Compare the Apple iMac 24 inches M3 (2023) to the Apple iMac 24 inches M1 (2021)
View the Apple iMac 24 inches M3 (2023) and Apple iMac 24 inches M1 (2021)
- With the Apple M3 chip, you can work smoothly and quickly in programs like iMovie and Adobe Photoshop.
- With 8 graphics cores, apps and graphic tasks don't slow down.
- On the 4.5K Retina display, you can see much more detail than on a Full HD screen.
- The storage and RAM aren't expandable, because they're built into the chip.
- With 8 graphics cores, apps and graphic tasks don't slow down.
- On the 4.5K Retina display, you can see much more detail than on a Full HD screen.
- The Apple M1 chip is less fast and energy-efficient than the M3 chip.
- The storage and RAM aren't expandable, because they're built into the chip.
Comparison of the Apple iMac 24 inches M3 (2023) and Apple iMac 24 inches M1 (2021)
| Apple iMac 24 inches (2023) | Apple iMac 24 inches (2021) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Apple M3 chip | Apple M1 chip | |
| RAM | 8GB | 8 or 16GB | |
| Design | Not updated | Updated | |
| Screen | 4.5K Retina IPS panel | 4.5K Retina IPS panel | |
| Storage | 256 or 512GB SSD | 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB SSD | |
| Video card | Shared Apple M3 chip | Shared Apple M1 chip |
Processor
Apple iMac 24 inches (2023): Apple M3
The new Apple M3 chip is more powerful, more energy-efficient, and up to 2 times faster than the M1 chip. Graphics tasks in programs like iMovie and Photoshop run even smoother than with its predecessor. It's still only 1 chip for the processor, video card, and RAM. Thanks to the new 3-nanometer technology, the distances between the components in the chip are even shorter. As a result, all processes run even faster.
Apple iMac 24 inches (2021): Apple M1
The Apple M1 chip is faster and more energy-efficient for macOS than the older Intel processors. It's an all-in-one chip that contains the processor, but also the graphics card. As a result, the RAM is no longer expandable. So keep this in mind when you purchase this model. The iMac 2021 models have at least 8GB of RAM. Want to get started with editing large 4K or 8K videos? Choose the iMac with 16GB RAM.
Video card
Apple iMac 24 inches (2023): support for professional apps
The Apple iMac 2023 gets an M3 video card, just like the new MacBook Pro models. This card is about 50% faster than the M1 Max video card. This allows you to run professional editing programs smoothly and to process images much faster. You can choose between an M3 chip with an 8-core or 10-core video card. The 10-core version requires more power, but processes your media faster. This makes it better suited for the most demanding photo and video editing tasks. In addition, the M3 chip supports extra functions for AI tools.
Apple iMac 24 inches (2021): Apple M1 by default
The 2021 Apple iMac models have an M1 video card, which means they're much slower than the new models. Despite this, this video card still works as fast as an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650. The M1 Max remains comparable to an RTX 2070. You can still edit photos and videos without the iMac slowing down, but you can't use new additions like ray tracing.
macOS Sonoma
Both Apple iMac models work well with macOS Sonoma. This operating system was released on 26 September 2023 and runs on all iMac models from 2017. With this operating system, you can expand your Apple ecosystem further. In addition, your Apple devices work together even better. You can set up an interactive desktop and enjoy a smoother image via Game Mode, for example. Thanks to the new M3 video chip, you can enjoy slightly faster images with the Apple iMac 2023 than with the iMac 2021. Want to know more about macOS Sonoma? We'll explain everything to you in the following advice article.
Conclusion
The biggest changes are inside the Apple iMac. The M3 processor is about 35% faster than the M1 processor of the 2021 model. In addition, the video card even runs 65% faster, with extra support for AI tools and the macOS Sonoma Game Mode. The Apple iMac 2023 is more future-proof. And thanks to the new additions of the M3 chip, you can enjoy it for work for years to come.
