The new iMac is more metal plate than computer, according to iFixit's latest teardown

Popular teardown site iFixit released the first part of their disassembly of the new M1 iMac, and it has already revealed some surprising details about the makeup of Apple’s latest desktop.

The biggest takeaway is how little computer there actually is in the M1 iMac. This is to be expected—the logic boards used in the M1 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro are tiny, even for laptops.

Considering the comparatively enormous chassis of the 24” iMac, the logic board looks extremely small. At a quick glance, the logic board seems to take up less than 10% of the total interior volume of the new iMac.

The most prominent feature of the iMac’s innards is the presence of two massive metallic plates. The experts at iFixit have no idea why these plates are inside the iMac, but they could be used for thermal management or structural integrity.

Other key features are the four speakers (two on either end of the logic board), the display board along the top of the machine, and what appears to be two coin cell batteries in the middle of the housing.

Another question comes to mind concerning the much-criticized bottom bezel: if the logic board is so small, why did Apple feel the need to design the iMac with a gargantuan chin? Perhaps it was to house the logic board and speakers so that the display could be made as thin as possible.

Otherwise, there’s not much else going on in the iMac. IFixit will post the second part of the M1 iMac soon, revealing the secrets of the speakers, the magic keyboard, and other components.

What do you think of the inside of the M1 iMac? Let us know in the comments.