NEW DELHI: The 2024 iMac M4 has two distinct port configurations: the version with an 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU has two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports, while the 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU version has four Thunderbolt 4 ports. Read that distinction before assuming that an iMac M4 specification applies to every configuration.
| 2024 iMac M4 configuration | CPU and GPU | Ports | Memory ceiling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two-port model | 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU | Two Thunderbolt/USB 4 | 24GB |
| Four-port model | 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU | Four Thunderbolt 4 | 32GB |
Find the complete configuration description
For an owner checking paperwork, start with the processor and port description together. A line that says only iMac M4 leaves an important part of the hardware unidentified. The colour is also insufficient: Apple's launch documentation lists the same colour choices for both configurations.
This guide concerns the M4 generation introduced in 2024. The archived India announcement is useful for identifying its hardware, but its launch prices are not a current quotation. When inspecting an existing machine or an older configuration sheet, keep the generation visible rather than mixing it with whichever iMac appears on the current shop page.
Count the devices that stay connected
Think about a permanent desk rather than a list of possible accessories. A photographer might want external storage attached while importing work. A tutor might keep a camera accessory connected alongside teaching materials. Write down what needs a direct connection during an ordinary session, then compare that list with the available sockets.
The iMac's built-in screen makes this exercise different from planning a separate desktop box and monitor. Apple specifies a 24-inch 4.5K Retina display for the M4 machine. A second screen is an additional workspace choice, so first decide what needs to move off the built-in display before drawing a cable plan.
Apple's two-port technical sheet states support for one external display up to 6K at 60Hz alongside the built-in panel. The India launch announcement describes up to two 6K external displays for the four-port configuration. A generic statement about the M4 chip therefore does not settle a particular iMac's display arrangement.
For example, someone preparing a desk for separate reference and working screens should identify the iMac configuration before arranging monitors. A family using only the integrated display has a different planning problem. Counting sockets and checking display support are related tasks, but neither should be inferred solely from a photograph of the front.
Read the memory limit in the same row
The two-port specification starts with 16GB unified memory and lists 24GB as its configuration option. Apple's India announcement gives the four-port version a higher ceiling of 32GB. That difference makes it especially important to retain the complete variant description when checking a quotation or documenting the machine you already own.
Do the same with storage. Apple's launch documentation lists the two-port family with a 256GB SSD configurable up to 1TB, and the four-port family with a 256GB SSD configurable up to 2TB. These are family configuration limits, not a statement that every individual iMac contains the maximum capacity.
A useful inventory note would contain generation, processor core counts, actual memory, actual storage and port configuration. This is more precise than recording the largest figure seen in a comparison chart. It also makes handovers easier when a shared desktop moves from a home study to a business desk.
Match the guide to the machine
Apple also makes nano-texture glass an option specifically on the 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU model in this generation. If an older quotation mentions that display finish, check it against the rest of the configuration. Treat the finish as another item to verify rather than a substitute for the processor and port information.
Our Mac lineup guide provides wider desktop context. The MacBook Air and Mac mini comparison discusses a different setup choice, while the MacBook Pro M4 battery guide concerns another M4 product. Shared chip branding does not make their hardware instructions interchangeable.
Official sources: Apple India M4 iMac announcement and 2024 two-port iMac specifications and four-port iMac specifications.
