Apple iMac gets M3 treatment: 10 things you need to know about the all-in-one

The all-new M3 chip brings notable gains in processing power, with up to 2x faster CPU performance and 50% faster graphics compared to the M1 chip. Everything from productivity apps to intense creative workloads and immersive gaming sees speed boosts thanks to the updated 8-core CPU, up to 10-core GPU, and advanced capabilities like hardware ray tracing. Additionally, the all-in-one features a 1080p FaceTime camera and studio-quality mics for video conferencing. Audio is handled by a six-speaker sound system with support for Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos for a theater-like experience.

The 24-inch 4.5K Retina display features over 11 million pixels, 500 nits brightness, P3 wide colour, and supports over 1 billion colours, delivering a vivid, detailed, and immersive viewing experience. The display is ideal for work, creativity, gaming, and entertainment.

Compared to the most popular 27-inch Intel iMacs, the new M3 model offers up to 2.5x faster performance, making it a major upgrade. The 24-inch 4.5K display also replaces both the 21.5-inch and 27-inch Intel models in a slimmer, more modern design.

The latest macOS Sonoma release brings useful new features to unlock the full potential of the iMac, like desktop widgets, engaging video conferencing tools, Safari improvements for productivity, stunning new screensavers, and Game Mode for incredibly immersive gameplay.

Apple utilises 100% recycled aluminium, rare earth magnets, tin, and gold in manufacturing the new iMac and is carbon neutral for global corporate operations. The company aims for full carbon neutrality across the entire manufacturing supply chain by 2030.

The new M3 iMac retains the incredibly slim 11.5mm profile. It also comes in the same spectrum of seven vivid colours first introduced with the M1 model back in 2021, allowing customers to choose the perfect colour for their space.

The iMac features a colour-matched keyboard, mouse, and trackpad and the higher-end models also get the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID. Touch ID lets users unlock their computers, use Apple Pay securely, and change user profiles quickly with Fast User Switching.

Thanks to Continuity features like Universal Clipboard, iCloud, and Handoff, the iMac delivers a seamless experience with iPhone, iPad, and other Apple devices. Users can seamlessly transition tasks between devices for a unified Apple ecosystem.

The new iMac starts at Rs 1,34,900 for the base model with an eight-core CPU and an eight-core GPU with 256GB of storage. You can also opt for a higher-end model with an eight-core CPU and a 10-core GPU with either 256GB or 512GB of storage for Rs 1,54.900 or Rs 1,74,900 respectively. More expensive configurations also offer additional USB-C/Thunderbolt ports and faster Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, providing flexibility for connectivity.

The new M3 iMac launched in October 2023, over 2 years after the debut of the M1 model in April 2021. If Apple maintains a similar product cadence, the next major iMac update with a new chip and features may not arrive until 2026.