2020 iMac 21.5” or 2019 iMac 27”

[danb1979]

I’ve got the opportunity to buy either and wanted to see what folks opinions would be, in which would be best to go for?

This is to replace a 24” 2k monitor; so I’m going to get a better screen no matter what

But is it worth spending c£130 more on the 2019 27” iMac or is it better to get the latest 2020 21.5” iMac?

Specs are:

2019 27” iMac i5 / 8GB RAM / 1TB FusionDrive << >> 2020 21.5” iMac i5 / 8GB RAM / 256GB SSD

It’s for working from (Outlook, Word, Excel, Chrome/Safari) and for running iTunes etc... I don;t develop/design or do any video/photo editing etc

Cheers

 

[Fishrrman]

I normally would NOT recommend buying a 21" iMac instead of a 27".

BUT... the fact that the 21" has an SSD (instead of a fusion drive) tips the balance in its direction.

So... if the choice is between these two and ONLY these two ... get the 21".
Just be sure that 8gb of RAM is going to be "enough" for you, because you can't add more to the 21" without literally disassembling the entire computer. Adding RAM to the 27" is easy.

Better choice would be "number three":
Get a 27" iMac with an internal SSD.

 

[danb1979]

I normally would NOT recommend buying a 21" iMac instead of a 27".

BUT... the fact that the 21" has an SSD (instead of a fusion drive) tips the balance in its direction.

So... if the choice is between these two and ONLY these two ... get the 21".
Just be sure that 8gb of RAM is going to be "enough" for you, because you can't add more to the 21" without literally disassembling the entire computer. Adding RAM to the 27" is easy.

Better choice would be "number three":
Get a 27" iMac with an internal SSD.

Thanks

Therein lies the issue; the 27” iMac with an SSD is way over budget currently

Just realised that the 21.5” iMac isn’t a Retina; it’s just the standard screen and that slightly sways me to the 27” iMac again; more so that I can upgrade the RAM to 16GB upwards easy enough for little outlay

I did have a 27” iMac back in 2017 that had the 1TB FusionDrive and TBH I didn’t have any issues with it at all; it ran smoothly with zero hiccups.

I really don’t do anything that tasks the Mac really...

I think for £130 UK Sterling; the 27” iMac comes across as the better option; it’s got more going for it really...

 

[theluggage]

2019 27” iMac i5 / 8GB RAM / 1TB FusionDrive << >> 2020 21.5” iMac i5 / 8GB RAM / 256GB SSD

First, just to check that you realise that neither of these can work as an external display for your Mac Mini? Target Display mode was dropped ~2014.

Also:

(a) The current 21.5" iMac didn't get a real upgrade in 2020 - they just dropped the spinning hard drive option - so it's not really a newer model.

(b) The entry-level 21.5" iMac is only a 1920x1080 display that might not be significantly better than your 24" display - that part of it is going to be completely outclassed by the 27" iMac. The mid/high 21.5" models are 4k.

Otherwise, the 21.5" is more than adequate for your light use - it really comes down to whether you want the bigger, much higher-resolution screen.

Normally, I'd also say to steer clear of the 1TB Fusion drive and go for at least the 2TB (which has a bigger SSD portion) or better still an all-SSD machine - but, again, it may be adequate for your use.

 

[danb1979]

First, just to check that you realise that neither of these can work as an external display for your Mac Mini? Target Display mode was dropped ~2014.

Also:

(a) The current 21.5" iMac didn't get a real upgrade in 2020 - they just dropped the spinning hard drive option - so it's not really a newer model.

(b) The entry-level 21.5" iMac is only a 1920x1080 display that might not be significantly better than your 24" display - that part of it is going to be completely outclassed by the 27" iMac. The mid/high 21.5" models are 4k.

Otherwise, the 21.5" is more than adequate for your light use - it really comes down to whether you want the bigger, much higher-resolution screen.

Normally, I'd also say to steer clear of the 1TB Fusion drive and go for at least the 2TB (which has a bigger SSD portion) or better still an all-SSD machine - but, again, it may be adequate for your use.

Thanks.

I know it won't connect to my Mac Mini, it's got nothing to do with that.

My wife will be taking the Mini over now she's working from home until Feb 2021 at the earliest, so I'm looking to replace the Mini and 24" 2k monitor in one go...

Thats why I've got this dilema

And the more I think about it, the more I'm swayed to the 27" iMac as it offers everything I'm after, albeit with the FusionDrive rather than an all out SSD...

But as said, the tasks I need it for, I don't think I'll ever strain the Mac at all

 

[theluggage]

And the more I think about it, the more I'm swayed to the 27" iMac as it offers everything I'm after, albeit with the FusionDrive rather than an all out SSD...

The 5k screen is gorgeous, whatever you do with it.

I did have a 27” iMac back in 2017 that had the 1TB FusionDrive

What vintage was that one? Sometime around 2015, Apple knobbled the 1TB Fusion drive option by reducing the size of the SSD portion from 128GB to 24GB.

Still, it probably won't be an issue with your use, and if it is a problem, you could look at adding an external SSD and booting from that.

 

[danb1979]

The 5k screen is gorgeous, whatever you do with it.



What vintage was that one? Sometime around 2015, Apple knobbled the 1TB Fusion drive option by reducing the size of the SSD portion from 128GB to 24GB.

Still, it probably won't be an issue with your use, and if it is a problem, you could look at adding an external SSD and booting from that.

Thats exactly my plan I think...

Will sort the 27” iMac tomorrow, get it all up to speed & live with it for a month and then look to suss an external 256GB Thunderbolt / USB C SSD I think

 

[CWallace]

Just realized that the 21.5” iMac isn’t a Retina; it’s just the standard screen and that slightly sways me to the 27” iMac again; more so that I can upgrade the RAM to 16GB upwards easy enough for little outlay

Yeah I would suffer a Fusion Drive over a 1920x1080 display.

 

[danb1979]

Bought, booted up (didn't take long at all) and now just updating it before I restore it from my TimeMachine

 

[Phil77354]

Buying the 27" is absolutely the right choice. I hope you enjoy it!