Apple has quietly given the iMac M4 several hidden updates—here are the ones you may have missed

Apple has made some interesting changes to the iMac M4
This includes updating support for the iMac’s external display.
USB-C device accessories have also spread to other Macs.

After many months of speculation, Apple presented new iMac yesterday, complete with M4 chip. It was the first Apple computer to feature this piece of silicon, but there were a few other interesting things you might have missed from the announcement.

First, the iMac M4 is now the first Mac to support an external display with 8K resolution at 120 Hz refresh rate. This is a fantastic benefit for those who want to work on an incredibly detailed monitor with incredibly smooth frame rates.

This detail is easy to miss – Apple didn’t mention it in iMac press releaseand this only becomes apparent when you visit the computer’s specs page. Interestingly, it doesn’t appear on Apple’s US website – where the specs page states that the iMac supports a single 8K display with a 60Hz refresh rate.

But try it on other regional websites (like Apple’s Canada or UK pages) and you’ll see mention of 8K at 120Hz. It’s unclear whether this is a typo on Apple’s part or whether there really are regional differences in the new iMac’s external display support. We’ve asked Apple to confirm and will update this story when we hear back.

We hope you can actually get 8K resolution at 120Hz on the new computer, as it will be a significant upgrade for Mac fans.

More bonuses for showing

Children watching a cartoon on Apple iMac M4

(Image credit: Apple)

Speaking of displays, the iMac M4 can support up to two external displays, provided you choose the model with the 10-core M4 chip. This is a noticeable step forward, since not many Macs actually work with two external monitors.

M3 MacBook Air And M3 MacBook Pro can support two external displays, but only when the laptop lid is closed. However, the 10-core iMac doesn’t have any limitations to worry about. And when each of those connected monitors can run at up to 6K resolutions and 60Hz refresh rates, as listed on Apple’s specs page, that’s a lot of extra screen real estate for you to work with.

And there’s one lesser-known detail related to the M4 iMac that you may have missed. Although the iMac accessories—the Magic Keyboard, the Magic Mouse, and the Magic Trackpad—are documented to USB-C connectivity is now available instead of Lightning, the same can be said for these peripherals if you order them with your Mac Pro.

You can see this for yourself when you order a Mac Pro – in the “What’s in the Box” section on the website bottom of the purchase pageApple says the computer comes with a USB-C charging cable for Magic peripherals.

Overall, the iMac has received a major update this month. Not only is it now equipped with the latest Apple M4 processor, but Apple has also equipped it with new colors. Thunderbolt 4 connectivityglass option with nanotexture and much more.

WITH further announcements from Apple this week, including updates for MacBook Pro And Mac miniThere’s a lot to watch out for in the next few days.