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I've got an intel iMac 27" that is near the end of it's life cycle and I need to replace it. Was hoping for an M4 imac but all I see is the Mr 24". Can't use this with the photo work I do. I can wait for the M4 Studio which I hope will show up this week (but was hoping for a less expensive mini) but was wondering if the 24" M4 imac might do the trick with a 27" Apple diplay added for the needed real estate. Any thoughts or suggestions?
MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 15.0
Yo, I feel you on needing that screen space for photo work. The M4 iMac 24" is solid performance-wise, but yeah, the 24" display could feel cramped if you're used to that 27" beast. Your idea of pairing it with a 27" Studio Display is smart—it’ll give you that extra real estate without sacrificing quality.
But if budget’s a factor and you need something now, the 24" iMac with an external display could hold you over.
[Edited by Moderator]
Yo, I feel you on needing that screen space for photo work. The M4 iMac 24" is solid performance-wise, but yeah, the 24" display could feel cramped if you're used to that 27" beast. Your idea of pairing it with a 27" Studio Display is smart—it’ll give you that extra real estate without sacrificing quality.
But if budget’s a factor and you need something now, the 24" iMac with an external display could hold you over.
[Edited by Moderator]
Apple has bumped the RAM on the 24" iMacs.
The base model has a limit of one external display, but the higher-end models have support for up to two external displays. Looks like Apple must have upgraded some variants of the M4 chip to have the hardware needed to drive three displays (total).
They're still including only two Thunderbolt / USB4 ports on the base model. No extra USB-C (USB) ports. But on higher-end models, all four of the USB-C ports are Thunderbolt / USB4 ones.
Personally I'd just get a Mac mini and add the display you want. There are 3 5K displays available (Apple, LG & Samsung) however there are a lot of 4K displays available too at less $$. You do not indicate the type of photo work you do so it's a little difficult to make a more accurate recommendation. What would be helpful to us is to let us know what apps you use and the type of photo work do, if it's your profession, a hobby or you are doing light photo touch-up such as what you can do in the Photos' app.
Apple has not announced any iMacs with displays larger than 24" so if you want more screen real estate the choices are the Mac mini, Apple Studio or of course the Mac Pro.
An iMac would be fine for those two apps, however if you want a larger display as mentioned the two options today are the Mac mini and the Mac Pro or you can buy a 1 larger display and connect that to an iMac for a total of 2 displays. Remember to check the iMac's specs to verify the external display resolution options if you are considering that option.
If you are in the position to wait for new hardware to be announced and released then of course that is an option too. However, as Apple does not broadly announce future releases you have to speculate on your own on what they may or may not release. For example, there were rumors for years about an Apple car however, that died on the vine last year. Meaning anyone waiting for one needed to go out and get something else. That is the risk one takes when speculating.
Please do not speculate on these forums, this violates the Terms of Use you agreed to. I am referring to your mention of an Apple Studio M4, Apple has not announced these. Yes I am aware of what the rumor sites say, however please remember they are rumors at this point.
zaazo wrote:
The M4 iMac 24" is solid performance-wise, but yeah, the 24" display could feel cramped if you're used to that 27" beast.
[EDIT] I thought that the current 24" iMac had a M3 chip – not a M4 one. It looks like Apple has just announced 24" M4 iMacs, which aren't shipping yet, but which will be available starting November 8, 2024.
Mac minis and Mac Studios are still on M2-family chips.
In the past, Macs always got new M-series chips first, but this time, the iPad Pro got the M4 before any Mac did.
I do mostly plant and flower photography for a weekly column I write. Also insect and bird photography. I'm using Lightroom and Photoshop.
Thanks
Need to replace iMac 27
