New Base M4 iMac Comes With 16GB of Unified Memory

Apple has equipped its just-announced M4-powered iMac with 16GB of Unified Memory as standard, up from 8GB of RAM in the previous model. The new iMac starts at $1,299.

Apple iMac M4 lifestyle 24 inch Retina display
As rumored, Apple has upped the base memory configuration of at least one of its latest Macs. It is the first time that the company has offered the ultra-thin all-in-one desktop computer with a minimum of 16GB of memory.

All of Apple's upcoming new Macs this year are likely to have at least 16GB of RAM pre-installed as standard, breaking a years-long tradition of Apple offering just 8GB of RAM in most of its base Macs and forcing customers to pay out an extra $200+ for additional memory.

The new iMac is available in a range of new colors, and the 24-inch 4.5K Retina display offers a new nano-texture glass option. The iMac also features a new 12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View, up to four Thunderbolt 4 ports, up to 32GB of Unified Memory, and color-matched accessories that include USB-C.

The new iMac is available to pre-order today, with availability beginning Friday, November 8. Apple is expected to announce new MacBook Pro models and a new redesigned Mac mini later this week.

Related Roundup: iMac
Buyer's Guide: iMac (Buy Now)
Related Forum: iMac

Popular Stories

iOS 18

iOS 18.4 Will Include These New Features for Your iPhone

Wednesday February 5, 2025 7:15 am PST by
iOS 18.3 was released last month, so the first iOS 18.4 beta should be coming soon. iOS 18.4 is expected to be a more substantial update for the iPhone, with several new features and changes related to Apple Intelligence and beyond. Apple's website suggests that iOS 18.4 will be released in April, following beta testing. Below, we outline what to expect from the update so far. Apple...
General Apple Invites Feature

Apple Launches New 'Invites' App

Tuesday February 4, 2025 8:00 am PST by
Apple today announced the launch of a new app called "Invites," which is designed to allow users to plan events like birthday parties, graduations, vacations, baby showers, and more. "With Apple Invites, an event comes to life from the moment the invitation is created, and users can share lasting memories even after they get together," said Brent Chiu-Watson, Apple's senior director of...
App Store vs EU Feature 2

Apple Says It Doesn't Approve of EU Porn App

Monday February 3, 2025 1:15 pm PST by
Apple does not approve of the "Hot Tub" pornography app that was released for the iPhone in the EU using alternative app distribution, Apple said in a statement to MacRumors. Further, Apple is concerned about the potential user safety risks with a pornography app, and says that it undermines consumer trust in the Apple ecosystem. We are deeply concerned about the safety risks that hardcore...
maxresdefault

An Apple TV Refresh is Coming in 2025 - Here's What You Should Know

Wednesday February 5, 2025 10:17 am PST by
Apple hasn't refreshed the Apple TV since 2022, but rumors suggest that we're finally going to get an update in 2025. We don't have a full picture of what to expect yet, but we have some hints on what's coming. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Updated A-Series Chip The current Apple TV 4K uses the A15 Bionic chip that was in the iPhone 13 lineup, and it's time for...
applecare apple care banner

Apple Raises Monthly AppleCare+ Subscription Price for All iPhones

Tuesday February 4, 2025 9:35 am PST by
Apple this week increased the prices for its monthly AppleCare+ subscription prices for the iPhone, raising the cost by 50 cents for all models in the United States. Standard AppleCare+ for the iPhone 16 models is now priced at $10.49 per month, for example, up from the prior $9.99 per month price. The 50 cent price increase applies to all available AppleCare+ plans for Apple's current...
iPhone SE 4 Single Camera Thumb

iPhone SE 4 Launching as Soon as Next Week

Thursday February 6, 2025 3:30 pm PST by
Apple's next-generation iPhone SE could debut as soon as next week with a launch to follow later in February, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple isn't expected to hold an event for the iPhone SE 4, and will instead unveil the device through a press release. The iPhone SE 4 is expected to have an iPhone 14-style design, with Apple eliminating the thick bezels and Touch ID Home button of...
iOS 18

iOS 18.3.1 Update Coming Soon for iPhones

Thursday February 6, 2025 7:31 am PST by
Apple is internally testing iOS 18.3.1 for iPhones, according to our website's analytics logs, which have been a consistently reliable indicator of upcoming iOS versions. The software update should be released within the next few weeks. iOS 18.3.1 should be a minor update that addresses software bugs and/or security vulnerabilities. Apple Intelligence notification summaries for news and...
disney

Disney+ Loses 700,000 Subscribers Following Price Increase

Wednesday February 5, 2025 3:34 pm PST by
Disney+ lost 700,000 subscribers worldwide in recent months, according to Disney's earnings results for the first quarter of 2025. Disney said it now has 124.6 million Disney+ subscribers, a decrease of 0.7 million compared to its subscriber numbers in the fourth quarter of 2024. The drop in subscribers comes after Disney+ prices increased in the fall. Disney+ with Ads went from $7.99 to...

Top Rated Comments

brofkand Avatar
15 weeks ago
I’m baffled they could afford to do this.
Score: 46 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Velli Avatar
15 weeks ago
Cue complaints that it’s not 32.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
btbeme Avatar
15 weeks ago
A powerful computer, with an outstanding display, intended to be the hub of your digital world, appropriate for editing your photos, creating your digital video content, and the centerpiece of your computing experience across all your devices.

In what world is 256gb of storage appropriate for that? 512? Do I really have to pay double the cost of the base machine in order to simply have 2tb of storage?
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
shurcooL Avatar
15 weeks ago
Woohoo! About time. Glad to have 16 be the new minimum. ?

Any predictions when the next bump will be? 24 or 32? In 2030-2039 or 2040+?
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NachoNoir Avatar
15 weeks ago
The problem has never been the base config in terms of RAM and storage. I understand that there's probably people well served by 8GB/256GB and they don't need to pay more (maybe not now with AI, but bear with me). The problem is the insane price of even the minimal upgrades.

Getting to 16GB/512GB from the base config should have always been much more reasonable, and that's the reason we're happy that 16GB is now standard; no need for a ridiculous $200 (230€) upgrade to get there. It's absurd that a Mac Mini is $600 (at least today) but you need to pay TWICE as much to get 16GB/1TB, which is a very standard configuration nowadays.

So, regardless of the 16GB base RAM, Apple has decided to stay at 256GB SSD once again. It's 2024, for crying out loud. Giving users a measly 512GB can't be that hard. Instead, Apple has chosen to leave base storage at the same point as a Pro iPhone, and to keep charging $200 (230€) to get to 512GB, or $400 (460€!!) for just 1TB. In 2024. Insane.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Slix Avatar
15 weeks ago
Now, can all you whiners stop complaining about RAM on here please. :p
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)