(Credit: Apple)
Expect three days of Mac announcements this week as Apple pushes its Apple Intelligence generative AI features.
The company kicked things off on Monday by introducing a refreshed iMac, which now features the M4 processor. It launches on Friday, Nov. 8, starting at $1,299.
In a video, Apple SVP for Engineering John Ternus says the launch of Apple Intelligence today with iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 "begins a whole new era for the Mac."
(Credit: Apple)Apple promises to unleash a smarter Siri and generative AI capabilities through built-in writing and imaging tools. Although Apple Intelligence will be available for Macs with the M1 chip and up, the company says users will receive the best performance using the M4 processor, which includes a 16-core neural engine dedicated to AI-related processing.
The M4 debuted in May, but not on the Mac. Apple decided to launch it on the iPad Pro. Surprisingly, the M4 has yet to arrive for MacBooks, but that’s expected to change this week.
(Credit: Apple)In the meantime, the company is bringing the processor to the 24-inch iMac, touting it as an upgrade for users looking for a speed boost. “With M4, iMac is up to 1.7x faster for daily productivity, and up to 2.1x faster for demanding workflows like photo editing and gaming, compared to iMac with M1,” which launched in 2021.
Ternus added: “With Apple Intelligence, it’s the world’s best all-in-one for AI.” Specifically, the M4’s neural engine is up to three times faster compared with the AI processing on the M1 chip. The other big change is that the new iMac starts with 16GB of unified memory, up from 8GB, while retaining the $1,299 starting price.
(Credit: Apple)To further improve the iMac, the company fitted an upgraded “12MP Center Stage camera,” which will keep people centered during video calls. For the first time, users can also buy an iMac with the “nano-texture glass" option, which will reduce glare and reflections on the 24-inch display. But that will cost an extra $200.
The iMac will be available with an 8-core or 10-core M4 chip. The 10-core model starts at $1,499 but features four Thunderbolt 4 ports rather than two. Apple also adds more more color options—yellow, purple, and orange—alongside blue, green, pink and silver. Stay tuned for our hands on and review.