Lenovo ThinkBook laptops at CES 2024 offer innovative style and flexibility

As the world’s biggest PC maker, Lenovo has to cast its net wide in order to target as many customers as possible. It’s definitely a tall order, considering how different the needs and appetites of people can be. It could try to make a product for each category under the sun, or it could instead make a smarter choice of designing its computers to be as flexible as possible. At CES 2024, Lenovo is unleashing a flood of new laptops, desktops, and accessories designed to cater to this varied audience, particularly addressing the productivity and creativity needs of today’s creators and designers, with a little help from AI, of course.

Designer: Lenovo

Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid

Laptops are no longer what they used to be from decades ago. They now come in different form factors, like those that can bend over backward and those that can split into two. The latter has some benefits in how you can use the tablet part independently without being weighed down by the keyboard, but there seems to be one thing missing from this design. With the new ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid, Lenovo is adding that missing piece, allowing owners to have the best of both Windows and Android worlds while seamlessly switching between the two.

At first glance, you might mistake this 2-in-1 detachable laptop for a simple Windows or Android tablet with a keyboard base. In reality, however, these are actually two separate devices that can run independently or together, depending on what you need. The tablet side does sound like a typical Android slate with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor and a large 14-inch 2.8K OLED screen that you can use with Lenovo’s active stylus pen. The laptop base that has the keyboard, however, is also a computer in its own right, powered by an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor with 32GB of RAM and Intel Arc graphics. The general idea is that you can use the device as a typical Windows 11 laptop when joined together and still enjoy the more touch-friendly Android 13 OS in tablet form.

The flexibility, however, doesn’t stop there. Both halves have their own batteries so that the Windows laptop base can run on its own even without the tablet half. Of course, you’ll have to connect an external display to see what’s going on, but it’s not that difficult a problem to solve. More importantly, you also still have access to Android running inside the tablet even when it’s docked to the laptop base via a Picture-in-Picture window. This duality and harmony offer unprecedented flexibility and capability for people who live in both worlds of Windows and Android.

Lenovo ThinkBook 13x Gen 4 SPE

Some people prefer to keep their laptops looking clean and professional, but others like to personalize their property with all kinds of stickers that, unfortunately, leave their mark forever. There’s just no middle ground between these two extremes, at least not until the ThinkBook 13x Gen 4 SPE landed at CES 2024. Building on Lenovo’s previous E-Ink toting laptop, this proof-of-concept device takes that power-saving display technology and puts it at the service of style that everyone can enjoy.

The biggest difference with this new model is the Lenovo E Ink Prism technology that now supports a range of colors rather than just the typical grayscale of e-paper displays. This opens the door to more possibilities in terms of personalization, allowing users to customize the appearance of their laptops to their heart’s desires. Best of all, the display uses very little power, so it can even change the displayed image dynamically even when the laptop is powered off without impacting battery life.

This special creative edition builds on the regular Lenovo ThinkBook 13x Gen 4, which does have a sleek and stylish dual-tone design of its own. This is powered by the latest Intel Core Ultra processors which have a dedicated neural processing unit (NPU) for AI-powered tasks like noise cancellation and system optimization. It also boasts using 50% recycled aluminum in the bottom cover of the Luna Grey colorway, 90% Post-Consumer Recycled Content (PCC) plastic in the power adapter, and 30% PCC in the speaker enclosures.

Lenovo Laptops and Desktops for All

Beyond these two noteworthy laptops, Lenovo also has a few other new computers to show off in the Las Vegas showroom. The ThinkBook 14 i Gen 6+, for example, offers no-nonsense productivity behind its large 14.5-inch 3K display, delivering the power that designers need to get their work done. The ThinkBook 16p Gen5, on the other hand, pulls out all the stops with a 14th-gen Intel Core i9 processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 laptop graphics. With an even larger 16-inch 3.2K screen, creators have more space to use when crafting their designs and projects.

On the desktop side, the Lenovo ThinkCentre neo 50a 27 Gen 5 and ThinkCentre neo 50a 24 Gen 5 all-in-one PCs offer a sleek, space-saving design that doesn’t skimp on performance with an Intel Core i7 chip and 32GB of RAM. The real star of the show here, however, is the new Lenovo ThinkCentre neo Ultra, its first mini PC, delivering performance in a small package. It runs on an Intel Core i9 processor paired with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 graphics and leverages plenty of AI-assisted features. And for those times when you need to jump on a video call, Lenovo’s Magic Bay Studio brings an AI-assisted 4K camera that will make you look clear, sharp, and professional.

Availability

  • Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid – Q2 2024, starting at $1,999
  • Lenovo ThinkBook 13x Gen 4 – Q1 2024, starting at $1,399
  • Lenovo ThinkCentre neo Ultra – Q2 2024, starting at $1,499
  • Lenovo ThinkCentre neo 50a 24 Gen 5, 50a 27 Gen 5 – Q1 2024, starting at $799 and $899, respectively
  • Lenovo ThinkBook 14 i Gen 6 – Q2 2024, bundle with ThinkBook Graphics Extension starting at $2,199
  • Lenovo ThinkBook 16p Gen 5 – Q1 2024, starting at $1,599
  • Lenovo Magic Bay Studio – April 2024, $199.99

Unfortunately, since it’s just a proof-of-concept design, there is no word yet on whether the E Ink Lenovo ThinkBook 13x Gen 4 SPE will be made available in the market.

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Acer’s Predator Monitor lineup for CES 2024 includes a GORGEOUS 57-inch curved MiniLED Display

Acer’s latest announcement at CES 2024 has quite a bit in store for gamers. From game-ready 5G Wi-fi 7 routers to some rather whopping displays (including even a 3D one), the company is making some significant strides forward. The unveiling of its new lineup of Predator gaming monitors introduces a series of models designed to cater to a diverse range of gamers’ needs, each combining innovative technology with high performance.

Designer: Acer

Acer Predator Z57

Let’s begin with the crown jewel, the Predator Z57 – a 57-inch behemoth, curved to wrap your vision in a MiniLED display. But Acer didn’t stop at size. They doubled down with a dual UHD resolution of 7680×2160 at a smooth 120 Hz. This colossus offers a 32:9 aspect ratio, making it feel like you’re not just observing the game; you’re part of it. With VESA DisplayHDR™ 1000, the colors and contrasts are so vivid they’ll make reality seem dull. And if the immersive experience isn’t enough, its 1000R curvature, picture-by-picture, and picture-in-picture modes ensure multitasking is as seamless as your gameplay.

Acer Predator Z57

But perhaps you’re seeking something a bit more traditional, yet no less groundbreaking. Enter the Predator X34 V3. This 34-inch curved MiniLED display brings you an ultra-wide QHD resolution of 3440×1440. Its 1500R curvature is like a gentle embrace, ensuring no enemy lurks just out of sight. With a 180 Hz refresh rate and a 1 ms response time, every moment is a fluid transition, with no room for lag or ghosting. It’s not just about speed; it’s about experiencing every detail in a symphony of colors with its DCI-P3 94% color gamut and VESA DisplayHDR™ 1000.

Acer Predator X34 V3

Now, for those who live in the fast lane, Acer’s OLED models, the Predator X39 and Predator X34 X, are the perfect pick. These 39-inch and 34-inch titans offer UWQHD resolution at up to 240 Hz refresh rates. But it’s the 0.01 ms pixel response time that makes these monitors a dream for the fast and the furious gamer. Their 800R curvature and DCI-P3 99% color gamut deliver a visual feast, while the VESA DisplayHDR™ True Black 400 ensures the darkest blacks and brightest whites. And for the marathon gamers, they’re Eyesafe 2.0 Certified, so your eyes are protected even during those all-night campaigns.

Acer Predator X39

Across this lineup, Acer integrates features like AMD FreeSync Premium™ to address screen tearing and stuttering, ensuring smoother gameplay. The inclusion of a USB Type-C 90W PD port and a built-in KVM switch reflects a thoughtful design, aimed at providing convenience and flexibility to users.

Let’s talk brass tacks – pricing and availability. The Predator Z57, the flagship of this fleet, will start at USD 2499.99. For the OLED aficionados, the Predator X39 and Predator X34 X are priced at USD 1499.99 and USD 1299.99, respectively. And for those seeking that perfect balance of performance and price, the Predator X34 V3 is an enticing option at USD 899.99. These technological marvels will start gracing desks in North America and EMEA in Q2 2024, with China getting a head start in Q1 2024.

Acer Predator X34 X

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Acer Predator SpatialLabs View Pro at CES 2024 makes 3D really pop out

Mixed reality is a huge thing these days, especially with Apple finally throwing in its bet with the Vision Pro. But even without VR, AR, and everything in between, we’ve become used to and even dependent on 3D content, from games to interfaces to even NFTs. Even with the help of AI (which is quite controversial), creating this type of content is no easy task, especially because our computer screens are only capable of displaying flat 2D images. Whether it’s for appreciating 3D content or actually creating it, we need a better way to see in 3D without having to wear inconvenient glasses, which is exactly what Acer’s SpatialLabs Stereoscopic 3D products are bringing to the table at CES 2024.

Designer: Acer

Most of us have probably experienced watching a film in “true” stereoscopic 3D and how convincing the effect can be. Of course, even the most advanced theater systems require you to wear specialized glasses to experience this, otherwise, you’ll only get disconcerting blurry images. That’s not exactly an ideal situation to be in, especially if you have to work for hours on crafting a 3D model. Thankfully, PC makers are developing technologies that can bring that same vision to desktops and laptops, and the new Acer Predator SpatialLabvs View Pro 27-inch 4K monitor is the latest tool to be added to creators’ arsenal.

Thanks to special cameras, this kind of monitor can follow the viewer’s eyes and instantly adjust its display, creating a stereoscopic 3D image without having to put anything on your face. The new Predator SpatialLabs View Pro improves the experience with a second virtual camera, rendering 3D content as intended by designers and developers. Acer’s Immerse Audio complements these visuals with spatial sound technology, leveraging AI-driven beamforming and head-tracking to create the effect of surround-sound audio without wearing headphones as well. While these features directly benefit 3D games, they’re also useful in helping designers and creators craft a more convincing stereoscopic 3D experience since they’re able to see and hear it directly for themselves.

For creators on the go, the Acer Aspire 35 15 SpatialLabs Edition offers a more portable version of this same stereoscopic 3D magic. In addition to viewing 3D content as they were intended to be seen, Acer’s SpatialLabs Go software can even transform flat 2D content into mind-blowing 3D images instantly, thanks to some AI help, of course. With up to an Intel Core i7-13620H processor and NVIDIA RTX 4050 laptop graphics, this portable workstation is built to serve the needs not just of gamers but also of professionals who need to take their 3D craftsmanship to the next level.

Whether it’s for leisure or for work, Acer’s latest line of SpatialLabs stereoscopic 3D products will bring those 3D objects to life without burdening your eyes and your head with unnecessary peripherals. The Acer Predator SpatialLabs View Pro 27 will be available in North America in the second quarter of 2024 with a starting price of $1,999, while the Acer Aspire 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition will land in North America next month and will start at $1,399.99.

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Stylish mini PC with a detachable speaker can be carried like a luxury bag

Mini PCs are becoming quite the trend these days, but despite their small and seemingly portable sizes, they’re not exactly meant or easy to carry around. Their boxy shapes, while space-efficient, aren’t conducive for carrying around, not to mention they need to be plugged into a power source, monitor, keyboard, and mouse to even be usable. There are exceptions to this formula, of course, and one manufacturer had the rather unconventional and somewhat outlandish idea of a portable mini PC that you can carry with you without a bag because the PC itself becomes something like a glamorous purse or handbag just by adding a shoulder strap to its sides.

Designer: SOONNOOZ (via Mini Machines)

You can already tell at a glance that this isn’t your run-of-the-mill mini PC. It has a retro-futuristic vibe going with its round rectangle shape, glossy plastic finish, front grille, and chromed levers and feet. The lever at the top is a rather physical volume control that adds a little fun to the act of adjusting the volume. The design is both simple and elegant but actually hides a few tricks that set it further apart from other mini computers.

For starters, the design has two chrome buttons at the sides where you can attach a matching strap to carry it on your shoulders. You’ll probably still want to put it inside a large carrying bag for protection, but you can still carry it directly if you’re just transferring locations quickly, like moving from one room to another in the same building. That said, the SOONNOOZ Mini is not exactly that small, so it might look awkward carrying it like that. And at 1.5kg, it’s not lightweight either.

You’d still need to connect it to some peripherals to use it, of course, but you might not need to have it always plugged in. It has a built-in battery, not unlike a laptop, which could allow you a few hours of use before you need to recharge it. This makes it convenient as a portable entertainment system when paired with a portable projector, though you’ll still need a way to navigate the computer, like with a portable keyboard and mouse.

Its last trick is that its fascia is actually a detachable Bluetooth speaker that can be used on its own. As far as specs go, it’s a pretty standard mini PC that won’t really stand out in terms of performance, though certain configurations could definitely support some light gaming. Interesting as it might be, the SOONNOOZ Mini isn’t something you can acquire outside of China, so its novelty will probably never reach global renown.

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A ramen-themed desktop PC is perfect for those late-night gaming sessions

Contrary to stereotypes, gamers actually love some bling on their gear. Consoles themed around certain games or characters really sell well, while towering desktops often light up like Christmas trees regardless of the season. Curiously, theme desktop PCs are hard to come by, and you often have to style your computer on your own if you want to show off any sort of attachment to brands, fandoms, or even food. Apparently, there are some PC users who would indeed like to tell everyone around them about their favorite dish, or at least that’s the implication of this quirky collection of PCs designed around one of the survival necessities for gamers on a late-night binge: a hot bowl of instant ramen noodles.

Designer: AFTERSHOCK PC

Granted, it’s objectively an unhealthy lifestyle, but it has almost become a part of gamer culture to have instant noodles on the side while you frantically mash buttons or keys, at least for PC gamers in certain parts of the world. Given their cheap prices, fast “cooking” time, and the fact that they don’t leave crumbs on keyboards the way chips do, fried noodles and instant ramen have become the go-to energy sources for these people. In fact, some have even developed a love for the taste and the experience, perhaps enough to warrant buying a PC themed around the food.

This Ramen PC collection is a delicious oddity, and while they thankfully don’t resemble cups or bowls, they have all the markings of an authentic instant ramen experience. The front shows the flavor, available in Tonkotsu, Seafood, and Tom Yum varieties, that would make connoisseurs or hungry gamers drool. The top of the front panel even has marks resembling the ribbing that these cups use to prevent burning your fingers when holding them. One side has a panel that has the customary nutritional information label as well as cooking instructions. And just to make sure your mind doesn’t play tricks on you, there’s a large label warning not to microwave your PC, presuming you can even a microwave large enough to shove it into.

The panel on the opposite side is transparent on the upper half, while the lower half has wavy lines suggestive of the noodly contents of the “cup.” To complete the serving, the PC uses a bespoke GPU backplate expertly handcrafted with images of the ingredients unique to each flavor. The GPU conveniently sits right above the wavy patterns, giving the image of these delectable morsels floating above the noodles and the savory broth. The proverbial cherry on top is a custom magnet charm that sits on top of the tower, taking the form of chopsticks lifting some noodles and seemingly floating in mid-air.

The Ramen PC isn’t just all looks, though, and can be configured with some of the best gaming specs available in the market. The design isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea, or noodles, rather, but it’s definitely a fun and interesting way to spice up your desktop computer and set it apart from the rest of those colorful but boring RGB towers that flood the market.

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This retro gaming console is actually a mini PC disguised as a classic Macintosh

Nostalgia is a very powerful emotion, especially judging by the number of successful “retro” products sold in the market in the past years. Although the flood has seemingly trickled down a bit, it continues to flow especially in the gaming scene. Old gaming brands have suddenly resurfaced to bring nearly forgotten designs to the present, taking previous generations down memory lane while introducing today’s gamers to old-school experiences. While some of these retro consoles actually try to relive the past, this interesting and rather cute box might take your head for a spin with its Mac design and PC internals, combined to offer not just a gaming computer but a piece of desk decoration as well.

Designer: AYANEO

Compared to the computers put out by the likes of Atari and Commodore, the early PCs didn’t really have a memorable design that would go down in history as iconic computers. It was the original Apple Macintosh, instead, that captured people’s attention and imagination of what a home personal computer should look like. Of course, that was decades in the past, but the imagery has stood the test of time as proof of the design’s timeless character. AYANEO, a brand better known for gaming handhelds, is now taking that immensely popular design and giving it a rather curious twist.

As part of its AYANEO REMAKE concept line, the AYANEO Retro Mini PC AM01 slaps the old Mac design onto a new machine. The basic elements that have distinguished one of Apple’s earliest successes are there, tweaked a bit to avoid potential controversies, of course. There’s the telltale sign of a floppy drive, as well as a square rainbow badge that’s a nod to the old Apple logo. There’s a black rectangle near the top that’s purely cosmetic, denoting where the screen is supposed to be located. There’s nothing there, though, which is a bit of a waste, but it doesn’t really matter considering how the mini PC is used.

Unlike the Mac, the AYANEO Retro Mini PC is meant to lie down on its “back” rather than standing up, with that black rectangle in the rear. That’s because the ports for the computer are actually located on what would have been the top and bottom sides, so it has to be horizontal to actually be useful. Of course, this product is a gaming console anyway, not a standalone computer with a built-in display, so you’ll need to plug in peripherals to make it work. And yes, it runs Windows 11, which, given the eternal rivalry between Macs and PCs, some might find a bit insulting.

AYANEO has other retro designs also in the pipeline, including the Retro Mini PC AM02 that takes after the classic NES design. Curiously, that one does have a functional mini display since it can actually be used upright. It’s also working on a handheld that brings back the dual-display design of the not-so-old Nintendo DS, though the practical purpose of that second display is yet to be revealed.

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This cyberpunk mini PC adds a little RGB flavor to your workspace

Mini PCs are becoming quite popular these days, especially with improvements in the processors that drive them. They’ve become dependable desktop PC options, especially for those with space constraints or who detest bulky towers. Some are even capable of gaming, at least within certain limitations. Despite all the internal upgrades, the majority of mini PCs retain their stereotypical box shapes with rather uninspiring designs. And unlike their towering cousins, customization options are pretty limited unless you buy one that was designed with a specific motif from the get-go. That’s the kind of visual experience that this unusual mini PC is trying to offer, carrying a cyberpunk-inspired design and RGB lighting to light up your desk a bit, quite literally even.

Designer: AOOSTAR

The cyberpunk genre gave birth to a design theme that involves bright neon colors set against dark backdrops and a somewhat disorganized composition of lines and polygons that suggest the presence of panels that hide some jungle of wires and circuits underneath. The fictional settings might be gloomy or even disheartening (it’s “punk,” after all), but the designs ironically bring life to products and spaces, at least when done tastefully and with a reasonable balance of elements. The AOOSTAR GOD7 mini PC definitely has that effect without going overboard and turning your desk into a blinding light show.

The design is available in white and black colorways, but it’s definitely the black model that captures the cyberpunk vibe best. The RGB lighting inside shines through polygonal cutouts and vents, giving the semblance of glowing lines and markings prevalent in cyberpunk design. There’s some level of customization when it comes to the colors and “rhythm” of the lights, but don’t expect as much as pro gaming desktops or laptops from bigger brands.

The mini PC is advertised as a gaming computer, but take that label with a grain of salt. It definitely has enough muscle to run a good number of games, but gamers will have to set their expectations properly. Given its more compact size, there is no room for a desktop-grade graphics card, but you can theoretically connect an external GPU enclosure to really take things to the next level. Other than consideration, it’s actually a rather capable computer that would be able to handle most gaming and multimedia tasks you throw at it.

With the rise in both interest and production of mini PCs, it’s only a matter of time before designs become more diversified and, hopefully, more interesting. The AOOSTAR GOD7 packs a decent set of hardware in a design that adds a little pizzazz to your desk without going overboard or becoming too distracting. It has just the right balance of interesting details that will make you want to place it somewhere everyone can see while still having enough room for the more important tools of your trade.

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The New Apple M3 Chip Enables Workflows Previously Unavailable on a Laptop

The next generation of silicon is coming to Apple computers. Announced in an uncharacteristically late-afternoon Apple Event on October 30, the three newest Apple chips (M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max) are packed with the tiniest transistors Apple has ever stuck into its laptop and desktop computers. The newest chips, which use Apple’s groundbreaking 3nm process, are first launching with the new M3 iMac and M3 MacBook Pro, and, boy howdy, Apple is certainly giving other laptop manufacturers a run for their money in the final quarter of 2023.

Designer: Apple

Apple makes a big deal over the fact its base 10-core M3 GPU can render graphics up to 2.5x faster than a comparable M1 GPU, while the base 8-core M3 CPU gets a 50% relative boost in performance to its M1 counterpart. In terms of raw performance alone, those two figures represent a massive upgrade over a chip that released alongside new Apple computers only three years ago. That’s just the tip of the iceberg; thanks to a bevy of new capabilities unlocked by M3’s ultra-compact transistor size, the upper performance limits of the M3 family are higher than ever — meaning, if you’re an AI developer, a game designer, or a visual designer of some sort, your next primary workstation may be a new Mac running on a hyper-powerful M3 Max, armed to the teeth with a 40-core GPU, 16-core CPU, 128 gigs of high-speed RAM, and a 8 TB SSD.

On a basic level, the standard 10-core M3 GPU is an impressive component, fitted with all-new features like hardware-accelerated ray-tracing, mesh shading, and Dynamic Caching to deliver, at a minimum, “65 percent more performance” over M1-based Macs when performing rendering-heavy tasks such as gaming and 3D imaging. It’s facilitated by the M3 chip’s new unified memory architecture (which is supposed to vastly speed up RAM while boosting power efficiency) and support for up to 24 gigs of RAM by default (or up to 36 gigs for the M3 Pro, or up to 128 for the M3 Max), which all make use of the aforementioned new unified architecture. Apple says this “unlocks workflows previously not possible on a laptop, such as AI developers working with even larger transformer models with billions of parameters.”

For the average user, that’s not a huge deal on its own. Sure, games are capable of running smoother and looking prettier as a result of the new hardware, and it sounds like macOS 14 is equipped to make use of the M3 chip design to enable things like Game Mode, which deprioritizes background tasks while a game window is active. But, another big draw of the new M3 architecture is the addition of integrated AV1 decoding. Built-in AV1 support means a new M3-powered iMac or MacBook Pro can smoothly stream 4k60 video from digital streaming services without a noticeable drop in quality if the connection starts to waver.

This also has work applications. For instance, two or more M3-powered Macs communicating with one another via Screen Share should have a buttery-smooth experience, even when both Macs are working on resource-heavy tasks.

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New M3 iMac all-in-one blows its Intel cousins out of the water

Apple just wrapped up its literally “Scary Fast” pre-Halloween event, and although it was scary short, it was definitely scary good. Cheesy jokes aside, the Cupertino-based company did meet some expectations of announcing its latest silicon, and fans are definitely in for a treat in the coming weeks. Apple has expanded its processors to cover not one, not even two, but three tiers of performance with the M3 family of chips. Of course, these bring with them all sorts of advanced technologies, improved performance, and better efficiency across the board, but their real power lies in how they empower users from all walks of life to do more on their Apple computers without sacrificing other things. The 24-inch iMac with new M3 chip, for example, might not be thinner than its predecessors, but it boasts of scary powerful performance while still keeping its scary slim profile.

Designer: Apple

It’s almost too easy to brush off the Apple M3 as just an upgrade from the M2, but anyone familiar with Apple knows that it never does “just an upgrade.” The M3 family represents a huge milestone for Apple’s self-made processors, showing off how far it has come since it debuted the first Apple Silicon three years ago. Yes, there is more of everything, but the highlight is what the Apple M3 enables as far as applications and user experiences go. The next-gen GPU, for example, is now able to support hardware-accelerated ray tracing, while the new Neural engine works 60% faster while still keeping data on the device to protect your privacy. What all these translate to is better performance for games, music creation, video editing, and more.

With all that power, you might presume that the M3 is reserved for Apple’s “Pro” machines, but Apple dropped a sweet treat for fans of its more stylish computers as well. The new M3 silicon is also making its way to the 24-inch iMac, finally giving Apple’s super-thin all-in-one computer the upgrade it deserves. An upgrade that delivers 2x more power than its predecessor without an increase in bulk. Better yet, it leaves Apple’s aging Intel-based iMacs in the dust, leaving fewer reasons for buyers not to jump on the Apple Silicon train.

Powered by an M3 chip with an 8-core CPU and up to 10-core GPU, the new M3 iMac boasts double the performance of the older M1 model (there was no M2 iMac). At its event, however, Apple was really driving home how its chips outperform their Intel equivalents, specifically with a 4x increase in performance compared to the 21.5-inch Intel iMac and a 2.5x upgrade versus the 27-inch Intel model. In short, you’re getting desktop-grade performance in a thin and elegant computer that’s no bigger than a thin monitor. All that new power is, of course, put at the service of the user, giving them more options and more capabilities to do the work they need to accomplish or just lose themselves in fantasy worlds of games.

Games, for example, load faster and have higher frame rates thanks to features like Dynamic Caching. It can handle 4K video streams without breaking a sweat either, which means more productivity for creators. And with a gorgeous 24-inch 4.5K Retina display with 11.3 million pixels, all these images come out crisp and vibrant, making the creation process more enjoyable. Of course, that also means that surfing the Web or watching videos are smooth and pleasurable, keeping you glued to your screen, from a safe distance, of course.

The new M3 iMacs bring pro-level capabilities without losing the colorful and playful character that has defined the modern iMac. It still has a striking 11.5mm-thin body that’s available in seven hues to match your style. Best of all, these new iMacs not only use 100% recycled aluminum for the stands but also 100% recycled gold in the plating of multiple printed circuit boards. Together with the energy efficiency that comes from the M3 silicon itself, these make these beautiful computers the most sustainable iMacs yet. The 24-inch iMac with new M3 is now available for order starting at $1,299 and will be available starting next week.

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New M3 iMac all-in-one blows its Intel cousins out of the water

Apple just wrapped up its literally “Scary Fast” pre-Halloween event, and although it was scary short, it was definitely scary good. Cheesy jokes aside, the Cupertino-based company did meet some expectations of announcing its latest silicon, and fans are definitely in for a treat in the coming weeks. Apple has expanded its processors to cover not one, not even two, but three tiers of performance with the M3 family of chips. Of course, these bring with them all sorts of advanced technologies, improved performance, and better efficiency across the board, but their real power lies in how they empower users from all walks of life to do more on their Apple computers without sacrificing other things. The 24-inch iMac with new M3 chip, for example, might not be thinner than its predecessors, but it boasts of scary powerful performance while still keeping its scary slim profile.

Designer: Apple

It’s almost too easy to brush off the Apple M3 as just an upgrade from the M2, but anyone familiar with Apple knows that it never does “just an upgrade.” The M3 family represents a huge milestone for Apple’s self-made processors, showing off how far it has come since it debuted the first Apple Silicon three years ago. Yes, there is more of everything, but the highlight is what the Apple M3 enables as far as applications and user experiences go. The next-gen GPU, for example, is now able to support hardware-accelerated ray tracing, while the new Neural engine works 60% faster while still keeping data on the device to protect your privacy. What all these translate to is better performance for games, music creation, video editing, and more.

With all that power, you might presume that the M3 is reserved for Apple’s “Pro” machines, but Apple dropped a sweet treat for fans of its more stylish computers as well. The new M3 silicon is also making its way to the 24-inch iMac, finally giving Apple’s super-thin all-in-one computer the upgrade it deserves. An upgrade that delivers 2x more power than its predecessor without an increase in bulk. Better yet, it leaves Apple’s aging Intel-based iMacs in the dust, leaving fewer reasons for buyers not to jump on the Apple Silicon train.

Powered by an M3 chip with an 8-core CPU and up to 10-core GPU, the new M3 iMac boasts double the performance of the older M1 model (there was no M2 iMac). At its event, however, Apple was really driving home how its chips outperform their Intel equivalents, specifically with a 4x increase in performance compared to the 21.5-inch Intel iMac and a 2.5x upgrade versus the 27-inch Intel model. In short, you’re getting desktop-grade performance in a thin and elegant computer that’s no bigger than a thin monitor. All that new power is, of course, put at the service of the user, giving them more options and more capabilities to do the work they need to accomplish or just lose themselves in fantasy worlds of games.

Games, for example, load faster and have higher frame rates thanks to features like Dynamic Caching. It can handle 4K video streams without breaking a sweat either, which means more productivity for creators. And with a gorgeous 24-inch 4.5K Retina display with 11.3 million pixels, all these images come out crisp and vibrant, making the creation process more enjoyable. Of course, that also means that surfing the Web or watching videos are smooth and pleasurable, keeping you glued to your screen, from a safe distance, of course.

The new M3 iMacs bring pro-level capabilities without losing the colorful and playful character that has defined the modern iMac. It still has a striking 11.5mm-thin body that’s available in seven hues to match your style. Best of all, these new iMacs not only use 100% recycled aluminum for the stands but also 100% recycled gold in the plating of multiple printed circuit boards. Together with the energy efficiency that comes from the M3 silicon itself, these make these beautiful computers the most sustainable iMacs yet. The 24-inch iMac with new M3 is now available for order starting at $1,299 and will be available starting next week.

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