Apple has updated its coloured all - in - one desktop with the latest M3 chipsets , bringing the hope of firm performance to the table . But , with most of the components remaining the same as the already powerful M1 iMac , is it really deserving spend more to get the latest Si ? We liken the M1 iMac against the M3 iMac to see which one you should buy while the iMac M1 is still available from certain resellers .
You may also be wonder if it ’s time to update from an Intel - powered iMac . If you ’ve been holding out for Apple to update the iMac it is emphatically metre to grease one’s palms one now . translate on to find out just how expert the M3 is compare to the old Intel - power iMacs – it even pound the good iMac Pro !
M3 iMac vs M1 iMac: Specs
There is n’t a muckle that is different between the newfangled and onetime iMac models . Indeed , the biggest differences are between the two - port and four - larboard good example for each genesis , with the four - port iMac extend support for a larger SSD and more GPU core than the two - port model , as well as two USB 3 ports , with USB 3 being the older style USB port , those models also . number with Gigabit Ethernet as standard .
As for inter - generational changes , there are very few . The 2023 M3 iMac can support more store – up to 24 GB Unified Memory , compared to just 16 GB . There ’s also a 10 - heart GPU option on the unexampled cow dung , which is vastly better than the M1 . We have more information about the difference in the sections below .
As a quick outline of the difference between these devices , here are the technological specifications for the baseline models :
New options are in bold.
M3 iMac vs M1 iMac: Price
You ’ll find from the pricing below that the iMac cost did n’t change when the M3 iMac was insert . Apple had previously put up prices in the U.K. and other parts of the world outside the U.S. and the fellowship did n’t take the opportunity to readjust Leontyne Price ( although it did with the similarly time MacBook Pro update ) .
In price of what you get for your money , the iMac has a high Mary Leontyne Price in comparing to other Macs . For example , the Mac mini and Mac Studio are far cheaper but miss a screen . Even the MacBook Pro with the same 8 - nucleus CPU/10 - core group GPU M3 chip and 512 GB SSD cost $ 1,599/£1,699 , while that same configuration would cost $ 1,699/£1,799 for the iMac .
As is stock recitation for Apple , the debut of the M3 iMac mean that its herald is now discontinued . However , you may still be capable to pick up an M1 iMac from retailers , who are probable to dismiss the older model . Alternatively , lead to theApple Refurbished storewhere you could save some money on the M1 model . Read : Why you should corrupt a refurbished Mac .
Before you buy check how much Apple sell , or sold the iMac for . Here ’s how the various configurations were price :
M3 iMac :
M1 iMac :
iMac color scheme.
It is likely that resellers will propose deduction on the new and quondam iMac models . arrest the box below for the best prices on the entry - stratum models right on now , you ’ll observe all the iMac model in our round - up of thebest iMac deals .
iMac , M3 , 8 - center CPU , 8 - core GPU , 256 GB SSD , 8 GB memory , MSRP $ 1,299/£1,399
8 - core CPU , 7 - gist GPU , 256 GB , MSRP $ 1,299/£1,399 ( was £ 1,249 )
M3 iMac vs M1 iMac: Design
The M3 iMac is essentially the same in full term of aesthetics and construction . When Apple launched the M1 iMac in 2021 , it did so with a brand name newfangled design that take gloss back to the political program . Old Intel - power iMacs are silvern , while the iMac Pro come in a darker Space Grey shade of aluminum . The M3 iMac generation have n’t changed at all in term of design . You still have the following color choice : aristocratic , green , pink and silver on the entry - level role model , and additionally yellow , orangish and royal for the 4 - port models .
The color - scheme have bolder hues on the back of the iMac , while the front are softer , pastel versions . These are accompanied by white bezels that frame the 24 - inch showing .
iMac gloss scheme .
Apple
In traditional iMac manner , the porthole are all situated at the bottom of the display , leave the classic iMac Kuki-Chin on the front for you to place spikelet or Post - It notes on . You still ca n’t change the acme of the exhibit , which is a long - running issue with iMacs , so you might be sitting the iMac on a mass of heavily - back books if you require to put the exhibit a little higher .
All of the framework share the same dimensions of 18.1 x 21.5 x 5.8 in / 46.1 x 54.7 x 14.7 cm with only slight variance when it come to exercising weight , although this stand for next to nothing as once an iMac is prepare up on your desk , it ’s unlikely you ’ll be moving it much .
Foundry
Apple includes its wireless Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse ( you may get a Magic Trackpad or else of black eye for an extra $ 50/£50 ) , although if you want Touch ID on these you ’ll need to opt for the 4 - port edition , as the 2 - port unity amount with a lock headstone or else . you’re able to , of course of instruction , upgrade to the Touch ID one if you pay extra .
M3 iMac vs M1 iMac: Performance
The master difference between the M1 and M3 model are of row the chipsets indoors . When Apple moved from Intel processors to its own M - series of silicon , this came with a Brobdingnagian jump in performance . Since then , the M - series has grown steady in its focal ratio , with Apple claiming that the M3 chipset is up to 2x quicker than the M1 .
It should be note that those tests were between an M3 iMac with 24 GB of random-access memory while the M1 iMac was equipped with only 16 GB ( both the maxed - out configuration ) , so it ’s uncertain how the service line models with similar contour would come . But , you could be trusted , neither will be a slouch .
To see the raw power of the M - series processors when put head to head , here ’s our benchmark test results below . As you’re able to see , the M3 swiftness are definitely faster than the M1 chips , in fact the M3 scramble the M1 Pro in some face .
In fact , if you compare the M3 iMac to the iMac Pro with Intel Xeon W-2191B 2.3GHz , as we have in the mesa below , you’re able to see that the M3 iMac is unspoiled than the best iMac Pro .
If you ’re only mean to use the iMac for surfing the entanglement , video cry , streaming amusement or working with documents and spreadsheet , then you wo n’t really notice much difference between the M1 and M3 though .
But , should you want to laden up Logic and record medicine , do some video redaction or a spot of play , then the M3 ’s high performance ability will definitely number into play . Especially as it supports ProRes , ProRes RAW , has a ProRes encode and decode engine and AV1 decode . slew for photographer and videographers to play with .
M3 iMac vs M1 iMac: Display
The display is the same on the M3 iMac as it was on the M1 version . This mean you get a 24 - inch Retina Display running at a 4,480 x 2,520 ( 4.5 K ) resolution , with wide-cut Color ( P3 ) and True Tone technology .
Brightness go up to 500 nits , which means you wo n’t struggle to see the screen even in strongly light up sphere . The panels can be quite reflective though , so you might need to place it in a location that is n’t directly facing a window .
M3 iMac vs M1 iMac: Audio and webcam
Again , there ’s nothing much to separate the propagation of iMacs when it comes to sound recording . All fashion model sport a six - utterer organization with force play - cancelling woofers , and support for Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos . This signify you ’ll get strong audio performance when hear to music or pour Netflix .
If you favour to keep things quiet for everyone else , then the 3.5 millimeter headphone jack will permit you to stop up in your favorite set of cans . One bonus for the M3 iMacs is that this feature also sustain high - impedance headphones such as those you ’d use for audio engineering .
A three mic raiment captures voice , so you ’ll sound crisp and articulate when on telecasting calls .
There ’s no alteration with the webcam either : Apple bestow its 1080p FaceTime HD television camera on both the M1 and M3 iMacs ( a Brobdingnagian improvement on the camera in the Intel - powered iMac ) . This FaceTime HD camera does n’t have Center Stage ( Apple ’s lineament that follows you if you move out of frame ) , as this want the TrueDepth camera , which also mean you ca n’t use Face ID on the iMacs either . For video telephone call it ’s a decent enough webcam .
M3 iMac vs M1 iMac: Ports and connectivity
As you have probably surmised from the listing above , Apple offers each generation of iMac in two variants – 2 - port and 4 - port . Those superfluous ones are in the variety of two USB 3 port ( that ’s the old - elan USB ) , rather than additional Thunderbolt 4 / USB - C connection . Of course , you’re able to always add up aUSB - C hubif you need to expand your store after grease one’s palms the iMac .
In term of connectivity , you ’ll find Wi - Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 on the M1 iMac , while the M3 models upgrade this to Wi - Fi6e and Bluetooth 5.3 . The 4 - port models also include a Gigabit Ethernet port , while it ’s only a configuration choice on the 2 - port motorcar .
M3 iMac vs M1 iMac: Verdict
So many aspect of the two iMac generations are the same . They share selfsame display , speakers , webcam , construction and color scheme . The only tangible differences are the chipset and nonaged upgrades to the Wi - Fi and Bluetooth connections . That being said , if you need to use the iMac for TV and pic redaction , then the M3 chipset definitely get a difference . If you want a bargain , we ’d suggest looking around to see if you may beak up the M1 iMac on a deal . You ’re getting around 90 % of the same simple machine , but may save more than 10 % of the cost . If you are thinking of replacing an old Intel - power iMac , the time is good to do so .
