Key Takeaways

  • The 24-inch iMac features a sleek design, multiple color options, and a high-quality 24-inch 4.5K Retina display, making it a visually appealing choice for modern desk setups.
  • The iMac comes with a 1080p FaceTime camera, a six-speaker system, and studio-quality microphones, providing impressive audio and video capabilities without the need for external accessories.
  • The M3 chip offers exceptional performance for everyday tasks and supports features like hardware-accelerated ray tracing, making it suitable for the average user.

Even though potential Mac buyers have multiple options to choose from, the iMac stands out from the lineup as the only all-in-one computer. Below, we'll list some compelling reasons why the 24-inch iMac is the best desktop Apple sells.

1. The 24-Inch iMac Features a Great Display and Design

Blue M1 iMac
Image Credit: Apple

iMacs have always been iconic looks-wise, and in 2021, it received a massive design overhaul that we haven't seen before from Apple. The 24-inch iMac features a very sleek design with white bezels on the front. This design change was possible because of the efficiency of Apple silicon. Since the iMac got dramatically thinner, it is also surprisingly light.

In a callback to the rainbow Apple logo, the 24-inch iMac comes in multiple colors: silver, blue, pink, green, purple, orange, and yellow. The 24-inch iMac has a two-tone design, with the back of the machine being a darker color while the color on the chin and stand are paler in comparison.

With a wide variety of colors, you can pick a computer that fits your style and preferences. Overall, the design looks great with most modern desk setups, and you can choose a color that fits the environment you want to place it in.

In terms of the display, the iMac features a 24-inch 4.5K Retina display, which supports 500 nits of brightness and P3 color. The screen size sits between the older Intel-based 21.5-inch and 27-inch iMacs, which is a good middle-ground for regular users. Overall, it's a high-quality display that is suitable for the users it is targeted towards.

While it may not seem over the top on paper since it is missing specifications like Liquid Retina XDR and ProMotion 120Hz, the display is excellent for everyday computing tasks and is one of the iMac's best features.

2. Impressive Camera, Speakers, and Microphones

24-inch iMac on a desk

The 24-inch iMac offers three features that many consumers consider important for an everyday computer: a built-in camera, microphones, and speakers. The FaceTime camera in the iMac has a 1080p resolution, which is a stellar improvement from the camera that was in the previous 21.5-inch iMac.

Your Zoom or FaceTime calls will look clearer and overall better than the previous generation. If you prefer a better camera, you can also use your iPhone's camera with your Mac, provided you have macOS Ventura or later installed. However, most people will be fine with the built-in camera.

As for the speakers, the 24-inch iMac features a six-speaker system that supports spatial audio like many other Apple devices. The speakers also support Dolby Atmos, an excellent standard to enhance the movie-watching experience.

Despite being a relatively small and thin computer, the iMac's speakers deliver excellent sound quality that is clear even at high volumes. Most people will get by just fine with the built-in speakers. You won't have to purchase external speakers to get exceptional quality.

The iMac also has what Apple calls studio-quality microphones, which the company first introduced alongside the 2019 16-inch MacBook Pro. The microphones are great for FaceTime calls or for when you need to make a simple voice recording.

They don't exactly provide the same quality as a dedicated microphone that you connect to a computer, but they are more than suitable for non-professional use.

3. The M3 Chip Is Powerful Enough for Most Users

Apple m3 lineup
Image Credit: Apple

It's no secret that the Apple silicon iMac is for the mainstream consumer, but don't underestimate its performance. This iMac comes with the M3 chip, just like the 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro. Even though the M3 isn't as capable as the M3 Pro and M3 Max chips, it suits the 24-inch iMac's target audience.

In comparison, the M3 chipset only offers minor improvements over the M2 in terms of CPU and GPU performance (20 percent faster). However, the M3 processor still delivers exceptional performance for what users love to do on their iMacs, all while keeping the machine quiet and power efficient.

The M3 processor also enables hardware-accelerated ray tracing for supported games, along with other features such as Dynamic Caching and mesh shading. Therefore, you don't lose any of those features by using the base M3 chip over the more powerful options.

If you need more convincing on whether the M3 iMac is enough for you, the first Apple silicon iMac with the older M1 chip was powerful enough to replace Quinn Nelson's—host of Snazzy Labs—Mac Pro back in 2021.

You can also configure the M3 iMac with up to 24GB of unified memory (RAM), which is plenty for this particular desktop, and up to 2TB of SSD storage. Overall, the M3 chip's performance is certainly more than enough for the average user this machine aims to win over.

4. The 24-Inch iMac Comes With Everything You Need

Purple iMac and Touch ID Keyboard
Image Credit: Apple

One significant aspect of the iMac sets it apart from the rest of Apple's desktops: it comes with everything you need. The iMac is an all-in-one computer, which means it provides every component of a desktop computer without needing to make additional purchases or spend time researching the best options.

With the iMac, you get a display, a computer, microphones, speakers, a FaceTime camera, a mouse, and a keyboard. When you compare the iMac to the Mac mini, which doesn't provide most setup necessities except for a single speaker, the extra cost of the iMac is worth it for what you get.

5. The iMac Is Great Value for Money

M3 iMac Summary
Image Credit: Apple/YouTube

One thing that is underrated about the 24-inch iMac is its value. For $1,299, you get a powerful computer paired with a great display, fantastic speakers, a 1080p FaceTime camera, and excellent performance, even with the base model. All in an impossibly thin, attractive design that stands out on your desk.

Even the higher-end configurations of the 24-inch iMac are reasonable, with additional storage, more ports, and a Touch ID keyboard. Additionally, you will likely be able to find the machine on sale from stores such as Amazon or Best Buy to get an even better deal in the future.

All in all, the 24-inch iMac is a fantastic computer for its starting price.

The 24-Inch iMac Is Hard to Pass Up

Even though the rest of Apple's desktops are great products, the 24-inch iMac stands out in the lineup for the reasons mentioned above. It offers a lot for the price Apple charges, especially considering it's an all-in-one machine.

If you want a computer with a great display and powerful performance that comes with every peripheral you need, look no further than the 24-inch iMac.