPhone edges squared off. Many of these choices will have people who like and dislike them. I like the square edges of the iPhone but not so much taking away the bevel on the Air. The chin I really don’t notice so don’t have feelings about it.

 

[Isengardtom]

Both the Chin and white bezels are non issues for me. I really like the aesthetic of this computer and it fits much better in my apartment than the silver black bar iMacs ever did.

The chin is just something where you recognise the iMac with, just like you recognise the iPhone via the notch, and the home button before that. If they removed it, it would just look like any other monitor. This makes the computer look a little taller and gives it a friendly look.

It's all a matter of personal taste / opinion but for me it's the best looking (and performing) computer I've ever owned.

 

[ignatius345]

Both the Chin and white bezels are non issues for me. I really like the aesthetic of this computer and it fits much better in my apartment than the silver black bar iMacs ever did.

The chin is just something where you recognise the iMac with, just like you recognise the iPhone via the notch, and the home button before that. If they removed it, it would just look like any other monitor. This makes the computer look a little taller and gives it a friendly look.

It's all a matter of personal taste / opinion but for me it's the best looking (and performing) computer I've ever owned.

Agree. Also the area below the screen (sorry, but the "c*in" term is straight-up idiotic) is the a nice place to see the color on the front of the machine, aside from the stand. In practice, it also elevates the bottom of the monitor to a good sight line. Without it, you'd be seeing a lot more of the stand, or you'd be putting your iMac on some stupid little separate riser or something to get it up to the proper level for looking at.

I think they found a nice way to tuck away much of the internals of the machine behind that lower bezel while also giving the whole thing a good aesthetic balance that gestures back to past iMacs.

 

[AL2TEACH]

I still can't figure it out a year later, does someone have a better idea?

Have you tried getting in touch with Apple about this question?

 

[MYZ]

What? There's hardware in the chin. Check out this pic:

The entire chin is used. You don't want anything like that directly behind the LED panel because that can cause all kinds of heating issues (and it'll make things thicker).

Indeed the issue of heat was addressed in a previous comment.

The poster also raised the possibility of better bass response though I think that is unlikely as resonance chambers have diminishing returns on size.

 

[chrono1081]

Indeed the issue of heat was addressed in a previous comment.

The poster also raised the possibility of better bass response though I think that is unlikely as resonance chambers have diminishing returns on size.

It doesn't though. There's much more room in that users iMac than there is in the thinner iMacs.