All-in-One Mac · The Digital Hub · 2002
iMac G4
The iMac learns to float. A flat LCD on a perfectly-balanced steel arm rising from a dome made a computer that looked like a Pixar lamp. Time put it on the cover.
A flat panel floating on a chrome arm that moved with a fingertip: the "sunflower."
iMac G5 (2004)
iMac G4: key facts
When was the iMac G4 released?
The iMac G4 arrived on January 7, 2002. Apple discontinued it in August 2004.
How much did the iMac G4 cost?
The iMac G4 launched at $1,299 in 2002, about $2,312 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: PowerPC G4 at 700 MHz, 128 MB RAM, 39.1 GB storage, 15" LCD on articulating chrome arm display.
Why does the iMac G4 matter?
A flat panel floating on a chrome arm that moved with a fingertip: the "sunflower."
Full specifications
| CPU | PowerPC G4 · 700 MHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 1 |
| Memory (RAM) | 128 MB (up to 2 GB) |
| Storage | 39.1 GB |
| Display | 15" LCD on articulating chrome arm |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce2 MX |
| Ports | USB, FireWire, Ethernet |
| Weight | 9.7 kg |
| Dimensions | Hemisphere base + floating display |
| Operating system | Mac OS X 10.1 / 9 |
| Released | January 7, 2002 |
| Discontinued | August 2004 |
| Launch price | $1,299 |
How the iMac G4 compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 128× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 700 MHz, the clock is roughly 4.6× 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 10,000 modern phone photos, a respectable library even today.
Launched at $1,299 in 2002, about $2,312 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?
Jony Ive said the design came from a sketch of a sunflower tilting to the sun.
Related All-in-One Mac models
Open the iMac G4 in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11