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Did you go from a 27” to a 24” iMac?

iMas70

iMas70

macrumors 65816
Original poster
I’ve been using a 27” screen for many years. I’ve been hoping Apple would produce another one but I’m kind of tired of waiting. I’d like to have the newest operating system on my desktop so thinking about selling my 2017 27” iMac and replacing it with a current 24”. For those who have gone down to the smaller screen, do you have any regrets?
 
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Similar situation here, and have not yet replaced my current system.

I could grumble and suck it up with the smaller screen (or a second screen), but the real dealbreaker is available RAM. My current setup has 72GB combined system and video, and it gets used. The current iMac can be BTO to a maximum 24GB 32GB. I'm not making that kind of step backwards.

Apple really wants us into Studios, but with the upcoming M5 release and AI silliness having BTO Studios currently backordered 7+ weeks, that's a tough option at the moment as well.

Edit: Max available is 32GB, see below.
 
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Sippincider said:
I could grumble and suck it up with the smaller screen (or a second screen), but the real dealbreaker is available RAM. My current setup has 72GB combined system and video, and it gets used. The current iMac can be BTO to a maximum 24GB. I'm not making that kind of step backwards.
Click to expand...
You can order 32gB ram, but have to get at least 512gB SSD
 
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I went from a high spec 2020 27” iMac to an M4 iMac. Unexpectedly, I found the reduction in screen size did not bother me much, but my main objection is the vanilla M4 chip and maximum 32GB ram. An M4/M5 Pro chip option is really needed, along with the greater memory options provided by such a chip.
Of course, if your computing needs are relatively undemanding, this is a non-issue.
 
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I’m looking at the configurator now, I can probably be fine with 24GB. The heaviest use I’d give it is editing 4K videos. My thing is storage. I wish we could get it with 2TB without having to jump up to the 10 core.
 
I'm in the same position, sitting here with a 2017 27" iMac with i7 and 64GB. Still doing fine, but I'm hesitant to go to a 24", and I'm not ready to spend $3,000+ for a Mac Mini/Studio Display combo. I do think that Apple Silicon with 32GB will get you more speed and performance than the Intel chip and 72GB, so I'm not worried about that, but the display size...
 
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My prediction to the OP:
You may find yourself dissatisfiied "going down" from a 27" to 24" display.
Probably more likely than less likely.

Have you considered a Mini with a 27" 5k display?
Apple isn't the only one out there any more.

I've also seen several posts on here from folks who bought the m-series 24" iMacs, and have had their displays going bad.

To me, the Mini + display of your choice is the better way to go...
 
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My wife downsized from a 27-in Intel iMac to a 24-in M4 iMac. It's still a lot bigger screen than her 15-in MacBook Air notebook and she's happy.

I had been hanging on for a 32-in iMac and in the end I went the other way, bought a barebones M4 Mac Mini, fitted a third-party SDD upgrade to 2GB, and coupled it with twin Dell 27-in 4K monitors. I already had the S2722QC and bought a U2725QE. I run both at 3200 x 1800 resolution.

Downsides of this are that there's
  • no camera (I use my MacBook Pro for video calls)
  • no speakers (I already had separate speakers)
  • can't adjust display brightness from the keyboard.
 
I’m in the same boat. Still on my late 2015 iMac for this exact reason. I put an SSD in and installed macOS Sequoia on it with Opencore Patcher. Works perfectly fine for office work, browsing, …

When the new Studio Display comes out, I’ll finally upgrade to it with a M5 Mac Studio. It’s going to be expensive but that’s ok after 11 years. And the big advantage: when I need to upgrade the Mac again, I can reuse the display.
 
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Just made the switch two days ago. I have described it thoroughly here link

I have used an iMac from 2020 the last 5 years and before that an iMac from 2013 also for about 5 years. I got used to the 27" and had a hard time imagining me using a 24". I even bought a Mac mini M4 and a Studio Display, but for multiple reasons I ended up with a 24" iMac M4. So here is my current setup and I have never been happier about my overall computer setup at home.

IMG_5761.JPG


The new 24" iMac is absolutely fantastic and I don't regret the smaller screen at all. After having used it just for a few days I have actually thought about that I should have made this switch years ago. Likewise with the mechanical keyboard which has been a great experience so far. I have been missing out on that front for a few years as well, but better late than never.

It has been quite the journey to get here, but I'm sure I will enjoy this setup for many years so all worth it in the end!
 
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iMas70 said:
I’ve been using a 27” screen for many years. I’ve been hoping Apple would produce another one but I’m kind of tired of waiting. I’d like to have the newest operating system on my desktop so thinking about selling my 2017 27” iMac and replacing it with a current 24”. For those who have gone down to the smaller screen, do you have any regrets?
Click to expand...
I went bigger. I bought a Mac Studio and added a 32 inch LG 5K2 screen (with Thunderbolt). I wouldn't want to go smaller. You lose the all in one aspect of it, but you gain flexibility as you don't lose the screen when you upgrade your Mac.
 
iMas70 said:
I’ve been using a 27” screen for many years. I’ve been hoping Apple would produce another one but I’m kind of tired of waiting. I’d like to have the newest operating system on my desktop so thinking about selling my 2017 27” iMac and replacing it with a current 24”. For those who have gone down to the smaller screen, do you have any regrets?
Click to expand...
I went to 24" when it came out after the larger iMac screen (my setup at the time). It was an adjustment, but I added a 4K screen (now it's portrait), but the iMac is the main screen.

Ideally, there should be 4K portrait screens that are wide, but this setup works for now.
 
After several years of using my 27" iMac, which I loved, I decided to switch to a 24".

There's nothing wrong with it, it's a nice piece of kit. I just found myself using MacBook more and iMac less, as there wasn't the screen area benefit there used to be.

In the end got rid of iMac. Over 2 years later, I don't regret that decision.
 
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I did not. I went from an iMac 5K to a 16” MBPro with multiple external screens. I upgraded my in-laws Mac to an M1 iMac and they love it, but that’s coming from the smaller 21.5” iMac already. Every time I use it, it feels fine, however I’m not doing my work on it, just IT’ing for them.

I’d suggest spending some serious time with one at a store to see how you feel about it.
 
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Well I certainly didn't change!
I recall when the 24" M1 iMac became available in 2021. I went into an Apple store to see for myself for a long, hands-on demo. There was also the latest 2020 5K Retina Intel 27" nearby which I also put through it's paces. For me at that time there was no competition, the screen display on the 27" was superior and so was the sound - which somewhat surprised me. At that time with a perfectly functioning 2010 iMac 27" I was in no hurry to change, but a short time later I was lucky enough to find a 27" 2020 5K model with upgraded GPU for just 1400€ ($1600).
Fast forward to 2025 when I had a chance to spend some time with the M4 24" iMac. Result: I still wouldn't change my 27" which still performs my photo and video editing tasks in a non-prosessional capacity with total ease. I don't doubt for a second that the current M4 iMac performs video editing tasks far speedier, but for a non-pro worker does this really matter? And now the prices of the 2020 model on the used market have never been lower. Imho still a brilliant and robust iMac with plenty of useful life left in them. I don't really need OS Tahoe but plan to upgrade to this at end of 2026. And my 2010 27" iMac (SSD equipped & with maxed-out memory) is still performing so well.😀
 
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IMO, it boils down to how you use your screen. I went from 27” to 24” and have no regrets. However, I rarely have more than one window open at a time and most always run my apps in full screen mode. When thinking about the 24”, I looked at my 27” screen and realized that I frequently sized my window down a bit and centered it on the screen. So, all I gave up was the space around my typical window. I don’t use my computer for work (retired) and my primary usage is web surfing, emails, etc. If I was working and was a user with more than two windows at a time, I think I’d go with the Mac Mini setup with a screen (or screens) to match my usage. For me, 24” is fine. DW has a windows machine with a 32” monitor, has a bunch of windows open but she’s managing her picture library and she also handles our finances (Quicken) so her usage is significantly different.
 
Fishrrman said:
My prediction to the OP:
You may find yourself dissatisfiied "going down" from a 27" to 24" display.
Probably more likely than less likely.

Have you considered a Mini with a 27" 5k display?
Apple isn't the only one out there any more.

I've also seen several posts on here from folks who bought the m-series 24" iMacs, and have had their displays going bad.

To me, the Mini + display of your choice is the better way to go...
Click to expand...

Did you go from a 27” to a 24” iMac?​

No, not at all. As @Fishrrman suggests, I went from my moribund but beloved 2017 27” iMac to an M4 Mac mini and 27” Studio display. Refurb’d from Apple saved me some shekels. I lost the all-in-one form factor that I also loved, and the functionality of the current 24” iMac would have been sufficient, but I did not want to lose almost 30% of the visual geography on my desktop…and didn’t. While I wish my setup was an AIO, I’m pleased with both the display, sound, camera, and Mac mini performance.
 
I still have a mid-2011 iMac 27” specifically because it’s the very last model that can natively deal with old 32-bit applications without a fuss as it’s locked in High Sierra 10.13.6.
 
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MisterSavage said:
I held out for as long as I could but they got me with a Studio Display.
Click to expand...
Interesting.
I was lucky to pick up a little used 2022 Studio Display for a steal of a price. But somehow I don't totally love it compared with the total package 27" iMac. As mentioned in this link it's probably due to the wider border and especially the extra 6cm 'chin' of the iMac - effectively imho a more imposing piece of kit.
 
Adding my experience.

I went from 27" iMac 2017 (32 GB RAM i7 / Radeon 580 Pro 8 GB VRAM) to iMac M1 24".

Even though the CPU speed obviously increased and the M1 is much, much more quiet.... I was disappointed and to me the smaller screen and the lower gfx performance of the 4 year newer iMac felt like a downgrade.

Got a Mac Studio with 27" Studio Display now, and that is so much better.
To me 27" is a sweet spot.
 
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