The new Apple iMac has twice the performance thanks to the 3 nm Apple M3 chip

After a hiatus spanning over two and a half years, the Apple iMac is receiving a much-anticipated upgrade. The revamped all-in-one iMac M3 2023 transitions from the previous Apple M1 to the cutting-edge 3 nm Apple M3, a shift that, according to Apple’s promotional material, doubles its performance. However, this claim comes with a caveat, applying only under specific circumstances. The upgraded M3 iMac now boasts configurations with up to 24 GB of RAM and a capacious 2 TB SSD storage option.

In tandem with the release of the new MacBook Pro lineup featuring the Apple M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max, Apple has also breathed fresh life into the 24-inch iMac, marking its first update since April 2021. The iMac M3 2023 retains its slender 11.5 millimeters thin profile, the characteristic wide chin, and the vibrant 4.5K display, which dazzles at 500 nits brightness. Remarkably, despite the enhancements, the iMac’s weight remains unchanged at 4.48 kilograms.

A notable addition is the introduction of the Apple M3, supplanting the aging Apple M1. Fabricated using TSMC’s advanced 3 nm process, the chip purportedly delivers ample power for tasks such as editing 100MP photos and ProRes videos. Apple boldly proclaims a twofold performance increase, a statement that demands a healthy dose of skepticism. Closer inspection reveals that this claim specifically applies to Adobe Premiere Pro when handling ProRes 422 video—a format supported by the Apple M3’s media encoder but not its M1 predecessor.

Furthermore, the new M3 iMac offers hardware-accelerated decoding of AV1, enhancing the efficiency of video streams. Apple asserts a 35 percent boost in processor performance and an impressive 65 percent leap in graphics chip prowess. Moreover, the top-tier model now supports up to 24 GB of RAM, a substantial improvement from the prior 16 GB limit. The introduction of the Apple M3 also brings an upgrade to Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. As expected, the back of the iMac features two Thunderbolt 4 ports (USB-C), while the top-tier model boasts two additional USB-C ports and Gigabit Ethernet integrated into the power supply.

Apple iMac M3 2023 price and release date

Enthusiasts can now pre-order the new Apple iMac M3 2023 from the Bhphotovideo.com Online Store, with deliveries set to commence on November 7th. The base model, equipped with an Apple M3 chip sporting eight GPU cores, 8 GB of RAM, and a 256 GB SSD, is priced at $1,599. For an extra $230, users can upgrade to 16 GB of RAM and a 512 GB SSD. Notably, the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID, Gigabit Ethernet, and the two extra USB-C ports are exclusive to the model with ten GPU cores, available at a starting price of $1,829.