The embargo has lifted on reviews of Apple’s new 24-inch iMac, powered by the same M1 chip that powered the 13-inch MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and Mac Mini that debuted last year. We’ve collected colorful new computer impressions below.
The most interesting aspect of the new iMac is its long-awaited redesign, an ultra-slim 11.5mm chassis that comes in seven vibrant colors, including green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, blue and silver. The VergeIts Monica Chin says the new colors have generated a lot of interest on TikTok and are “obviously a hit with a certain crowd”:
I’m not entirely sure that Jazia’s models would fit particularly well outside of stylish homes and offices. But I will say: I’ve never seen so many of my friends, or so many people on TikTok, as excited about a tech product as they seem to be about colorful iMacs. The colors are a nice change, not offensive and clearly a hit with certain crowds.
As seen in benchmark results last week, the new iMac benefited from the M1 chip’s impressive performance, with Chin noting that there’s never been a better iMac to buy for general day-to-day tasks:
This iMac model scored higher on the Geekbench 5 single-core benchmark than any Mac we’ve seen before — even the iMac Pro. This means that if you’re looking for a device for simple everyday tasks that doesn’t measure up to every available CPU core (and that seems to be the main demographic that Apple is trying to sell this machine to), there’s literally never been more for you to buy. Good iMac.
Benchmark results revealed that the new iMac is up to 56% faster than the previous high-end 21.5-inch iMac with an Intel Core i7 processor.
The VergeVideo review of:
written for six colorsJason Snell commented on the controversial bezel around the display:
The bezels around the display itself are a neutral grey. It’s effectively a gradient, targeting your peripheral vision with bright colors, but that accent fades until you’re left with what’s on the display. It works really well, though I imagine it would be a pretty dramatic contrast if you’re someone who likes to use dark mode in a brightly lit room. (I’m a light mode person myself, and I found the overall effect pretty mellow. But then, my office walls are orange.)
The GuardianIts Samuel Gibbs says the new iMac is the best 24-inch all-in-one computer available:
There’s no doubt that this is the best 24in all-in-one computer available and one of the best Macs you can buy. But it’s not perfect. The lack of USB-A ports and an SD card slot means users need adapters for older gear, but it’s the fact that Apple still hasn’t made the iMac height adjustable that’s most annoying. You can buy the 24in iMac with a universal VESA mount so you can add your own adjustable stand. Third-party height risers, iMacs balanced on books or paper rims will be a common sight for years to come.
The Wall Street JournalJoanna Stern:
We’ve rounded up links to more iMac reviews below:
- Rene Ritchie A iMore
- Devindra Hardawar Engadget
- At Joanna Stern The Wall Street Journal
- At Dan Ackerman CNET
- At Tom Brant PCMag
We also have a roundup of iMac unboxing videos, including the new color-matched Apple logo stickers included in the box.
Check out the color-matched Apple logo stickers from Dave Lee’s review video:
The new iMac has been available for pre-order since April 30 and will start arriving to customers on May 21. The new iMac will be on display at most Apple Store locations starting May 21 in all seven colors.
