STORE GUIDE
Your guide to the best Apple hardware and third-party accessories
iMac From £1,399
In October 2023, Apple updated its only iMac – the 24in model, so that it now benefits from Apple’s also newly-released M3 chip. You can now choose between an 8-core CPU/8-core GPU at the entry-level, or an 8-core CPU/10-core GPU on the mid-range and top-tier versions. You still get a 4.5K (4480x2520) Retina display, and all models come with 8GB of memory as standard, but this is now upgradeable to 24GB throughout. The solid-state drive (SSD) storage ranges from 256GB on entry-level and mid-range versions to 512GB on the top tier, although you can add up to 1TB on the entry-level and up to 2TB on mid-range and top-tier models.
The entry level version is available in Blue, Green, Pink and Silver, but the mid- and top-tier models are also available in Yellow, Orange, and Purple. Each M3 iMac also comes with a 1080p FaceTime camera, and a six-speaker sound system with support for spatial audio. You’ll also find two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports on each model, with mid-range and top-tier options offering two additional USB 3 (USB-C) ports. Rather surprisingly – and pleasingly – the starting price remains unchanged at £1,399.
EXPECTED OCT 2024 UPDATED OCT 2023
iMac 24in £1,399
(Entry level)
Display: 23.5in 4.5K Retina (4480x2520) with True Tone
Chip: Apple M3 with 8-core CPU (4 performance cores, 4 efficiency cores), 8-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Memory: 8GB (upgradeable to 24GB)
Storage: 256GB (upgradeable to 512GB or 1TB)
Ports: 2x Thunderbolt/USB 4, 1x Gb Ethernet (option)
iMac 24in £1,599
(Mid-range)
Display: 23.5in 4.5K Retina (4480x2520) with True Tone
Chip: Apple M3 with 8-core CPU (4 performance cores, 4 efficiency cores), 10-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Memory: 8GB (upgradeable to 24GB)
Storage: 256GB (upgradeable to 512GB, 1TB or 2TB) Ports: 2x Thunderbolt/USB 4, 2x USB 3, 1x Gb Ethernet
iMac 24in £1,799
(Ultimate)
Display: 23.5in 4.5K Retina (4480x2520) with True Tone
Chip: Apple M3 with 8-core CPU (4 performance cores, 4 efficiency cores), 10-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Memory: 8GB (upgradeable to 16GB)
Storage: 512GB (upgradeable to 1TB or 2TB)
Ports: 2x Thunderbolt/USB 4, 2x USB 3, 1x Gb Ethernet
MacBook Air
From
£1,099
Apple’s most affordable laptop was given an upgrade in March 2024, with both the 13-inch and 15-inch models now sporting Apple silicon M3 chips, although an M2-equipped version of the 13-inch remains available.
The laptop boasts a silent, fanless design, a six-speaker sound system (the 13in has four speakers) and spatial audio. The 13in M3 features an 8-core CPU, offering 1.6x faster performance than the M1, along with either an 8- or a 10-core GPU, giving it a 5.8% boost in graphics performance. The M3 also benefits from 100GB/sec memory bandwidth. Both M3 MacBook Air models come with 8GB of memory as standard, configurable to 16 or 24GB, and both can be configured with up to 2TB of storage.
The 15in MacBook Air is the thinnest 15in laptop available – 40% thinner than comparable PC laptops; it’s just 11.5mm thin and weighs 1.51kg. The 13in Air is 11.3mm thin and weighs 1.24kg. The Liquid Retina display in the 15in MacBook Air has a resolution of 2880x1864 pixels, while the 13in has 2560x1664. Both support up to one billion colours.