iMac (2023) Analysis: Unbeatable

After almost two years without any updates, the iMac is back in shape. The company decided that this – along with the MacBook Pro – would be team that will debut the M3 processor family. And in Hypertextwe had the opportunity to test it before it hit stores.

The M3 chip represents a significant improvement over the previous generation. But in the case of the iMac, the difference in performance compared to the previous model is even greater. Cause? iMac has never been updated with the M2 SoCso it changed from M1 to M3.

The reasons for this decision remain a mystery outside of Apple’s offices. The non-inclusion of M2 may have been due to strategic issues. Or perhaps to technical factors. Be that as it may, this is not relevant at the moment. The only thing worth considering for this analysis is that, skipping a generation of Apple Silicon, the performance difference between this new iMac and the previous model is even greater than other computers like the MacBook Pro, for example. .

What does the new Apple M3 look like?

M3 is present inside iMac It is manufactured using a 3nm process technology., like A17 Pro in iPhone 15 Pro. Inside there are various elements such as a new 4 GHz eight-core processor, a significantly more powerful GPU or a new Media Engine. In detail:

• Processor debut four new high-performance cores which, according to Apple, are 15% more powerful than the M2 and 30% more powerful than the M1. We also discovered four new high-performance cores. According to the brand, they are 30% more powerful than the M2 and 50% more powerful than the M1. And all this without compromising energy consumption or heat generated.

• In the case of the GPU, Apple made big promises during the presentation. On one hand, the M3’s graphics technology is welcome. Dynamic caching – which promises to optimize GPU memory usage, as well as built-in ray tracing and mesh shading. On the other hand, the cores that make this GPU possible are simply more powerful. And, again, without negatively impacting power consumption, which Apple says is much lower than Intel’s alternatives.

• The M3 chip also has a new Neural engine 16 cores, which, according to the Californian company, is 15% faster than the M2 and 60% faster than the M1.

• Finally, this new Apple Silicon welcomes the new Media engine which speeds up all work with H.264, HEVC, ProRes, ProRes RAW, as well as AV1, the codec used by services such as YouTube or Netflix. This element joins other common elements, such as the Secure Enclave, which handles anything that requires additional security, such as encryption or password management.

iMac M3, tested

The iMac with the M3 processor turned out to be, frankly, surprise. During the presentation, Apple presented various numbers illustrating the capabilities of this new chip. But despite this, I couldn’t help but be fascinated after running various tests and, above all, putting them into context.

The test unit I was able to review has an M3 chip (the version with an eight-core CPU and a ten-core GPU), 24GB of unified memory (the equivalent of Apple’s RAM) and 2TB of internal storage (SSD). ). A machine that sells for 3,229 euros in the Apple Store.

Nevertheless, almost 1000 euros correspond to the internal memory. You can purchase a device with exactly the same performance (Apple M3 with 24 GB of single memory, but with a reduced SSD to 256 GB) for 2,309 euros.

The first surprise was Geekbench, famous reference for processors. In single-core test new basic High performance rivals the best Intel products (Core i9-13900KS) and beats both the Snapdragon X Elite (on Windows) and the M2 Ultra (the most powerful Apple Silicon of the previous generation) by several hundred points. Or to put it another way: The most basic SoC in the new Apple Silicon lineup, designed for Apple's most affordable computers like the iMac or the upcoming MacBook Air, is capable of fighting this war with the industry's best.

In the Geekbench multi-core test, it's clear that the M3-powered iMac can't compete with those titans that are designed for more expensive hardware and have a higher number of high-performance cores. Nevertheless, the results are really good. In short, Apple managed in two years to make the most basic chip of the M3 family equal to the second most powerful SoC in the M1 series, the M1 Max, released at the end of 2021.

When you compare these numbers to the previous iMac, which hit the market in early 2021, the difference in performance is significant. The new version's score is 50% higher in the multi-core test and 40% higher in the single-core test.

In the case of a GPU evolution is also noticeable. In the Cinebench 2024 GPU test, the Apple M3's score is almost three times higher than the Apple M1's. Obviously, it's a far cry from the best in the sector like Nvidia's 4000 series, but we shouldn't lose sight of the fact that this chip was designed for consumer hardware, not high-end hardware like the one that powers this graphic arts. . This is a battle that belongs to the M3 Pro, M3 Max, and in the future, the M3 Ultra - if it ever exists.

In practice, all these numbers always results in exquisite performance. For example, the Adobe Creative Cloud suite - Premiere Pro, Photoshop, etc. - is quite fast. Even when working with vast libraries of RAW files or complex Premiere Pro projects.

All this is also silent. Most part of time, The iMac fan with the M3 chip is not working or is running at such low speeds that you can't hear them.. When it does kick in, Apple's design translates into a sound that's far less intrusive than most PCs. It's surprising that a device so thin and aesthetically pleasing manages heat so effectively, even when the M3 chip is pushed to its limits.

Experience with the new iMac M3, beyond the processor

M3 chip aside, this iMac is essentially same team as in 2021. And that's not bad news, because the foundation Apple laid that year was really good.

It all starts with 24" 4.5K screen for a fantastic experience. Sharp images, excellent color calibration - as usual for Apple - brightness levels that match the standards of its range (500 nits), support for the DCI-P3 color space, True Tone technology to adapt the screen tonality to environmental conditions... You can't ask much of it more considering the market this iMac is trying to appeal to.

around this panel We see a white frame accompanied by a colored stripe at the bottom.. This “chin” has both fans and detractors. What is undeniable is that it defines your personality and makes you different from any other person. all in one. In some ways it's very similar to the effect recess or the iPhone's dynamic island. If you have one, it's most likely from Apple.

Where there is no debate, there is back design. This is incredible. And, in addition, it can be tinted in different colors so that the iMac becomes another decoration of the room.

Another unique feature of the iMac with the M3 chip is the thinness of his body. When I see this, I sometimes think: “How can so much technology fit into such a thin chassis?”. Immediately after this, my rational side kicks in and says: "You're working with a MacBook Air that's even thinner and packed with technology." However, I find it curious that even someone like me, who is used to being surrounded by all kinds of modern technology, still attracts his attention.

In terms of connectivity, there are two versions of the iMac:

• The first has only two Thunderbolt/USB-C 4 ports. They are used to connect external drives, screens, etc.
• The second includes two Thunderbolt/USB-C 4 ports, two more USB-C 3 ports, and a Gigabit Ethernet port built into the power cable. This version's keyboard also comes standard with Touch ID.

As for wireless communication, yes, there are no differences. Both support Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, which is a slight step up from the previous generation iMac. This doesn't have much impact in the short term, but it does make the machine age faster.

Finally an iMac with M3 retains the six-speaker system of the previous version, which offers a really good experience. In fact it's probably all in one with the best sound on the market. In addition to this set of speakers, there is a 3.5mm headphone jack, a set of 3 microphones and a front camera with Full HD resolution. The latter fulfills its mission satisfactorily, especially thanks to the dedicated ISP that enriches the final result with various algorithms. However, I think it's time to move to 4K resolution on both this and the rest of the brand's computers.

Should I buy this iMac?

An iMac with an M3 processor is essentially the best all in one which currently exists on the market. No other device offers such a combination of design, efficiency, power, build quality and attention to detail.

M3 processor This represents significant progress in every sense. Even exceeds what I myself expected. And combined with iMac cooling, it delivers a superior performance in any situation. If you add to this the formula for success of the previous generation (high-quality screen, thoughtful design, great sound system, etc.), you get an excellent product.

I have only one problem with this iMac: memory costs increase. Going from 8 GB of unified memory (RAM) to 16 GB increases the price of the iMac by 230 euros. The same thing will happen if you want to upgrade from 256GB to 512GB of storage. Indeed, Apple memory is slightly different from the memory of regular PCs, but even taking this feature into account, its cost is quite high.

Otherwise, as I said, This is an extraordinary team. Anyone looking for an aesthetically pleasing, powerful and reliable computer for everyday work will find this new iMac with M3 processor a fantastic and convenient option.