Thank you so much, this helped me know just what to purchase, as I have a iMac 2017 Intel. So just bought the upgrade iMac M3 with all the bells and whistles.
Unboxing a new iMac M3 is like Christmas for a kid. They make it so fun. I am upgrading from a late 2013 iMac which I hate to part with. I purchased the basic iMac in silver. It is nice. We'll see how it goes. Thanks for the info.
I have a 2015 27" 5K iMac I7 with 3TB SSD, 24GB RAM and have yet to feel excited about Apple's latest iMacs...now thinking of replacing it with a Mac Studio M3 Ultra with a Studio Display. It's insane to think I have kept using this iMac for 8 years when I used to swap Windows PCs every year or couple of years before that.
Very useful review. I’m still using my late 2015, Intel based, 27 inch iMac, and will probably wait until 2025 before I replace it. I’m sure the upgrade will make a dramatic difference, but I hold onto Apple products as long as I can in order to afford the price of being in the Apple ecosystem.
I’m considering an iMac, coming from an i5 8gb MacBook Pro. I’d definitely go for 24gb RAM, the SSD seems pointless when you can buy external storage so cheap
Great work Manny. My 2011 27" iMac is finally struggling with recent software upgrades (MacOS, Kaspersky, etc) so am STILL waiting on the iMac Pro 32"+ M3 release. Mac Mini and Samsung 57" is tempting but just far too messy cablewise. Mac Studio is hugely over specced for my needs and iMac 24 simply doesn't have enough screen real estate. Looking forward to Apple finally plugging the huge gap in their product portfolio with an iMac Pro replacement with M3 processor .. and your reveiw!
I have a mid 2011 and a late 2019 iMac. The 2011 sadly recently failed switch on and needs a repair but my 2019 8 core i9 with 64GB RAM and 2 Terrabytes of SSD storage is in a different league and requires no upgrade and will probably last me another five or six years with a bit of luck. It certainly should do, as it wasn’t cheap. I have about 800GB left on internal storage, which could be expanded by deleting a whole lot of unused files if I wanted. Attached to it are two external USB hard drives which consist of a 4TB unit for TimeMachine and a 2TB which is where my Photos library lives. All synchronised with iCloud plus backed up to TimeMachine drive but my Photos library is also backed to Google One and Amazon cloud drives just in case. So expanding storage on iMac is not such a big deal because a whole lot of files can be stored on relatively cheap external drives, whether mechanical or SSD’s. Yes, get 16GB of RAM though, because you can’t add that later. I’ve gone overboard with 64GB but seven or eight open apps and multiple tabs open on several of them, I’m glad I have it, as I’m a power used for business and leisure and average about 60 hours a week use and never switch it off. Do send it to sleep at night and it sleeps if idle for an hour at a time.
@@LibsRockU My financial accounts are all secure. The issue with a machine as old as mine is it's no longer upgradable and the security certificates are not recognized by the websites of my bank, credit card, schwab etc... I felt I was forced into the upgrade of the iMac. Now that it's been a couple of months on the new machine everything is running perfectly.
Liked and subscribed. I’m very impressed with your commentary and knowledge, just a great experience watching your video . Your too the point , no terrible music running in the background, and concise . I almost went with Apple for Lightroom photoshop etc, but the price for ram and storage s absolutely ridiculous imo . I think I’ll stick with their phones watches and iPads , but keep my windows machine for photography
Manny, thanks so much for this extremely helpful review. I have spent several hours today researching the M3 iMac. I currently have a 2019 Intel iMac that has been increasingly sluggish. Your very straightforward and logical review and recommendations confirmed that the order I had already saved to my shopping cart on the Apple website was the best fit for me -- specifically upgrading to the 16GB memory and opting for the 512GB storage. I am not a power user, but I recognize the importance of adding a minimum degree of headroom. Thanks for this excellent video.
It is rare that I feel the urge to like and subscribe to any youtube channels. But, your professionalism, details, flow of information without getting wordy, etc is EXCEPTIONAL. I have been a Mac User since the original Mac SE (and apple products before that). I got this new iMac primarily for my 3d Printing room/Study. I had an intel iMac from about 9 years ago and the iMac before that was a PURPLE (grape) Apple iMac G3/400. So, I just had to get the purple version of this new one. I already have an MacBook M3 pro (for work) and am assuming I will see little difference between the two in abilities besides the fact my Macbook has 35gigs of memory and 1tb of storage. Nonetheless, your video does the machine justice and I look forward to receiving it soon! Thank you again for an exceptional video!
Great review, followed your advice , and for my usage, ordered the iMac silver 16gb memory 512 storage.My 2015 MacBook Pro 15 inch with I7 intel is slow and I’m sure gonna enjoy a 24” display! Thank you
I got a base m1 iMac when the m3 came out as retailers were putting them on clearance. Was a pretty great discount too but it sucks that I couldn’t get any more ram than 8gb going through retailers. At the time I intended it to be my secondary computer but I’ve come to find the form factor is more ideal than my current M1 air (higher spec’d machine) I plan on selling both the iMac and air and going for a 2 port m3 iMac with 24gb of ram and 1tb of storage as my main computer.
Assuming the M3 iMac with 16gb of memory would be good enough to do some photo editing on affinity photo comfortably? Planning on utilizing iCloud for photo storage so the 256tb is literally just for programs.
Iv been using my 2011 27" mac for 12 years now. It was a year old when i bought it second hand. Great machine although its now eaten its 4th graphics card. Its gone to my local friendly mac repairer but i don't know if he will be able to repair it this time. I also have a 2009 24" mac with limited power that only comes out to play when the 27" is at the mac hospital. Very slow with limited use but it still works.! Hence my interest in the 2023 24" mac with the m3 chip and the mini pro. Just wish they would re make the 27". Keep up the good work.
Great review thanks. I’ve been trying to decide what spec to buy and you’ve helped me to decide. I’m going to order 4usb with 16Gb RAM, 512 SSD, extended keyboard and magic touchpad. 👍🏼
I am about to buy a replacement for my late 2013, 27" which has served me well but it's getting to be too slow. I have found the 27" great for my photographic work and it will certainly be missed. Your advice on RAM and storage is very useful thank you and I will do as you suggest. The green one will be my choice.
Orange and going with the 4 USB ports and the maximum RAM that I believe the machine can handle which is 24 GB. Go big or go home! If I could afford it I would get the studio, but I only freelance part time now as a special event artist, so that might just be overkill for me. Thank you. The info on the four ports was massively helpful. UPDATE: On checking back, I cannot find any option to add those additional USB ports on their customisation page?
I have never owned an Apple computer. I am in the Apple family with phone, watch and two sets of air pods. I wear glasses and when using my laptop, I have to remove my bifocal glasses. I am considering the 4 port iMac with 24 gb ram and 1 tb ssd. I do photo editing and at times 16 gb ram with dedicated 4 gb video card is not enuf power on that hp all in one spectre. Something unknown happened and the bottom has warped and destroyed my sound and maybe reduced other things. I would most likely add the numeric keyboard with track pad, although the track pad on my hp laptop rarely ever gets used. Thanks for your review.
Excellent review Manny; well spoken with relevant gen!. My Imac 27, (2010 ) is begging to retire and I must do the gentlemanly thing and let it go. I would add to your review the suggestion to purchase a USB 14-1 hub docking station; not necessarily from Apple as there's plenty on Amazon, (£27-70)....or Ebay for that matter. Other than that, I'm off to Bath, (UK), to seal the deal as it were. Thanks again.
That is the AC adapter for the iMac. You have the option for $30 if you want to add an ethernet port to the block if you prefer a wired internet connection.
My wife and I just got the iMac m3 yesterday at best buy for 1299! I thought the price point was great! 1299 for a new iMac is cheap! the laptops are more I guess cause there portable. anyways we love it and we got the blue one cause they were out of green.
Thanks for all this info!! 🙏🏻 I ordered a refurbished one so that I could get the 16GB ram & 10 core GPU without paying the price hike for those upgrades from the basic version. I currently have a 2019 MacBook Pro (Intel i9) which is still performing great so I still plan on keeping the MacBook but I’m going to put the new iMac in my home office for specific uses! I ordered in the blue color to match my iPad Air & AirPods Max. So excited
I got 24 and 2tb… all the upgrades. I’m very happy. When people buy mac they should not skimp and get Max everything. if not, don’t buy a Mac you can get more computer out of a PC. I prefer mac… but some of the stuff really is frustrating.
Thanks for the great review! Not sure why I am so antsy about my current iMac (M1, Orange, 16/512), but was looking into an M3 to maybe change the color, but I am set now. There really is no reason top change.. the screen sound, and camera make it all worth it :)
@@TurtleJulia thanks for watching! gaming is quite underrated on this machine! Ive been using emulators and have been able to play Xbox and Playstation games no problem on this!
@@MannyRataul Thank you so much for your quick reply! I mainly play The Sims 4 and would love to finally play it on a desktop. Oh, and can you connect a USB headset to this? Mine's mandated for work.
Great review. Mine came in a couple of days ago, will unbox tomorrow on my day off, busy week. Teal I think is the most attractive color, but I just wish Starlight would have been available. We should have a “Worst Apple Product” award. The Magic Mouse sure takes the cherry on top. Be well
Thanks, great review. I agree about the little RAM and the small SSD, not suitable for current needs. This is why I haven't purchased an IMac yet and I'm waiting for a downward price adjustment. Grazie, ottima recensione. Concordo sulla poca RAM e sul piccolo SSD, non adatti alle esigenze attuali. Questo è il motivo per cui non ho ancora acquistato un IMac e sto aspettando un aggiustamento del prezzo al ribasso.
I want pass , because I don't have one yet. So looking forward to getting M3 iMac. We have M1 Air and last of the intel MacBook Pro... My PC has crapped it self , was going to build new one , but perfect time to get the iMac now.
Just picked up the purple with the extra ports, and 16 gigs with the 256 ssd. I'm coming the 2017 intel i5 27". I'm loving that now I'm on the newer operating system!
Thanks for a great review :). Do you have some insight on the difference between 8 and 10 cores, with 16Gb RAM? I don't play games, occasionally make some video production, the most common use case for me is programming. Many thanks for the info.
@@akin242002 Wish I had thought of that option *before* I bought this new iMac 24" w/ the M3 chip. I did get 1 TB of storage but am used to working with 2 TB so am finding I am using several external drives in addition to the iMac...not the best set up I have worked with. Thanks for your excellent review!!
Thank you, for this nice review of the updated colorful 24-inch M-3 processor iMac desktop system. I agree with you 100 percent that, if you already own an IMac computer with the M-1 processor then, there is really no need to upgrade. While, I am more of a "mac mini" person now. However if, I was buying a new iMac it would be the "yellow" version and a top of the line model (24GB/2TB SSD) ordered off of Apple's Veteran's web site with a 10 percent discount to save about $300 US (smile...smile).
Thank you for this information. based on your review and the specs involved, I have to wait. I need the RAM and Memory. As a Photographer I do a lot of photos. Even thou I have external hard drives, I still do a ton of desktop on-screen work. I maxed my current Mac desktop out to 32 gigs of RAM. It seems that this feature is not possible with this new 24-inch Machine, so what is the point of it. And why did they reduce the screen size from 27 inches to 24 inches? That is another con for this machine. Not sure what to do at this point. My current Mac is a late 2015 purchased new from the Apple store.
Thanks a lot for your excellent and detailed review of the iMac M3. I gave a try to an iMac M1 2021 basic, and I liked most of things, but I need more speed, Ram, and storage, so I think I should go for the M3. Something important I want to ask, is about the graphic card, a pro photographer/computer salesman, said that the graphic card on the iMac M1 is better than the M3 for doing complex creative work, especially with AI. Do you know if that's true? This guy would make more money selling me the M3, so it sounds honest about what he's saying, I think. Thanks a lot!!!!
The graphics comparison is absolutely false, the M3 has better graphical performance than the M1 by up to 80%. Neither the M1 or M3 iMacs have dedicated video card, all the graphical performance is computer through the actual M chips themselves
Great break down of your tutorial! I’m looking at the iMac M3. New to Apple computers. Which is better to purchase if one doesn’t store a lot of music or videos are they upgradeable or can I back up with a cloud subscription and or external hard drive if needed? Love your video
Storage is the disc space to save your files, this can be upgraded. Memory is what is required by applications to run, this can also be upgraded. The only things that cannot be upgraded is the screen size the M3 processor itself. You can go to Apple’s website to customize your own Mac to your own liking. I hope this helps!
I’m a designer and video editor, never used Apple iMac or MacBook, planning to buy iMac M3, 16/512 , will it be good than any windows pc in this budget? Thanks for the review!
For the performance there are, but for the total package, no. Remember with this mac you get an extremely crisp 4.5K display so take that into consideration when comparaing with PC prices. If you already have a solid monitor and you have experience with PCs, then I would reccomend you search your windows options first as you have much greater flexibility in cusotmizability and budget.
A key question for 27" imac users is, how much is that extra 3" of screen worth to you? Using the memory/storage options I need (16GB/1TB), configuring an M3 imac 4-port 8/10 cores, versus a mac mini M2 8/10 cores with Studio Display, it turns out that the mac mini/Studio Display system is $700 more.
I really really really miss the 3 inches of screen estate, the 24" really looks tiny side by side especially when editing photo/videos where having the tools displayed along with the video or photo as big as possible is essential. Another drawback is the luminosity is way way dimmer on the 24" compared to the 27"!! I have to push the luminosity almost to the max on the 24" compared to about below half on the 27" to be comfortable.
Great review - clear and concise. I am in the market for a new iMac - currently working on a 2017 27” machine that will no longer update the OS. Running PS & LRC is now so slow + I’m now getting notices from said apps telling me to update my OS 😔I am seriously considering this machine and would definitely upgrade the purchase and high as possible. Not sure yet how I feel about losing the 3” on the screen, tho🧐 Thx again for your time.
If I had a big serious desk workstation, then I’d miss the 27in. But I moved to a compact workspace where I can’t move back far away from the screen, so a 24in works great for my use. It’s much bigger than a laptop display, and a little small for a full immersive experience.
Thank you for a good, honest review. I want very much to like the M machines but I can't. Your points about the advantages of the new processors are fine and that is what makes me want one. What stops me is the system-on-a-chip philosophy. I agree with you that 8GB of memory is ridiculous and so is the 256GB of storage, and it costs a lot of money to buy more! It doesn't make sense to design a machine that will have to be replaced if there is a memory failure. A while back I purchased an Intel iMac that has a pretty high-powered processor and because I had some memory, this machine has 48GB of RAM and 2TB of SSD. Overkill; maybe but I have room to grow. I don't agree with how 'uncluttered' my desk will be with an M3. I do not use iCloud so I have a hard drive on my desk used by Time Machine. Occasionally I may plug in another drive for extra backups. At some point, Apple will force me to buy an Mx machine but hopefully, that will not be soon. The other thing on which we disagree is minor. The option for different colors is as dumb to me as the mouse design is to you; although I am not a fan of that either. Thank you again for your honesty. It is going to take more to convert me to a new iMac.
I have a 21.5inch imac,late 2012, with a 2.4 GHz quad-core Intel i5 and Mac OS 10.15.7. This thing was running very stable, but since last year or so it started to lag quiet heavily. Dont know what happened, guess the last update killed it. It has 16gb RAM and 1 TB memory and I paid around 1'500 usd for it back in the day. Now For the same 16GB RAM and 1TB memory, they costs over 2'200! That's weird! I really consider to go back to a windows system, but will it hold as long as an imac will?
A Windows desptop machine in that price range will get you significantly more power, however the screen/monitor will need to be purchased seperaely along with other peripherals. In my opinion and as somone who has used a windows machine for much longer than Mac, a Windows desktop will hold up much longer due to one simple reason: upgradability. Once you confiigure a Mac, you cannot upgrade any of its components...ever. With a windows machine you can swap out CPUs, Ram, GPUs, etc at your liking when you believe you machine might be slowing down. Intel and AMD cpus available for windows go neck and neck and often out performan Apple's own silicon. So you will not have to worry about a desktop's performance compared to a Mac.
I'm contemplating a new M3 iMac, vs. the 27" iMac I now have. The M3 chip is desirable, but I'm worried the 8GB ram will not suit my needs as a 3D designer. I currently have 48 GB. Thanks again Apple for making a smaller machine with less ram and less HD storage for way more money. We Apple customers suffer from Stockholm syndrome. I think I'm going to keep the 27".
Just like your original iMac 27", all Mac start with a base model that can be upgraded. I do wish that Apple had offered at least 16gb of ram and 512Gb of storage as its base.
I’m editing on a PC with 32GB . Wanting to move to Mac eco system, for quick transfers, color corrected screen, Final Cut. . Will be getting 24GB 2TB iMac m3
Maybe the end of this year or sometime next year you will see a 27+” iMac Pro? Only time will tell for sure. But I think it’s coming in less than 2 years from now
I’m still using my trusty 2010 27 inch iMac in my summer home and planning to get this new iMac 24 maxed out for my winter home. I’m a content creator and I’m happy to hear that you had no challenges using Adobe Photoshop! While I’m super excited - I am struggling with the extra $400 for an extra 1TB SSD. Thank you for your reassuring review!
I am replacing my 2012 imac. My budget will allow me to buy an M3 imac 8gb ram and 512gb SSD or M1 imac with 16gb ram and 1TB SSD. I use the computer for general computing and some basic photo editing. Which would you recommend?
I have a 2012 i7 Mac so this is what I'm saving for.There's nothing wrong with the i7 as I use it every day but some software won't run on it. 24" screen is about right but now I'm thinking about an M1 instead of the M3 chip as it is a bit expensive. Macs last longer than Windows PCs; I don't know why but since 2012 I've had 3 PCs and one Mac.
I’ve been holding off getting one because for some insane reason I am unable to find any local retailer selling any iMac with more than 8gb of ram. I want it for video editing, 8gb isn’t enough. Apparently you can’t add ram to these now as it’s on the chip so has to be purchased with it installed.
After changing my display to 4K resolution, everything got really tiny. What’s up with that? I’m really a beginner as you probably can tell by the questions.
I was gonna get a MacBook Pro but I went with this instead since I have an iPad Pro 12.9” with the Magic Keyboard so that’s kinda my laptop! I use my iPad to take to work and school work and I use my iMac when I’m home. Such a great combo! ❤ I went with the 512gb with 16gb of ram. No ragrets 😂
Thank you for the review. I currently have a 21.5 iMac (2012) and I know I need an upgrade. I don't do gaming or video editing but just basic stuff, like surfing, email, etc. I plan on getting a usb c hub along with the basic 8 core cpu and 8 core gpu. I also have a 4TB external hard drive which, I think, should take care of my needs. Do you think I'm going in the right direction? I'm a couple of weeks away from ordering but I want to make sure I'll get some good time with this machine. Thanks for your input.
Suggest u clone OS and run it off external SSD. Ur 2012 will feel like new again. Better still, install Opencore Sonoma to ur clone and u can have the latest OS running.
Thank you, its takin me a long time lots of videos to decide, if im going to upgrade to Imac M3. the answer is NO! You would think on such a hype about the chip they would have done more. Screen size, ram, gbs, its just typical, so im out. thank you for your video.
@@MannyRataul Thanks. Honestly I think I will only do 1080p. So for that it should perform. I did some editing with my 8gb M1 and it performed quite well. Great video. Informative!
7 месяцев назад+2
Do you think 16gb of ram and 512gb of SSD are enough for Adobe Premiere video editing? I often work on simple timelines with 10-15 minutes and little or no effects. I have an older base model 2019 iMac and I’m considering upgrading.
Ok so now I’m confused on which config to get 😂. I need it for general office work, browsing, uploading photos, studying and run a few apps. WhatsApp, go for Gmail, Microsoft office, photoshop but I don’t do a lot of editing like photographers do. Would the 8gb be enough or should I pay $270 to upgrade to 16gb? And now I’m wondering if 256 storage is enough lol
Wanna spring for a green, 24GB of RAM, 1TB SSD, full Magic Keyboard, Mouse and Trackpad. It’s gonna cost about $2,600 though…😫 I’m just wondering if that would be enough for music production.
@@MannyRataulI have enough laptops as it is…😂. I was leaning towards an all-in-one and also to make the leap to Mac as I’m primarily a Windows user. It’s more for a home studio and just mucking around with music composition. Nothing too elaborate per sé.
Apple insists on selling us just one all-in-one non-upgradable computer model. Contrary to their previous line-up those that want to keep the all-in-one form factor are left with only a very slim choice. Economically it represents a lesser deal and not very enticing choice. The Mini and Studio are not real alternatives since they imply a very crowded desktop, more cables and, above all, a higher investment than the previous line-up. Considering Apple’s approach for this particular model I do not envision a particular bright future for it, unfortunately
Seems like a solid machine. An upgrade for me, with windows10 end of life in 18 months I want to not only replace a 7 year old PC that wont run Windows 11 but also the software. I want imovie and most of all GarageBand, not much on Windows can compare especially for free. Sure, I have a newish Win11 laptop, but it doesnt have that software
I use a 8gb RAM and it’s ok . I use UTM with another Sonoma running for test and works very well. For me the storage is ceitical, bur i use a Thunderbolt 4 case with 4tb nvme pcie4.
Thanks for the review.. My wife currently has a 2017 Intel 24" iMac that has more troubles than it should as a consultant upgraded her IOS to one beyond the capabilities of the SATA drives, and she now has major delays, and "thinking wheels". She is furious about twice a day as a result. So, in spite of the cost, which we REALLY cannot afford right now, her needs for a viable computer outweigh that concern. My first thought was buying a Mac Mini and upgrading the Memory and SSD storage. But that leaves us with the monitor and speaker issue. Putting together a hybrid system is aesthetically ugly and space consuning, and besides she just loves her current 24" size iMac as we travel with it in it's custom rolling case which she adores and is a nice fit on her desk. So that's my plan. Buy the basic M3 8-core processor, but upgrade the memory (16GB) and storage (512GB) as you and many recommend. Her needs are not much, but she does tend to leave several apps open at one time specially Word, several windows of Chrome, Excel, and Outlook mail. She also enjoys some PhotoShop editing -- but no video editing. (That;s my domain.) Therefore I feel this basic model with memory and SSD upgrades are perfect. I KNOW she will be blown away by the improvement in performance and speed -- especially from the 2017 model.
Addendum: Another reviewer suggested buying the basic 256GB storage but adding an external 1-2TB SSD for processing storage and backup. How do you feel about that? She currently has a Samsung portable drive hanging from the rear of her iMac for Time Machine backups...
Thank you for this! I'm upgrading from the Apple Jurassic Period ;-) ~ Do you recommend I upgrade to 32 GB memory with my primary use being online coaching individual and large groups as well as brand strategy, where I am using a lot of software to create a video, images, graphic design, ai, and sharing this on-screen while in Zoom, etc.? My 2017 MacBook Pro goes black now when I share a screen for my clients to see my creations, and my business in Ai Character Brand Strategy is taking off.
Older i macs had usb ports on either side of the key boards. They need input from various mac users and other engineers and users for suggestions to include more common sense ideas to make mac a more desirable product. Prices are nuts
This question is for anyone, not just Manny Rataul: I'm not really "computer literate". I've been using the same "21.5-inch, Late 2009" iMac; running macOS Sierra Version 10.12.6 (won't upgrade any higher); a 3.08 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor (whatever that means); an 8 GB 1067 MHz DDR3 Memory (ditto); and NVIDIA GeForce 9400 256 MB Graphics (ditto). I keep getting notices that my memory is almost full, and some of my browsers won't upgrade to the latest versions. My question: If I purchase a new model, will I have to download (or upload) everything, including things I've either forgotten about or didn't like, from my current 14 year-old model into the new one, which, I'm guessing, will effectively take up space in the new model with all the old crap I longer use? Thank you.
I can try and help! Your current computer is probably running out of storage space and you may also have too many applications open at once, as to why you are getting a low memory warning. If you were to upgrade, my advice is to sign up for Apple iCloud, and upload everything that you need to it. iCloud is essentially an online cloud storage membership, where you can save all your files remotely and not directly on your computer. This makes things easier to share across your apple devices and takes up no space on your mac. If you end up signing up for iCloud and uploading the files you would liek to keep, you can then log into this account on your new machine and retrieve everything.
@@MannyRataul WOW! Thanks for the advice, Manny! I rarely run more than one app at a time, but I'll certainly look into your iCloud suggestion. Of course, the "alerts" I get reminding me that my memory is low comes from "Clean my Mac", available for $32. If I'm going to purchase a new desktop, I'm not going to pour more money into this one. Thanks again! I really do appreciate your insights.
Thank you for asking the same questions and quandary I have. I have the same Mac desktop you have with the same ( I think, sounds like mine) specs. The thought of having to parse through all the clutter and memory in the computer as well as the huge external drive that holds an enormous amount of music and movies is overwhelming me to the point of “ frozen”. 😮 I actually had many plans to for that computer in my favorite hobby of music. But well my hubby’s health decline with an incurable disease took over my life and time. I think I need to just start over and plan on a smaller ( but still powerful enough computer for the future) setup that I can use occasionally . I have a newer laptop but will really miss that 27 inch screen.
If you’re anything more than just a person who emails surfs the web watches videos and types documents either 16 GB ram or 512 GB ssd is recommended. You don’t need both but I’ll admit you got more files. I would get the 512 because it’s faster and also you have more space. I agree with you on the mouse. I wish they didn’t include it and just drop the price.
M3 without a doubt, performance is almost identical between the two even with graphics, plus with the M3 you get a display included. Unless you already have a great display, go with the iMac and spec it out to your preference.
M2 Mac Mini Pro. Better multi-core Geekbench 6 score, more ports of high quality, and higher RAM & SSD by default. The accessories (1080p web camera/keyboard/mouse) are relatively cheap. The only thing you may lose out on is the 4.5k display. Due to Apple's scaling requirements, you are limited to QHD or a very expensive 5k monitors. At least with QHD 27-inch monitors you can find refresh rates above 120hz.
I'll Stick With My M2Pro Mac Mini With 16GB Ram, & 1TB SSD, Using A 27" Thunderbolt Display For The Main Monitor, As Well As A 42" Vizio 1080P Old TV As The Extended Monitor 🙂
Excellent and helpful review, with a large amount of refreshing objectivity about this computer. Much appreciated!
Thank you so much, this helped me know just what to purchase, as I have a iMac 2017 Intel. So just bought the upgrade iMac M3 with all the bells and whistles.
Just got my first one. And I got red. Love it. Beautiful computer. I just wish they came in 27’
Unboxing a new iMac M3 is like Christmas for a kid. They make it so fun. I am upgrading from a late 2013 iMac which I hate to part with. I purchased the basic iMac in silver. It is nice. We'll see how it goes. Thanks for the info.
Great purchase!
Same here I upgraded from a late 2013 27in iMac
I have a 2015 27" 5K iMac I7 with 3TB SSD, 24GB RAM and have yet to feel excited about Apple's latest iMacs...now thinking of replacing it with a Mac Studio M3 Ultra with a Studio Display. It's insane to think I have kept using this iMac for 8 years when I used to swap Windows PCs every year or couple of years before that.
I am still using my 2017 27" iMac. its hard to get excited for a smaller 24" screen...
Very useful review. I’m still using my late 2015, Intel based, 27 inch iMac, and will probably wait until 2025 before I replace it. I’m sure the upgrade will make a dramatic difference, but I hold onto Apple products as long as I can in order to afford the price of being in the Apple ecosystem.
I bought an iMac M3 with the extra ports, plus 24GB RAM and 1TB SSD and I love it! Excellent machine and I agree with you about the Apple mouse.
How is editing 4K on this?
I’m considering an iMac, coming from an i5 8gb MacBook Pro. I’d definitely go for 24gb RAM, the SSD seems pointless when you can buy external storage so cheap
@russellmoody Isn't the internal SSD faster than an external ? I was wondering how it affects Logic Pro sound libraries and project storage.
Thanks
I have one on the way with these specs 👍🏻
@@StratsRUs me neeither. any info?
Great work Manny. My 2011 27" iMac is finally struggling with recent software upgrades (MacOS, Kaspersky, etc) so am STILL waiting on the iMac Pro 32"+ M3 release. Mac Mini and Samsung 57" is tempting but just far too messy cablewise. Mac Studio is hugely over specced for my needs and iMac 24 simply doesn't have enough screen real estate. Looking forward to Apple finally plugging the huge gap in their product portfolio with an iMac Pro replacement with M3 processor .. and your reveiw!
Thanks!
Thank you for the super like!
blue or green for me. was looking for, 16gb ram and 512 or 1tb storage. As u say to futureproof it for a while, given the price
My 21inch iMac from 2010 is reaching it's end of life. Been a great machine and I not happy about having to upgrade. Thanks so much for the video.
Just load Linux on it.
@@rrt08 whats that? and how do you do it
I have a mid 2011 and a late 2019 iMac. The 2011 sadly recently failed switch on and needs a repair but my 2019 8 core i9 with 64GB RAM and 2 Terrabytes of SSD storage is in a different league and requires no upgrade and will probably last me another five or six years with a bit of luck. It certainly should do, as it wasn’t cheap. I have about 800GB left on internal storage, which could be expanded by deleting a whole lot of unused files if I wanted. Attached to it are two external USB hard drives which consist of a 4TB unit for TimeMachine and a 2TB which is where my Photos library lives. All synchronised with iCloud plus backed up to TimeMachine drive but my Photos library is also backed to Google One and Amazon cloud drives just in case. So expanding storage on iMac is not such a big deal because a whole lot of files can be stored on relatively cheap external drives, whether mechanical or SSD’s. Yes, get 16GB of RAM though, because you can’t add that later. I’ve gone overboard with 64GB but seven or eight open apps and multiple tabs open on several of them, I’m glad I have it, as I’m a power used for business and leisure and average about 60 hours a week use and never switch it off. Do send it to sleep at night and it sleeps if idle for an hour at a time.
my iMac is from 2015. My main concern is security especially for financial stuff. Have you had any concerning experiences about security issues?
@@LibsRockU My financial accounts are all secure. The issue with a machine as old as mine is it's no longer upgradable and the security certificates are not recognized by the websites of my bank, credit card, schwab etc... I felt I was forced into the upgrade of the iMac. Now that it's been a couple of months on the new machine everything is running perfectly.
Liked and subscribed. I’m very impressed with your commentary and knowledge, just a great experience watching your video . Your too the point , no terrible music running in the background, and concise .
I almost went with Apple for Lightroom photoshop etc, but the price for ram and storage s absolutely ridiculous imo . I think I’ll stick with their phones watches and iPads , but keep my windows machine for photography
What they said! & your branding is fantastic. Minimalism with the vibrant transition palette. Love it!
Manny, thanks so much for this extremely helpful review. I have spent several hours today researching the M3 iMac. I currently have a 2019 Intel iMac that has been increasingly sluggish. Your very straightforward and logical review and recommendations confirmed that the order I had already saved to my shopping cart on the Apple website was the best fit for me -- specifically upgrading to the 16GB memory and opting for the 512GB storage. I am not a power user, but I recognize the importance of adding a minimum degree of headroom. Thanks for this excellent video.
Im glad you found it helpful!
It is rare that I feel the urge to like and subscribe to any youtube channels. But, your professionalism, details, flow of information without getting wordy, etc is EXCEPTIONAL. I have been a Mac User since the original Mac SE (and apple products before that). I got this new iMac primarily for my 3d Printing room/Study. I had an intel iMac from about 9 years ago and the iMac before that was a PURPLE (grape) Apple iMac G3/400. So, I just had to get the purple version of this new one.
I already have an MacBook M3 pro (for work) and am assuming I will see little difference between the two in abilities besides the fact my Macbook has 35gigs of memory and 1tb of storage. Nonetheless, your video does the machine justice and I look forward to receiving it soon! Thank you again for an exceptional video!
Thank you for the very kind words and subscribing!
Great review, followed your advice , and for my usage, ordered the iMac silver 16gb memory 512 storage.My 2015 MacBook Pro 15 inch with I7 intel is slow and I’m sure gonna enjoy a 24” display! Thank you
I got a base m1 iMac when the m3 came out as retailers were putting them on clearance. Was a pretty great discount too but it sucks that I couldn’t get any more ram than 8gb going through retailers. At the time I intended it to be my secondary computer but I’ve come to find the form factor is more ideal than my current M1 air (higher spec’d machine) I plan on selling both the iMac and air and going for a 2 port m3 iMac with 24gb of ram and 1tb of storage as my main computer.
Assuming the M3 iMac with 16gb of memory would be good enough to do some photo editing on affinity photo comfortably? Planning on utilizing iCloud for photo storage so the 256tb is literally just for programs.
More than capable for photo editing
Iv been using my 2011 27" mac for 12 years now. It was a year old when i bought it second hand. Great machine although its now eaten its 4th graphics card. Its gone to my local friendly mac repairer but i don't know if he will be able to repair it this time. I also have a 2009 24" mac with limited power that only comes out to play when the 27" is at the mac hospital. Very slow with limited use but it still works.! Hence my interest in the 2023 24" mac with the m3 chip and the mini pro. Just wish they would re make the 27". Keep up the good work.
Thanks!
Thank you for the video. It was very informative and I will be getting an iMac with 1 TB and 24Mg memory in Gray.
Thanks for watching!
Great review thanks. I’ve been trying to decide what spec to buy and you’ve helped me to decide. I’m going to order 4usb with 16Gb RAM, 512 SSD, extended keyboard and magic touchpad. 👍🏼
I am about to buy a replacement for my late 2013, 27" which has served me well but it's getting to be too slow. I have found the 27" great for my photographic work and it will certainly be missed. Your advice on RAM and storage is very useful thank you and I will do as you suggest. The green one will be my choice.
Good choice!
Good to see an honest review instead of someone doing a sales pitch
Thanks for watching!
Orange and going with the 4 USB ports and the maximum RAM that I believe the machine can handle which is 24 GB. Go big or go home! If I could afford it I would get the studio, but I only freelance part time now as a special event artist, so that might just be overkill for me. Thank you. The info on the four ports was massively helpful. UPDATE: On checking back, I cannot find any option to add those additional USB ports on their customisation page?
I have never owned an Apple computer. I am in the Apple family with phone, watch and two sets of air pods. I wear glasses and when using my laptop, I have to remove my bifocal glasses. I am considering the 4 port iMac with 24 gb ram and 1 tb ssd. I do photo editing and at times 16 gb ram with dedicated 4 gb video card is not enuf power on that hp all in one spectre. Something unknown happened and the bottom has warped and destroyed my sound and maybe reduced other things. I would most likely add the numeric keyboard with track pad, although the track pad on my hp laptop rarely ever gets used. Thanks for your review.
Excellent review Manny; well spoken with relevant gen!. My Imac 27, (2010 ) is begging to retire and I must do the gentlemanly thing and let it go. I would add to your review the suggestion to purchase a USB 14-1 hub docking station; not necessarily from Apple as there's plenty on Amazon, (£27-70)....or Ebay for that matter. Other than that, I'm off to Bath, (UK), to seal the deal as it were. Thanks again.
Please tell me more about the block attached to the cord
That is the AC adapter for the iMac. You have the option for $30 if you want to add an ethernet port to the block if you prefer a wired internet connection.
My wife and I just got the iMac m3 yesterday at best buy for 1299! I thought the price point was great! 1299 for a new iMac is cheap! the laptops are more I guess cause there portable. anyways we love it and we got the blue one cause they were out of green.
Is the m3 fast? For 8gb?
I have the red and pink it’s beautiful ❤ great review
Thanks for all this info!! 🙏🏻 I ordered a refurbished one so that I could get the 16GB ram & 10 core GPU without paying the price hike for those upgrades from the basic version. I currently have a 2019 MacBook Pro (Intel i9) which is still performing great so I still plan on keeping the MacBook but I’m going to put the new iMac in my home office for specific uses! I ordered in the blue color to match my iPad Air & AirPods Max. So excited
It's nice to hear that you recommend at least 16GB RAM and a 512 GB SSD.
I got 24 and 2tb… all the upgrades. I’m very happy. When people buy mac they should not skimp and get Max everything. if not, don’t buy a Mac you can get more computer out of a PC. I prefer mac… but some of the stuff really is frustrating.
Thanks for the great review! Not sure why I am so antsy about my current iMac (M1, Orange, 16/512), but was looking into an M3 to maybe change the color, but I am set now. There really is no reason top change.. the screen sound, and camera make it all worth it :)
Very informative, nicely done, thanks. I have my eye on a M2 Pro Mini 16gb, we shall see ?
I intend to buy one in green with 128 and 1T and extended keyboard.
Thank you so much for this thorough review! How do you feel about casual gaming on this?
@@TurtleJulia thanks for watching! gaming is quite underrated on this machine! Ive been using emulators and have been able to play Xbox and Playstation games no problem on this!
@@MannyRataul Thank you so much for your quick reply! I mainly play The Sims 4 and would love to finally play it on a desktop.
Oh, and can you connect a USB headset to this? Mine's mandated for work.
Great review. Mine came in a couple of days ago, will unbox tomorrow on my day off, busy week. Teal I think is the most attractive color, but I just wish Starlight would have been available. We should have a “Worst Apple Product” award. The Magic Mouse sure takes the cherry on top. Be well
hey u is suc attttttti
Thanks, great review. I agree about the little RAM and the small SSD, not suitable for current needs. This is why I haven't purchased an IMac yet and I'm waiting for a downward price adjustment.
Grazie, ottima recensione. Concordo sulla poca RAM e sul piccolo SSD, non adatti alle esigenze attuali. Questo è il motivo per cui non ho ancora acquistato un IMac e sto aspettando un aggiustamento del prezzo al ribasso.
I like how real your review is
I want pass , because I don't have one yet. So looking forward to getting M3 iMac. We have M1 Air and last of the intel MacBook Pro... My PC has crapped it self , was going to build new one , but perfect time to get the iMac now.
Just picked up the purple with the extra ports, and 16 gigs with the 256 ssd. I'm coming the 2017 intel i5 27". I'm loving that now I'm on the newer operating system!
Thanks for a great review :). Do you have some insight on the difference between 8 and 10 cores, with 16Gb RAM? I don't play games, occasionally make some video production, the most common use case for me is programming. Many thanks for the info.
Excellent review. I have already order my iMac with 10 core gpu, 24 gb ram ant 1tb ssd after 8 years with macbook air late 2015. Thnax
Nice setup!
For a lower price, you could have gotten an M2 Mac Mini with an LG 5k 27-inch monitor.
@@akin242002 Wish I had thought of that option *before* I bought this new iMac 24" w/ the M3 chip. I did get 1 TB of storage but am used to working with 2 TB so am finding I am using several external drives in addition to the iMac...not the best set up I have worked with. Thanks for your excellent review!!
Thank you, for this nice review of the updated colorful 24-inch M-3 processor iMac desktop system. I agree with you 100 percent that, if you already own an IMac computer with the M-1 processor then, there is really no need to upgrade. While, I am more of a "mac mini" person now. However if, I was buying a new iMac it would be the "yellow" version and a top of the line model (24GB/2TB SSD) ordered off of Apple's Veteran's web site with a 10 percent discount to save about $300 US (smile...smile).
Nice pick!
Thank you for this information. based on your review and the specs involved, I have to wait. I need the RAM and Memory. As a Photographer I do
a lot of photos. Even thou I have external hard drives, I still do a ton of desktop on-screen work. I maxed my current Mac desktop out to 32 gigs of RAM. It seems that this feature is not possible with this new 24-inch Machine, so what is the point of it. And why did they reduce the screen size from 27 inches to 24 inches? That is another con for this machine. Not sure what to do at this point. My current Mac is a late 2015 purchased new from the Apple store.
Thanks a lot for your excellent and detailed review of the iMac M3. I gave a try to an iMac M1 2021 basic, and I liked most of things, but I need more speed, Ram, and storage, so I think I should go for the M3. Something important I want to ask, is about the graphic card, a pro photographer/computer salesman, said that the graphic card on the iMac M1 is better than the M3 for doing complex creative work, especially with AI. Do you know if that's true? This guy would make more money selling me the M3, so it sounds honest about what he's saying, I think. Thanks a lot!!!!
The graphics comparison is absolutely false, the M3 has better graphical performance than the M1 by up to 80%. Neither the M1 or M3 iMacs have dedicated video card, all the graphical performance is computer through the actual M chips themselves
@@MannyRataul Very strange, I don't see any advantage for him to tell me that, anyway, thanks again.
Great break down of your tutorial! I’m looking at the
iMac M3. New to Apple computers. Which is better to purchase if one doesn’t store a lot of music or videos are they upgradeable or can I back up with a cloud subscription and or external hard drive if needed? Love your video
Storage is the disc space to save your files, this can be upgraded. Memory is what is required by applications to run, this can also be upgraded. The only things that cannot be upgraded is the screen size the M3 processor itself. You can go to Apple’s website to customize your own Mac to your own liking. I hope this helps!
Great review - is it possible to add a second monitor to this imac?
Yes but only one extra monitor is supported 🙁
I’m a designer and video editor, never used Apple iMac or MacBook, planning to buy iMac M3, 16/512 , will it be good than any windows pc in this budget?
Thanks for the review!
For the performance there are, but for the total package, no. Remember with this mac you get an extremely crisp 4.5K display so take that into consideration when comparaing with PC prices. If you already have a solid monitor and you have experience with PCs, then I would reccomend you search your windows options first as you have much greater flexibility in cusotmizability and budget.
A key question for 27" imac users is, how much is that extra 3" of screen worth to you? Using the memory/storage options I need (16GB/1TB), configuring an M3 imac 4-port 8/10 cores, versus a mac mini M2 8/10 cores with Studio Display, it turns out that the mac mini/Studio Display system is $700 more.
I really really really miss the 3 inches of screen estate, the 24" really looks tiny side by side especially when editing photo/videos where having the tools displayed along with the video or photo as big as possible is essential. Another drawback is the luminosity is way way dimmer on the 24" compared to the 27"!! I have to push the luminosity almost to the max on the 24" compared to about below half on the 27" to be comfortable.
Great review - clear and concise. I am in the market for a new iMac - currently working on a 2017 27” machine that will no longer update the OS. Running PS & LRC is now so slow + I’m now getting notices from said apps telling me to update my OS 😔I am seriously considering this machine and would definitely upgrade the purchase and high as possible. Not sure yet how I feel about losing the 3” on the screen, tho🧐 Thx again for your time.
If I had a big serious desk workstation, then I’d miss the 27in. But I moved to a compact workspace where I can’t move back far away from the screen, so a 24in works great for my use. It’s much bigger than a laptop display, and a little small for a full immersive experience.
Thank you for a good, honest review. I want very much to like the M machines but I can't. Your points about the advantages of the new processors are fine and that is what makes me want one. What stops me is the system-on-a-chip philosophy. I agree with you that 8GB of memory is ridiculous and so is the 256GB of storage, and it costs a lot of money to buy more! It doesn't make sense to design a machine that will have to be replaced if there is a memory failure. A while back I purchased an Intel iMac that has a pretty high-powered processor and because I had some memory, this machine has 48GB of RAM and 2TB of SSD. Overkill; maybe but I have room to grow. I don't agree with how 'uncluttered' my desk will be with an M3. I do not use iCloud so I have a hard drive on my desk used by Time Machine. Occasionally I may plug in another drive for extra backups. At some point, Apple will force me to buy an Mx machine but hopefully, that will not be soon. The other thing on which we disagree is minor. The option for different colors is as dumb to me as the mouse design is to you; although I am not a fan of that either. Thank you again for your honesty. It is going to take more to convert me to a new iMac.
I have a 21.5inch imac,late 2012, with a 2.4 GHz quad-core Intel i5 and Mac OS 10.15.7. This thing was running very stable, but since last year or so it started to lag quiet heavily. Dont know what happened, guess the last update killed it. It has 16gb RAM and 1 TB memory and I paid around 1'500 usd for it back in the day. Now For the same 16GB RAM and 1TB memory, they costs over 2'200! That's weird! I really consider to go back to a windows system, but will it hold as long as an imac will?
A Windows desptop machine in that price range will get you significantly more power, however the screen/monitor will need to be purchased seperaely along with other peripherals.
In my opinion and as somone who has used a windows machine for much longer than Mac, a Windows desktop will hold up much longer due to one simple reason: upgradability. Once you confiigure a Mac, you cannot upgrade any of its components...ever. With a windows machine you can swap out CPUs, Ram, GPUs, etc at your liking when you believe you machine might be slowing down.
Intel and AMD cpus available for windows go neck and neck and often out performan Apple's own silicon. So you will not have to worry about a desktop's performance compared to a Mac.
I'm contemplating a new M3 iMac, vs. the 27" iMac I now have. The M3 chip is desirable, but I'm worried the 8GB ram will not suit my needs as a 3D designer. I currently have 48 GB. Thanks again Apple for making a smaller machine with less ram and less HD storage for way more money. We Apple customers suffer from Stockholm syndrome. I think I'm going to keep the 27".
Just like your original iMac 27", all Mac start with a base model that can be upgraded. I do wish that Apple had offered at least 16gb of ram and 512Gb of storage as its base.
I’m editing on a PC with 32GB . Wanting to move to Mac eco system, for quick transfers, color corrected screen, Final Cut. . Will be getting 24GB 2TB iMac m3
Maybe the end of this year or sometime next year you will see a 27+” iMac Pro? Only time will tell for sure. But I think it’s coming in less than 2 years from now
More better a workstation is for 3 D designers, I love my Zbook fury G9.
@@MannyRataulI only use iMac 24 as an appliance in my kitchen around, 😂 it’s good 8GB ram😅
Well I suppose if I'd watched this before. $$$ ah well.....and now have my 16Gb 2 Tb blue on the way...hope it lasts a good long while!!
I’m still using my trusty 2010 27 inch iMac in my summer home and planning to get this new iMac 24 maxed out for my winter home. I’m a content creator and I’m happy to hear that you had no challenges using Adobe Photoshop! While I’m super excited - I am struggling with the extra $400 for an extra 1TB SSD. Thank you for your reassuring review!
Is there backlight on the keyboard?
There is not
I am replacing my 2012 imac. My budget will allow me to buy an M3 imac 8gb ram and 512gb SSD or M1 imac with 16gb ram and 1TB SSD. I use the computer for general computing and some basic photo editing. Which would you recommend?
Is the ram 8GB on iMac M3 good enough for doing Photoshop and FinalCut (without gaming)?
Yes but for large projects it is not recommended due to memory swapping
I have a 2012 i7 Mac so this is what I'm saving for.There's nothing wrong with the i7 as I use it every day but some software won't run on it. 24" screen is about right but now I'm thinking about an M1 instead of the M3 chip as it is a bit expensive. Macs last longer than Windows PCs; I don't know why but since 2012 I've had 3 PCs and one Mac.
Thanks for the thorough review!
Thanks for watching!
Well explained, thank you!
I’ve been holding off getting one because for some insane reason I am unable to find any local retailer selling any iMac with more than 8gb of ram. I want it for video editing, 8gb isn’t enough. Apparently you can’t add ram to these now as it’s on the chip so has to be purchased with it installed.
You have to order it off of Apple’s website
excellent, no nonsense rundown. thank you.
Thanks for watching!
I suppose it’s too much to expect ab approx price ??
After changing my display to 4K resolution, everything got really tiny. What’s up with that? I’m really a beginner as you probably can tell by the questions.
Actually the physical resolution doesn't change. You can think of it as a zoom level of desktop objects etc. So Manny got it wrong there..
Great information and well presented. Thank you.
Thanks for watching!
I was gonna get a MacBook Pro but I went with this instead since I have an iPad Pro 12.9” with the Magic Keyboard so that’s kinda my laptop! I use my iPad to take to work and school work and I use my iMac when I’m home. Such a great combo! ❤ I went with the 512gb with 16gb of ram. No ragrets 😂
I am thinking on buying the new imac m4. Are there a lot of games you can play on imac?
The games that are available are great, however its nowhere near the library and catalog of what Windows has
Thank you for the review. I currently have a 21.5 iMac (2012) and I know I need an upgrade. I don't do gaming or video editing but just basic stuff, like surfing, email, etc. I plan on getting a usb c hub along with the basic 8 core cpu and 8 core gpu. I also have a 4TB external hard drive which, I think, should take care of my needs. Do you think I'm going in the right direction? I'm a couple of weeks away from ordering but I want to make sure I'll get some good time with this machine. Thanks for your input.
Yes that is more than enough for your needs
Suggest u clone OS and run it off external SSD. Ur 2012 will feel like new again. Better still, install Opencore Sonoma to ur clone and u can have the latest OS running.
Thank you, its takin me a long time lots of videos to decide, if im going to upgrade to Imac M3. the answer is NO! You would think on such a hype about the chip they would have done more. Screen size, ram, gbs, its just typical, so im out. thank you for your video.
Everything but the screen can be upgraded, 8gb of ram and 256gb of space is NOT the only variation this comes in.
Isn't this the same chip used on the Airs? Meaning, not a M3 chips like the MacBook Pros?
@@alex-chicago-80 not true, the MacBook Pro also comes in an M3 option
Do you think 8GB is enough for 4K video? I don't see myself ever doing 8K videos. Good video :)
Is it enough? Yes. Would I recommend it if you plan on editing 4K on regular basis? No. My recommendation is to upgrade the memory to at least 16gb.
@@MannyRataul Thanks. Honestly I think I will only do 1080p. So for that it should perform. I did some editing with my 8gb M1 and it performed quite well. Great video. Informative!
Do you think 16gb of ram and 512gb of SSD are enough for Adobe Premiere video editing? I often work on simple timelines with 10-15 minutes and little or no effects. I have an older base model 2019 iMac and I’m considering upgrading.
Yes that is plenty for 4K video editing, I have been able to edit large project files with just 8gb of ram.
i am with you on 16GB of ram also min 512 SSD great job on video.
Ok so now I’m confused on which config to get 😂. I need it for general office work, browsing, uploading photos, studying and run a few apps. WhatsApp, go for Gmail, Microsoft office, photoshop but I don’t do a lot of editing like photographers do.
Would the 8gb be enough or should I pay $270 to upgrade to 16gb? And now I’m wondering if 256 storage is enough lol
8gb of ram is kore than enough! Just buy an external ssd for storage if you ever run out, much cheaper!
@@MannyRataul thank you so much!
Wanna spring for a green, 24GB of RAM, 1TB SSD, full Magic Keyboard, Mouse and Trackpad. It’s gonna cost about $2,600 though…😫
I’m just wondering if that would be enough for music production.
More than enough. I think you might want to consider the new MacBook Pro instead with a faster processor if you are concerned with performance.
Buy two higher spec PCs for that price, lol
@@MannyRataulI have enough laptops as it is…😂. I was leaning towards an all-in-one and also to make the leap to Mac as I’m primarily a Windows user. It’s more for a home studio and just mucking around with music composition. Nothing too elaborate per sé.
@@inerlogicI’m trying to move away from Windows. All my PCs are Windows.
Apple insists on selling us just one all-in-one non-upgradable computer model. Contrary to their previous line-up those that want to keep the all-in-one form factor are left with only a very slim choice. Economically it represents a lesser deal and not very enticing choice. The Mini and Studio are not real alternatives since they imply a very crowded desktop, more cables and, above all, a higher investment than the previous line-up. Considering Apple’s approach for this particular model I do not envision a particular bright future for it, unfortunately
Seems like a solid machine. An upgrade for me, with windows10 end of life in 18 months I want to not only replace a 7 year old PC that wont run Windows 11 but also the software. I want imovie and most of all GarageBand, not much on Windows can compare especially for free. Sure, I have a newish Win11 laptop, but it doesnt have that software
This was a very very great video your final remarks took into consideration the consumers who are on a budget.
I use a 8gb RAM and it’s ok . I use UTM with another Sonoma running for test and works very well.
For me the storage is ceitical, bur i use a Thunderbolt 4 case with 4tb nvme pcie4.
8 gigs of RAM barely ran a single audio track in Garageband for me. Apple knows what they're doing when they scam you with that 'unified memory' lie.
Thanks for the review.. My wife currently has a 2017 Intel 24" iMac that has more troubles than it should as a consultant upgraded her IOS to one beyond the capabilities of the SATA drives, and she now has major delays, and "thinking wheels". She is furious about twice a day as a result. So, in spite of the cost, which we REALLY cannot afford right now, her needs for a viable computer outweigh that concern. My first thought was buying a Mac Mini and upgrading the Memory and SSD storage. But that leaves us with the monitor and speaker issue. Putting together a hybrid system is aesthetically ugly and space consuning, and besides she just loves her current 24" size iMac as we travel with it in it's custom rolling case which she adores and is a nice fit on her desk.
So that's my plan. Buy the basic M3 8-core processor, but upgrade the memory (16GB) and storage (512GB) as you and many recommend. Her needs are not much, but she does tend to leave several apps open at one time specially Word, several windows of Chrome, Excel, and Outlook mail. She also enjoys some PhotoShop editing -- but no video editing. (That;s my domain.) Therefore I feel this basic model with memory and SSD upgrades are perfect. I KNOW she will be blown away by the improvement in performance and speed -- especially from the 2017 model.
Addendum: Another reviewer suggested buying the basic 256GB storage but adding an external 1-2TB SSD for processing storage and backup. How do you feel about that? She currently has a Samsung portable drive hanging from the rear of her iMac for Time Machine backups...
Liking ur videos. Deffintely subscribing!
Thanks!
Great review. Thks. Can help check when m3 imac 24 USB C arriving?
It has USB C ports
Thank you for this! I'm upgrading from the Apple Jurassic Period ;-) ~ Do you recommend I upgrade to 32 GB memory with my primary use being online coaching individual and large groups as well as brand strategy, where I am using a lot of software to create a video, images, graphic design, ai, and sharing this on-screen while in Zoom, etc.? My 2017 MacBook Pro goes black now when I share a screen for my clients to see my creations, and my business in Ai Character Brand Strategy is taking off.
If you can afford it, I always recommend as much ram as possible. 32GB will be more than enough for your work case.
thank you! @@MannyRataul
Great overview!👍🏼👍🏼
That pic at the beginning was taken in my homeland. Madeira Island
Yes it was! I visited there last May, it is a beautiful place!
Older i macs had usb ports on either side of the key boards. They need input from various mac users and other engineers and users for suggestions to include more common sense ideas to make mac a more desirable product. Prices are nuts
Does it is possible to use the M3 iMac as a display for a MacBook Pro or air ?
Unfortunately apple removed the feature of using an iMac as an external screen a while ago 🙁
I like the original design with apple logo in front. You like this one better?
Outstanding, thank you so much!
I'm getting an iMac with 16GB 512SSD and thank you for your video
Thanks for watching!
Good info and and evaluation of the M3 iMac.
This question is for anyone, not just Manny Rataul: I'm not really "computer literate". I've been using the same "21.5-inch, Late 2009" iMac; running macOS Sierra Version 10.12.6 (won't upgrade any higher); a 3.08 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor (whatever that means); an 8 GB 1067 MHz DDR3 Memory (ditto); and NVIDIA GeForce 9400 256 MB Graphics (ditto). I keep getting notices that my memory is almost full, and some of my browsers won't upgrade to the latest versions.
My question: If I purchase a new model, will I have to download (or upload) everything, including things I've either forgotten about or didn't like, from my current 14 year-old model into the new one, which, I'm guessing, will effectively take up space in the new model with all the old crap I longer use? Thank you.
I can try and help! Your current computer is probably running out of storage space and you may also have too many applications open at once, as to why you are getting a low memory warning. If you were to upgrade, my advice is to sign up for Apple iCloud, and upload everything that you need to it. iCloud is essentially an online cloud storage membership, where you can save all your files remotely and not directly on your computer. This makes things easier to share across your apple devices and takes up no space on your mac. If you end up signing up for iCloud and uploading the files you would liek to keep, you can then log into this account on your new machine and retrieve everything.
@@MannyRataul WOW! Thanks for the advice, Manny! I rarely run more than one app at a time, but I'll certainly look into your iCloud suggestion. Of course, the "alerts" I get reminding me that my memory is low comes from "Clean my Mac", available for $32. If I'm going to purchase a new desktop, I'm not going to pour more money into this one. Thanks again! I really do appreciate your insights.
Thank you for asking the same questions and quandary I have. I have the same Mac desktop you have with the same ( I think, sounds like mine) specs. The thought of having to parse through all the clutter and memory in the computer as well as the huge external drive that holds an enormous amount of music and movies is overwhelming me to the point of “ frozen”. 😮
I actually had many plans to for that computer in my favorite hobby of music. But well my hubby’s health decline with an incurable disease took over my life and time. I think I need to just start over and plan on a smaller ( but still powerful enough computer for the future) setup that I can use occasionally .
I have a newer laptop but will really miss that 27 inch screen.
I have Geekbench 6 and chose not to buy the Pro version. That is an option for possible consideration.
Thank you for this video❤God bless
Thanks for watching!
Great video, as always.
Thanks!
You can use keyboard while charging
If you’re anything more than just a person who emails surfs the web watches videos and types documents either 16 GB ram or 512 GB ssd is recommended. You don’t need both but I’ll admit you got more files. I would get the 512 because it’s faster and also you have more space. I agree with you on the mouse. I wish they didn’t include it and just drop the price.
16gb memory and 512 gb should be the minimum! I cant believe Apple keeps getting away with this
No geekbench 6 costs only a few bucks I think on ios and surely on mac too
Mac mini m2 pro or i mac m3 ( for graphic designer - video editor ) !! Suggestions please
M3 without a doubt, performance is almost identical between the two even with graphics, plus with the M3 you get a display included. Unless you already have a great display, go with the iMac and spec it out to your preference.
M2 Mac Mini Pro. Better multi-core Geekbench 6 score, more ports of high quality, and higher RAM & SSD by default. The accessories (1080p web camera/keyboard/mouse) are relatively cheap.
The only thing you may lose out on is the 4.5k display. Due to Apple's scaling requirements, you are limited to QHD or a very expensive 5k monitors. At least with QHD 27-inch monitors you can find refresh rates above 120hz.
I'll Stick With My M2Pro Mac Mini With 16GB Ram, & 1TB SSD, Using A 27" Thunderbolt Display For The Main Monitor, As Well As A 42" Vizio 1080P Old TV As The Extended Monitor 🙂
Solid setup!
@@MannyRataul Thanks
That costs way more though.
@@winifred3440 You Get What You Pay For !!!! 😊😊