Mac Buyers Guide 2025: Which Mac or MacBook should you buy?

What is this? The iMac is what Apple is famous for, even if the current design is as far from the original as you are. can get. This is the Mac to have in a living room or office reception area – somewhere you can display it.

What’s new? In October 2024, Apple introduced the M4 version of the 24-inch iMac. Not much has changed since the 2021 redesign, which represented the first major update in over a decade, with a sleeker design and a choice of seven vibrant colors (slightly lighter hues for 2024).

Who is it for? The iMac is suitable for both novices and demanding users. It can handle both general and heavy-duty tasks, although those looking for a replacement for a 27-inch IMac or iMac Pro may want to wait and see if the rumored iMac Pro ever materializes, or settle for a Mac mini Pro (above) or Mac Studio (below). It is ideal for someone who needs to purchase a complete computer setup (keyboard, mouse or trackpad and monitor) and wants to maximize workspace efficiency. The 24-inch iMac is a design icon that will look great in any office.

How much does the iMac cost? When the iMac M4, Apple lowered its prices outside the United States. The three standard configurations start at $1,299/£1,299 for the entry-level model, $1,499/£1,499 for the mid-range and $1,699/£1,699 for the top-end.

What are the specifications? The 24-inch iMac uses Apple’s M4 chip, the same M4 found in the 14-inch MacBook Pro, but in each case there’s half the storage and the price is $100 less. Several configurations are available as well as made-to-order options:

• Apple M4, 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 16GB memory, 256GB SSD, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, $1,299/£1,299.
• Apple M4, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB memory, 256GB SSD, four Thunderbolt 4 ports, $1,499/£1,499.
• Apple M4, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB memory, 512GB SSD, four Thunderbolt 4 ports, $1,699/£1,699.
• Apple M4, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 24GB memory, 512GB SSD, four Thunderbolt 4 ports, $1,899/£1,899.
• Additional options: 32 GB of memory; up to 2TB of storage

What are the display specifications? The 24-inch 4.5K Retina display has 11.3 million pixels and supports P3 wide color gamut, over a billion colors, 500 nits of brightness and True Tone. Apple treats the screen with an anti-reflective coating to aid readability. The display has not changed since the launch of the M1 model.

How do I connect things? The $1,299 24-inch iMac has two Thunderbolt 4 ports that also work with USB-C devices. The $1,499 and $1,699 iMacs have four Thunderbolt 4 ports (the previous generation had two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports and two USB 3 ports). If you have a USB-A device, you need to purchase an adapter, such as this one from Apple ($19/£19). If you have multiple USB-A devices and other items, consider a Thunderbolt hub. The 24-inch iMac also has a headphone jack on the side.

Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 are integrated. Apple does not put a Gigabit Ethernet port on the 24-inch iMac, but on the power adapter. But this Ethernet-equipped power adapter comes standard with the $1,499 and $1,699 models. It is not included with the $1,299 model, but you can select it as an option at the time of purchase – and yes, that means you’ll have to pay extra for it.

How fast is he going? : Since the 24-inch iMac has the same M4 as the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro, its speed is very similar. That means it’s fast. It offers all the speed consumers need and can handle professional applications without issue. However, the $1,299 model only has one fan inside its body, while the $1,499 and $1,699 models have two. This means that expensive models do a better job of keeping internal components cool. The $1,299 model may need to slow down its performance during heavy tasks in order to maintain an appropriate temperature.

Any other considerations? We think the iMac is priced high for the specs offered, but we admire the design. We are waiting for a bigger screen.

Why we recommend the iMac (M4): The iMac was significantly improved when Apple introduced the 24-inch model in 2021, from design to screen to performance. But we hope the rumors that Apple could launch an iMac Pro model are true. If you’re buying one, the ideal model is the $1,499/£1,499 model, which gives you more ports, Touch ID and Ethernet.