Mac · The Digital Hub · 2002
iMac G4
The iMac learns to float. A flat LCD on a perfectly-balanced steel arm rising from a dome made a computer that looked like a Pixar lamp. Time put it on the cover.
iMac G4: key facts
When was the iMac G4 released?
The iMac G4 was released in January 2002. Apple discontinued it in August 2004.
How much did the iMac G4 cost?
The iMac G4 launched at $1,299 in 2002 — about $2,312 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What are the iMac G4’s specs?
The iMac G4 used a PowerPC G4 running at 700 MHz, with 128 MB of memory and 39.1 GB of storage. It ran Mac OS X 10.1 / 9.
Why does the iMac G4 matter?
A flat panel floating on a chrome arm that moved with a fingertip — the "sunflower."
Full specifications
| CPU | PowerPC G4 · 700 MHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 1 |
| Memory (RAM) | 128 MB (up to 2 GB) |
| Storage | 39.1 GB |
| Display | 15" LCD on articulating chrome arm |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce2 MX |
| Ports | USB, FireWire, Ethernet |
| Weight | 9.7 kg |
| Dimensions | Hemisphere base + floating display |
| Operating system | Mac OS X 10.1 / 9 |
| Released | January 2002 |
| Discontinued | August 2004 |
| Launch price | $1,299 |
How the iMac G4 compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 128× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 700 MHz, the clock is roughly 4.6× slower than a single performance core of a 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro — and that is before counting cores, width and IPC.
This held about 10,000 modern phone photos — a respectable library even today.
Launched at $1,299 in 2002 — about $2,312 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Cross-architecture speed figures are clock-only and approximate; inflation figures use US CPI.
Did you know?
Jony Ive said the design came from a sketch of a sunflower tilting to the sun.
Related Mac models
Open the iMac G4 in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-06-25