iFixit Tears Down 24-Inch M1 iMac [Updated]

Apple last Friday released the first M1 iMac models to customers and began selling them in stores, and iFixit has now started one of its traditional teardowns on the new machines.

ifixit imac teardown 1
iFixit is tearing down the mid-tier purple ‌iMac‌ model with an 8-core CPU, an 8-core GPU, and 8GB RAM. It's worth noting that the internals of this model will look different than the internals of the base model with a 7-core GPU as the two machines have different cooling systems.

The base ‌iMac‌ has a single cooling fan and a heat sink while the higher-end 8-core GPU models have two fans and a heat pipe along with heat sinks, so expect the internals to look different if you have a 7-core GPU ‌iMac‌.

The teardown starts off with a detailed x-ray, and the x-rays are always fun to look at because they give us a look at the internal components without opening up the machine. There are two main metal plates inside and an RF passthrough for antenna hardware in the Apple logo.

ifixit imac teardown 2
The ‌iMac‌ is sealed with what iFixit says is "classic ‌iMac‌ adhesive," which is not as gloopy and hard to work with as adhesive Apple uses for products like the iPad.

Since the front of the ‌iMac‌ is a single piece of glass, there's no separate front to the chin that blocks access to the internals as on past models. The chin houses the logic board, and there are two fans blowing inward. A copper heatpipe and two short heatsinks draw heat away from the ‌M1‌.

iFixit detailed the components on the logic board, which include SK Hynix memory, Kioxia NAND flash storage, and an Apple-designed ‌M1‌ SoC, Bluetooth/WiFi module, and power management IC, among other components.

There is a "mystery button" with three LEDs below it, that iFixit says will be revealed later. iFixit also plans to share Magic Keyboard Touch ID sensor details, info on the speakers, and a repairability score.

iFixit's teardown won't be completed until tomorrow, but MacRumors readers interested in seeing inside the ‌iMac‌ can follow along on the iFixit website as new components and details are unveiled.

Update: iFixit has now completed part two of its teardown, giving us a full look inside the ‌iMac‌, the ‌Touch ID‌ Magic Keyboard, and power supply.

Related Roundup: iMac
Buyer's Guide: iMac (Neutral)
Related Forum: iMac

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Top Rated Comments

ian87w Avatar
53 months ago

I wonder what that mystery button is.
It's the self-obsolescence button. Tim Cook will go to your house during Thanksgiving and press that button so you will have to buy a new iMac for Christmas... :D
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dlewis23 Avatar
53 months ago
Can't wait for a larger more "Pro" iMac. Hoping for a 30" display.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jclardy Avatar
53 months ago
I feel like it is a bit sad with all the bezel space + free space + thickness in the machine they couldn't add the center stage camera from the iPad. The 1080p camera is a nice upgrade, but then they one-upped themselves in the presentation a few minutes later having a much better camera in a thinner, cheaper, and smaller tablet.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SamRyouji Avatar
53 months ago
I just love that the X-ray shows the Apple logo on the back is perfectly center aligned with the rounded-square internal area in the middle.

That's what I called obsession: the desire to perfectly design anything down to the smallest detail, even if it's just an alignment between something you see and you don't.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
1madman1 Avatar
53 months ago

I just love that the X-ray shows the Apple logo on the back is perfectly center aligned with the rounded-square internal area in the middle.

That's what I called obsession: the desire to perfectly design anything down to the smallest detail, even if it's just an alignment between something you see and you don't.
I'm going to assume you've never seen inside an iMac before - that "rounded square" IS the logo. It's a plate thats hot staked (or now maybe glued?) into a gap in the back panel.

The actual square in the middle of the logo is a WiFi antenna - as the logo is plastic it's the only place on the back they can put it.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nexusrule Avatar
53 months ago

I feel like it is a bit sad with all the bezel space + free space + thickness in the machine they couldn't add the center stage camera from the iPad. The 1080p camera is a nice upgrade, but then they one-upped themselves in the presentation a few minutes later having a much better camera in a thinner, cheaper, and smaller tablet.
Cheaper? It’s a 11-13” tablet, half or less than half the screen estate, way lass glass and metal, no thermal system, no mouse, no keyboard… the iPad is more expensive than the iMac.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)