iMac screen compatibility - 2012+

[TwoH]

Hi guys - thought I'd post my list of information I've gathered over the years. Some models aren't included simply because I've forgotten to ever write down their model number but should be easy enough to find online. Perhaps I'll update at some point to include them. I'll try and keep the thread updated if/when new iMacs come out, but no promises.

27"
LM270WQ1 (SD)(F1) - 2012
LM270WQ1 (SD)(F2) - 2013
LM270QQ1 (SD)(A2) - 5k 2014 & Mid 5k 2015
LM270QQ1 (SD)(B1) - Late 5k 2015
LM270QQ1 (SD)(C1) - 5k 2017
LM270QQ1 (SD)(D1) - 5k 2017 iMac Pro
LM270QQ1 (SD)(E1) - 5k 2019
LM270QQ1 (SD)(F1) - 5k 2020

21.5"
LM215WF3 (SD)(D2) - 2013
LM215WF3 (SD)(D5) - 2015 non-retina
LM215UH1(SD)(A1) - 4k Late 2015
LM215UH1(SD)(B1) - 4k 2017 & 2019

24”
LM235UH1 (SD)(C1) - 2021

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Compatibility list - these models will work with each other:

27”

2012 & 2013

2014 & 2015 Mid

2015 Late & 2017 & 2019

2017 pro & 2020

21.5”

2012 & 2013 & 2014 & 2015 2k & 2017 2k

2015 4k is not compatible with other years

2017 4k & 2019

24” (M-series)

2021 & 2023

2024 (Have not tested yet)

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Here are my findings for iMac screens, I'll try to update if I remember any more of my knowledge.

Note:

Some of these LCD swaps between years may require swapping the backlight cable.

Late 2015 5k to 2019 5k are compatible with each other - excluding the iMac Pro.

2014 5k and Mid 2015 5k will work on Late 2015 to 2019.

Late 2015 5k to 2019 5k should not be used on 2014 5k and Mid 2015 5k. (Causes LCD to only display max resolution of 4K)

All non-retina 21.5” are compatible with each other.

4k 2015 is not compatible with 2017/2019 4k and vice versa.

27” 2020 and iMac Pro 2017 LCD are compatible with each other, including the cameras - but won’t get True Tone on the 2020s if using an iMac Pro LCD, this is because you cannot swap the 2020 camera onto a 2017 iMac Pro LCD due to the shapes being different.

2020 and will lose True Tone unless you swap the camera

24” will lose True Tone unless you swap the light sensor.

M4 2024 iMac camera hole is bigger than on the M1 2021 and M3 2023 models

 

[PaulD-UK]

Quote: “…swaps between years may require swapping the backlight cable.”

The 27” 2019/2020 iMac backlight cables are the same, but different (angled logic board connector) to 2017 and earlier 27" iMacs (straight connector).

 

[marius_3d]

will post this here: I have successfully used a 2014 27inch case on a 2015 27inch screen and logic board. the swap also needed the antennas and camera from 2015 iMac or else the screen would not fit.

 

[TwoH]

The 27” 2019/2020 iMac backlight cables are the same, but different (angled logic board connector) to 2017 and earlier 27" iMacs (straight connector).

Very true! I would recommend swapping the backlight cables on these models. Technically it is possible to angle it in place for both years - but it is not a comfortable feeling doing it. Thanks for the information though, I had never actually wrote down the models that would require the backlight cable swaps.

will post this here: I have successfully used a 2014 27inch case on a 2015 27inch screen and logic board. the swap also needed the antennas and camera from 2015 iMac or else the screen would not fit.

Thanks for the info. If I recall correctly you are able to replace the chassis on a 2015 27" all the way down to a 2012 chassis, but will (as you have mentioned) require the modifications you have said.

 

[netsrot39]

Thanks to the OP for this list! I recently tried to remove the SATA SSD from my 2017 27" iMac 5K that I put in there 2 years ago. It was a Verbatim SSD and didn't even work for 1 year (awful SSD indeed) ... Anyways, it was throwing errors and led to kernel panics so I had to remove it. In 2023, when I first removed the screen, it was a hassle but only took like 30 minutes to remove it (undamaged that is). Before reinstalling it, I applied new adhesive strips, but as it turned out they were too strong. Just 2 weeks ago, while trying to remove the screen, I cracked the glass and was devastated. The iMac was a gift from a friend and the top-notch configuration of 2017 with the 8 gigs of VRAM and the i7 processor. In addition to that I had 64 gigs of RAM in it. So a perfectly working iMac (apart from the SSD) was kind of ruined.

Once I came across this thread, I got an idea. If I could find a 2014 or 2015 iMac 5K for cheap, I'd be able to relatively inexpensively replace the broken screen. Long story short, I ended up getting a base model Mid 2015 27" iMac for 100 €. After very carefully removing the screen, I can confirm that it is an LM270QQ1 (SD)(A2). Just for ***** and giggles, I connected the semi-broken LM270QQ1 (SD)(C1) to the 2015 logic board and it is true that it works with it but it only outputs at 4K. Next, I will have to reassamble the entire iMac, because after cracking the glass I basically disassembled it entirely so I can store away the internals in boxes. Before reassembly, I'll also replace the thermal paste and replace the thermal putty on the VRAM chips with Arctic thermal pads. This ended up being a bit of a long post, but I just wanted to say thanks for the thread and the info that earlier models displays are compatible.

 

[TwoH]

Thanks to the OP for this list! I recently tried to remove the SATA SSD from my 2017 27" iMac 5K that I put in there 2 years ago. It was a Verbatim SSD and didn't even work for 1 year (awful SSD indeed) ... Anyways, it was throwing errors and led to kernel panics so I had to remove it. In 2023, when I first removed the screen, it was a hassle but only took like 30 minutes to remove it (undamaged that is). Before reinstalling it, I applied new adhesive strips, but as it turned out they were too strong. Just 2 weeks ago, while trying to remove the screen, I cracked the glass and was devastated. The iMac was a gift from a friend and the top-notch configuration of 2017 with the 8 gigs of VRAM and the i7 processor. In addition to that I had 64 gigs of RAM in it. So a perfectly working iMac (apart from the SSD) was kind of ruined.

Once I came across this thread, I got an idea. If I could find a 2014 or 2015 iMac 5K for cheap, I'd be able to relatively inexpensively replace the broken screen. Long story short, I ended up getting a base model Mid 2015 27" iMac for 100 €. After very carefully removing the screen, I can confirm that it is an LM270QQ1 (SD)(A2). Just for ***** and giggles, I connected the semi-broken LM270QQ1 (SD)(C1) to the 2015 logic board and it is true that it works with it but it only outputs at 4K. Next, I will have to reassamble the entire iMac, because after cracking the glass I basically disassembled it entirely so I can store away the internals in boxes. Before reassembly, I'll also replace the thermal paste and replace the thermal putty on the VRAM chips with Arctic thermal pads. This ended up being a bit of a long post, but I just wanted to say thanks for the thread and the info that earlier models displays are compatible.

Glad for the appreciation, many thanks! And always great to hear of other people's experiences with these machines.

Also very appreciative of your findings too with the display screen swaps - always good to have confirmation from others