The Unboxing Experience: Worth Noting

I typically keep unboxing to a minimum on my YouTube channel since I belong to a generation that finds it somewhat perplexing. Yet, occasionally, a product’s unboxing is so compelling that it simply must be captured on video. This was the case with my new iMac. The box itself urged me to grab my camera, ensuring that this part of the ownership journey made it into my upcoming first impressions video.

The first thing that strikes you when pulling the box from its shipping container is how Apple embraces the new iMac colors. From the artwork on the box to the handle, everything showcases your selected iMac hue. Upon opening the box, you unveil a computer that is so neatly packed it almost seems a shame to disturb it. Apple has a dedicated team focused on making the unboxing of their products enjoyable, and the iMac's packaging epitomizes this ethos. I genuinely relished the experience of unboxing mine.

The Design

It’s breathtaking. While design changes often attract both supporters and critics, I find the new iMac stunning. The chin is still present, which is crucial for maintaining its identity as an iMac from a marketing standpoint. It’s peculiar that there’s no Apple logo on the front, but there may be a clever reason for this absence, which I will discuss shortly.

The device is incredibly thin—almost absurdly so, as the old me might have remarked. However, it doesn’t require additional thickness, thanks to the efficient M1 chip. The white bezels are often criticized, particularly by professionals who worry about reflections and color accuracy. Yet, in my experience, the issues with the white bezels are not as pronounced as some fear. This brings me back to the absent Apple logo; Apple seems to want the iMac to 'disappear' during use, allowing it to blend into various environments while enhancing the overall user experience—a feat the previous model struggled with.

The combination of the white bezels, ultra-slim design, color-coordinated chin, and lack of branding directs your attention to the gorgeous screen. This clever design creates an immersive experience that, while valid concerns exist regarding color choices for those working with visuals, provides an exceptional computing experience for all other tasks. Speaking of color, I chose the blue variant, which is a deep, rich shade that makes me wish I could see the back of my iMac more often; this is a machine that deserves to be admired from all angles.

The Guts

Essentially, the new iMac is an M1 Mac mini integrated into a stunning display. The brilliance of this combination, along with the target market, allows you to purchase a home computer capable of handling any standard task with ease while also retaining enough power for more demanding activities, should the need arise.

Whether you’re using it for emails, casual web browsing, or assembling a PowerPoint presentation, it will outperform any other computer for those tasks. Conversely, if your daughter is interested in software development or your son wants to explore video editing, the iMac will excel in those areas too—even with just 8GB of RAM. The M1 chip's ingenuity is akin to a high-performance car that’s also easy to drive to the grocery store; it seamlessly transitions between simplicity and high performance without hindrance.

However, there are some peculiar specifications to consider. The option for a 7/8-core GPU remains (which you can ignore—focus instead on RAM and storage upgrades), and to access the maximum number of ports, you must invest in a higher model since the base version comes with only two. This also inexplicably applies to some color options.

My advice on RAM selection stands firm: whether you choose the base model iMac (the one I have) or a more powerful version with 16GB of RAM and 2TB of storage, you'll be satisfied with your purchase. Just opt for the highest specifications you can afford and enjoy using it.

The Screen

The 4.5K P3 Retina display on the new iMac is exceptional, but that was expected. You won't find a screen of this caliber at this price. When comparing the iMac to the M1 Mac mini, you're essentially paying around £600/$600 for the display. Good luck finding a third-party panel that can compete with it pixel-for-pixel—there simply isn't one.

Having switched to an ultra-wide 34" monitor when I began using the Mac mini, I initially thought I would miss that expansive screen while testing the new iMac. However, the 24" display, while smaller, compensates with remarkable sharpness, color depth, and brightness. There’s also something refreshing about working on a smaller screen; it encourages a focus on one task at a time, which can be quite beneficial.

Conclusion

While this may not be the most comprehensive review I've written, it was unnecessary to delve deeper. I've praised the M1 chip extensively over the months, and it remains central to the narrative here. I can’t think of another home computer that offers this level of performance and display quality at such a competitive price. Unless you’re a devoted Windows user, there’s no reason to look past the iMac if you have the budget for a fantastic all-around computer for your household.

Furthermore, if you're a small business owner, the new iMac represents a smart investment—especially if aesthetics matter to you. Personally, I’m eagerly awaiting the successor to the Intel-based 27" 5K model. We’ll likely see that later this year, but the seamlessness, design excellence, and profound understanding of its target market make the 24" iMac an exciting preview of what’s to come in future iterations.

I can hardly wait.

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Originally published at https://markellisreviews.com on May 25, 2021.