Reasons to Upgrade Your Desktop to an iMac
Previous iterations of the iMac released in 2020 featured 10th generation Intel chips in both the 21.5-inch and 27-inch models. These third-party chips in Apple’s flagship desktops were markedly slower compared to the competition and were the main sources of criticism for many, citing Apple’s use of previous-generation hardware as a lacklustre component of design.
Side by side, the M1 iMac leaves its predecessor in the dust in both utility and construction. Significantly slimmer and cheaper, the M1 iMac also comes in a variety of colourways – available in blue, green, pink, and silver for models with 8GB of RAM, with the additional colour options of orange, purple, and yellow for the models built with 16GB of RAM.
The New and Improved iMac
The first system on chip solely produced by Apple, this groundbreaking improvement boasts up to 85 per cent faster CPU performance and up to two times faster graphics performance than standard 21.5-inch iMac models of previous years powered by Intel chips. This performance is exemplified even further when running applications that were built to optimise around the M1 chip. Creatives that work around design or content production daily will be happy to know that the benchmark numbers on the 2021 iMac blow its predecessor out of the water. For example, when rendering footage the M1 iMac cuts through delay like a hot knife through butter, and yes that even extends to 8K video resolution editing.
On top of the new upgrades to the iMac’s internals, Apple also casually threw in a 4.5K retina display for the monitor. With True Tone technology which adjusts the colour temperature automatically to suit the ambient light, Apple really had the M1 iMac made with workflow in mind. Countless hours spent staring at the screen might feel less strenuous given this improvement, and we’re all the more thankful for it.
In addition to all that, the final hardware upgrade comes in the form of a massively spec-ed up sound system. Given its slim form factor, many critics were concerned that the M1 iMac would sacrifice some of its utility for design. These fears were further compounded when Apple went so far as to say that the M1 iMac had the “best sound system ever in a Mac”. Thank goodness Apple delivered on their promises – the M1 iMac is stocked with four vibration cancelling speakers which are steadied with a high-performance tweeter. What results is a detailed backdrop for work and play, which elevates movies, music and any other content you might view to another level.
Why Upgrade to an iMac?
For those considering switching up to an iMac, a big reason for that might be the M1 processor’s hybrid configuration. Unlike the Intel and AMD chips most systems run on, the M1 chip delegates work extremely efficiently. An 8-core processor in the former might boast an equal number of “okay” cores, but the M1 chip enhances workflow by assigning tasks to four extremely fast cores and four lower-powered high-efficiency cores. This allows the M1 iMac, and by extension all other M1 devices, to deliver arguably the best performance-per-watt in the world. We can also generalise it to mean that M1 devices are nearly unbeatable in single-core workloads.
The shift towards Apple-based internals in the form of the M1 chip signifies the start of a new era in personal computing. Apple’s fans have long waited for this moment, and those on the fence might find a serendipitous product if they make the leap.
Posted : January 13, 2022
A large part of what makes the iPad Mini so popular is its tiny frame combined with insane processing power. Apple knew their target demographic well when tweaking the specs for this recent release, and it really shows. Catered towards people working on the go, and creatives who spend a lot of time drawing and sketching for work, this 6th generation iPad Mini checks all the boxes for a powerful and portable tablet suited for work and play.
Apart from the changes to case material, the new design language of the iPad Mini 6 features a larger edge-to-edge screen, along with narrow borders and minimum bezel space. Although we’ve seen bezel-less devices from Apple for the better half of a decade, this is the first time the iPad Mini has gotten such an upgrade. In addition to looking much sleeker, this change is felt even more coupled with the new 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone, P3 wide colour, and ultra-low reflectivity.
The end result is a gorgeous dynamic screen that makes the iPad Mini 6 a practical choice indoors and outdoors. Not to mention the support of Apple Pencil 2, which feels amazing on the low latency screen. All these facets add up to make a difference larger than the sum of each individual part, resulting in the new iPad Mini feeling like the perfect device for anyone wanting a portable and adaptable workhorse tablet.
Apart from the changes to case material, the new design language of the iPad Mini 6 features a larger edge-to-edge screen, along with narrow borders and minimum bezel space. Although we’ve seen bezel-less devices from Apple for the better half of a decade, this is the first time the iPad Mini has gotten such an upgrade. In addition to looking much sleeker, this change is felt even more coupled with the new 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone, P3 wide colour, and ultra-low reflectivity.
The end result is a gorgeous dynamic screen that makes the iPad Mini 6 a practical choice indoors and outdoors. Not to mention the support of Apple Pencil 2, which feels amazing on the low latency screen. All these facets add up to make a difference larger than the sum of each individual part, resulting in the new iPad Mini feeling like the perfect device for anyone wanting a portable and adaptable workhorse tablet.
It wouldn’t be an Apple upgrade if they didn’t improve the camera capabilities on the device. If anything, that’s the least we expect from the tech giant’s annual keynote events. This time, the iPad Mini has received blessings in both the front and back cameras on the device. Boasting a 12MP camera on both the front and back of the 6th-Gen iPad Mini, this is a massive boon compared to the relatively sub-par 7 and 8-megapixel cameras on the respective front and back of the 5th-Gen iPad Mini. The newer Mini also has the ability to record in 4k and capture higher-quality images, courtesy of the new Smart HDR 3 function in the A15 Bionic chip.
Knowing that video calls are also more popular now than even in the time of COVID-19, Apple’s implementation of CentreStage for a more natural video call experience also feels like a natural feature to have as well.
A ton of well-deserved updates to the iPad Mini makes it feel right at home alongside Apple’s latest generation of tablets. If you’re still wondering if you should still get the new iPad, the make or break factor here really is the size and portability of the iPad Mini 6.
Historically, the Mini was always viewed as the cheaper and lower-spec cousin of the flagship iPad. Not this time – the iPad Mini 6 proves a worthy contender for the individual who’s constantly on the move, looking for an all in one device that fits comfortably in the palm of their hand.
