Test: Apple Imac M3 – the best all-in-one computer

Ever since the original jelly-raspberry-inspired Imac before the turn of the millennium, Apple has led the race on the all-in-one front. There have been some strange ventures along the way, but they have often been some of the market’s best buys, especially with screens that outclassed those of the competition without making the computers prohibitively expensive. My 27 inch Imac with 5k display from 2017 was one of the best computers I ever owned.

The latest Imac came in the fall of 2023 and is simply called Imac, sometimes with the addition 2023, or sometimes with the addition M3, as it is equipped with Apple’s latest processor M3 which increases performance significantly compared to the M1.

It pulls roughly on par with Intel’s better ultrabook processors, but has two major advantages. Firstly, enormously more energy-efficient and cool operation, which significantly reduces the need for cooling. So the computer mostly runs completely silently, and cools quietly even when the fan starts. In a laptop it would also have done wonders for battery life, but that won’t be a factor here.

The graphics make a big difference

Second, Apple’s processors have much more powerful built-in graphics, which the entire Mac OS system takes advantage of to greatly boost performance in apps, even ones you might not expect to benefit from it. It is only with Intel’s Arc graphics and AMD’s rdna2 chips that they start to catch up.

Do not expect the same extreme performance as in a Macbook Pro because it is not an M3 Pro or M3 Pro Max processor here, but the simplest model, the “regular” M3. It is above all a rap office and surfing computer. But you can do some in the form of image editing and video recording without any problems. Thanks to the powerful built-in graphics that such programs make very good use of in Mac OS, it surpasses most that Intel and AMD can answer with.

The very latest Intel processors with Arc graphics are starting to catch up, but they draw significantly more power and require cooling. With the graphics chip in the M3, the Imac also becomes a perfectly fine small device for simpler games. Get Apple Arcade and you get access to a large library of quality games for the computer. Mac is not a platform for die-hard gamers, but for all of us who want entertainment now and then, Apple delivers.

Limitation in the base model

Apart from the processor itself and other upgrades that come with the new chipset, such as support for ddr5 memory and wifi 6e, there is no difference between this Imac and the previous model. It’s the same deliciously slim and well-built device, available in seven different colors, four of which are available for the cheapest base model. Green, pink, blue and dull aluminum grey.

A noticeable difference between this base model that I tested and the more expensive model that is also available, and that my colleague Petter at Macworld tested in the fall of 2023, is that you get very few external connections here. Only two thunderbolt 4 ports. That’s all. There you must plug in extra screen, accessories, keyboard for battery charging and more. It can get crowded quickly if you don’t invest in a doll.

In his review, Petter gave Apple a pat on the back for still clinging to the lightning connector as a connection for accessories. I can agree with that, but it’s only on the accessories side. The USB-C connector applies to the computer. However, it is annoying that I have to be locked into Apple’s proprietary cable to charge the keyboard and mouse battery.

You get nicely color-matched and well-built Magic Mouse and Magic Keyboard at no extra cost. Fully paired and without the need for an adapter. The keyboard can be updated to one with built-in Touch ID if you want biometric login.

Small but great screen

There is now only a 24-inch version of the computer, so those who want a larger surface can get an external screen and plug it in, but for most people the built-in screen should go a long way. For what screen it is. High pixel density with razor-sharp sharpness, high contrast, up to 500 cd/m2 in brightness, hdr support and full p3 color gamut. What more could you ask for? Except maybe the pixel control in an oled, and larger surface.

Sounds good and does, with distinct, powerful and clear sound from built-in speakers. Any further massive pressure is not to be expected from such a compact computer, but it does a good job of also making bass tones clear, and the details in the midrange and treble are few laptops to match.

There is so much top quality in the Apple Imac that I quickly forgive some small flaws, such as the few external ports and limited screen area. You also have to pay a lot for more memory and a larger ssd, and a 256 GB volume might be a bit cramped in the long run. Do you also need more memory? Actually not, Mac OS does almost as well with 8GB as Windows does with 16GB.