All-in-One Mac · Apple Silicon · 2021
iMac (24-inch, M1)
Apple Silicon let the iMac shrink to a striking 11.5 mm slab and bloom into seven cheerful colours, with a colour-matched keyboard, mouse and even braided power cable.
First redesigned iMac in nearly a decade: 11.5 mm thin, in seven bright colours.
iMac (24-inch, M3) (2023)
iMac (24-inch, M1): key facts
When was the iMac (24-inch, M1) released?
The iMac (24-inch, M1) arrived on May 21, 2021. Apple discontinued it in October 2023.
How much did the iMac (24-inch, M1) cost?
The iMac (24-inch, M1) launched at $1,299 in 2021, about $1,507 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: Apple M1 (8-core) at 3.20 GHz, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB storage, 24" 4.5K Retina, 4480×2520 display.
Why does the iMac (24-inch, M1) matter?
First redesigned iMac in nearly a decade: 11.5 mm thin, in seven bright colours.
Full specifications
| CPU | Apple M1 (8-core) · 3.20 GHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 8 |
| Memory (RAM) | 8 GB (up to 16 GB) |
| Storage | 256 GB |
| Display | 24" 4.5K Retina, 4480×2520 |
| GPU | Apple 7/8-core GPU |
| Ports | 2–4× Thunderbolt / USB 4 |
| Weight | 4.5 kg |
| Dimensions | 11.5 mm-thin all-in-one |
| Operating system | macOS 11 Big Sur |
| Released | May 21, 2021 |
| Discontinued | October 2023 |
| Launch price | $1,299 |
How the iMac (24-inch, M1) compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 2.0× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 3.20 GHz, the clock is roughly 1.0× slower than a single performance core of a 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro, and that is before counting cores, width and IPC.
This held about 65,500 modern phone photos, a respectable library even today.
Launched at $1,299 in 2021, about $1,507 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Method note: clock comparisons use frequency only; price conversions use US CPI.
Sources
Specs checked against Apple technical specifications archive, EveryMac, Mactracker, Wikimedia Commons image credits.
Did you know?
The vivid colours were a deliberate callback to the iMac G3 that started it all.
Related All-in-One Mac models
Open the iMac (24-inch, M1) in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11