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iMac : What should it be?
- Thread starter tycoon_9
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I would like to see a 27" iMac along with a 24" option. Don't want it to be 'Pro' model with a very high price tag. Want a simple bigger screen option, with the same fun colors and the base M chip and a price tag of maximum $1999 for the base model.
Have a 27" iMac and the options are to replace it with a 24" iMac or a mini and a display. But I also have a 24" iMac and I am satisfied with it.
Have a 27" iMac and the options are to replace it with a 24" iMac or a mini and a display. But I also have a 24" iMac and I am satisfied with it.
What benefits would an internal power supply give you?
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iMac was originally a consumer-targeted product (with a display nowhere near 24 inches), while the Power Mac was a pro-targeted product in parallel. From 2007 through 2019, iMac did have a sort of prolonged dalliance as a pro-ish product, but clearly returned to its place as a consumer-targeted product as the Apple Silicon era began (thought the intervening decades have made consumer-level Macs adequate for more actual professionals than the original ones were).
That might have been kind of disappointing for people like me who were waiting to upgrade their 27-inch Intel iMac to whatever pro-focused Apple Silicon iMac turned out not to exist. I waited a while for the nonexistent announcement, but eventually went with the Mac mini-plus-Studio Display combination. In retrospect, that was the right choice, and I respect the reclaimed clarity of the iMac's role in the Mac line. The practical prices of today's Mac mini-plus-Studio Display setups are comparable to those of the 27-inch Intel iMacs, and in my situation? I imagine I'm going to replace my M1 Mac mini with something from the later years of this decade without having to repurpose, replace, or re-pay for my display. The modularity is welcome, and the sight and feel of the Studio Display is better than the sight and feel of some kind of all-in-one. (And the Mac mini does internalize the power conversion, as you're aware.)
That might have been kind of disappointing for people like me who were waiting to upgrade their 27-inch Intel iMac to whatever pro-focused Apple Silicon iMac turned out not to exist. I waited a while for the nonexistent announcement, but eventually went with the Mac mini-plus-Studio Display combination. In retrospect, that was the right choice, and I respect the reclaimed clarity of the iMac's role in the Mac line. The practical prices of today's Mac mini-plus-Studio Display setups are comparable to those of the 27-inch Intel iMacs, and in my situation? I imagine I'm going to replace my M1 Mac mini with something from the later years of this decade without having to repurpose, replace, or re-pay for my display. The modularity is welcome, and the sight and feel of the Studio Display is better than the sight and feel of some kind of all-in-one. (And the Mac mini does internalize the power conversion, as you're aware.)
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What's the point of an all-in-one system that still has one essential component hanging off in an external box?
Yes.
The later Studio Display and the re-designed even-more-mini Mac Mini have kept their internal power supplies - so I suspect that's Apple's thinking, too. As per my other post - what's the point of an all-in-one that isn't actually all-in-one?
Or 32"? Or ultrawide? Edge-lit, MiniLED, OLED...? 120Hz? 220ppi for highest quality or UHD for economy? 16:9, 16:10, 3:2?
M4, M4 Pro, M4 Max...?
I think this is one reason why we're unlikely to see a "big" iMac - too many different requirements that would fragment the potential market - plus, now, they're self-competing with a decent range of Minis and Studios, which many people prefer over all-in-ones anyway.
The question is, is the 24" 4.5k display really what you want? For the lifetime of your M4? That particular size & resolution of display isn't available anywhere else - even third party 4k UHD 24" or thereabouts displays are like hens' teeth now.
Any other display preferences and, I'd say, the Mini wins hands down and opens up a whole world of display options. A bit of effort with some cable tidys and it will look nearly as neat. Studio Display for the safe bet (I have beefs with the design & pricing but it clearly isn't trash), third party to save cash or explore different formats - and the big advantage down the line is that when that irresistible M6 Mini comes out, you can keep your expensive display.
However - if you have any need for mobility, don't neglect the option of a MacBook Air/Pro + large display & external keyboard+mouse.
As @Starfia says - the current iMac hits the spot as the spiritual successor to the neat, semi-portable Classic Mac and original iMac. Can't say I like the look, but that's mostly superficial. However, for more powerful/larger screen setups a Mini or Studio makes so much more sense.
Yeah, it's a pity that Apple couldn't have been more transparent about that at the time. Didn't help that the rumor-mongers who had apparently seen leaks about the Studio Display and thought it was an iMac kept predicting a new iMac...
The other positive for Apple is that they can also sell Studio Displays to MacBook users (it's clearly designed as much as the ultimate MacBook dock as a Mini/Studio companion). This is pretty vital as one of the previous reasons for buying a desktop Mac over a MacBook - more processing, GPU power and RAM - has pretty much vanished with Apple Silicon, so I guess lots of people who previously had a desktop for heavy lifting and a MacBook for portability now just need a MacBook + display.
You mean a power supply? I don't think you are going to get rid of that anytime soon.
After almost 7 years of excellent service my 2017 27” iMac began having issues causing the fan to run constantly and a kernel process that constantly consumed over 550% CPU. All other work became incredibly slow. Apple would not touch the machine and an authorized Apple repair facility suggested it might be an expensive logic board. So I ditched the iMac and got a Mac mini with an Apple Studio Display. Compute-wise I’m ahead with new hardware, new warranties, new macOS, but behind a bit in ports having lost all USB-A ports, and the SD card slot. I lost big time on the form factor of an all-in-one vs. separates with extra cables going everywhere.
I really, really wanted a 27” iMac but that is not to be. The 24” iMac compromise just didn’t do it for me losing almost 30% of the screen real estate from the 27” iMac. So needs must and I did what I did and have a mostly acceptable substitute for a 27” iMac.
I really, really wanted a 27” iMac but that is not to be. The 24” iMac compromise just didn’t do it for me losing almost 30% of the screen real estate from the 27” iMac. So needs must and I did what I did and have a mostly acceptable substitute for a 27” iMac.
As early a 2021 I really wanted to retire my 2012 iMac 27" 2.5K but I want a 27" or larger display and don't want to spend extra for separates as I replace every decade due to my non-tech work.
Below are the 32" 6K displays available today.
I hope ASUS' price is a sign that prices for 32-inch 6K display parts become cheap enough for a 32-inch 6K iMac to start at $1,799.
Below are the 32" 6K displays available today.
| Model | Launch Date | Launch Price | Known Lowest Price |
| Apple Pro Display XDR | Dec 10, 2019 | $4,999–$5,999 | ~ $4,500 (rare resale) |
| Dell UltraSharp U3224KB | May 2023 | ~$3,199 | ~$2,560 (Dell sale) |
| LG UltraFine 32 6K (32U990A) | Announced Jan 2025 | TBD (~$2,480?) | n/a |
| ASUS ProArt PA32QCV | August 2025 | $1,299 | n/a |
I hope ASUS' price is a sign that prices for 32-inch 6K display parts become cheap enough for a 32-inch 6K iMac to start at $1,799.
Mac Mini + Studio Display is infinitely better than the iMac imo.
It means you can upgrade more easily and don’t have to throw away perfectly functional components like the screen, web cam, and speakers in the future.
I still bitterly have a 2011 iMac that is largely unusable but the screen on it still looks beautiful. Wish it could just be used as a display…
OP:
Do you have a Mac NOW?
If so, what size is the display?
A word of caution:
You may find it not to your liking if you are moving from, say, a 27" display "down to" a 24" display. Doesn't sound like much... but the eyes may react diffferently.
I'd suggest the m4 Mini (properly equipped) and a 27" display, either 4k or 5k.
How long do you intend to keep using the new Mac?
5, 6, 7 years?
If so, keep in mind that the "needs of the OS" are probably going to "grow" quite a bit from now until then.
That means, if you buy "the bare minimum" of RAM and SSD today, it almost certainly isn't going to be "enough" in 5 or 6 years.
I'd recommend "more than" entry-level RAM (which is now 16gb) and at least a 512gb SSD (1tb would be better).
If you're thinking of the Mini, BE AWARE that there are relatively low-cost SSD upgrades out there right now (you have to open it up, and doing so will void the warranty). You might consider a 256gb SSD now, IF you feel "able enough" to upgrade it yourself later on.
BUT ... RAM is NOT upgradeable.
So buy what you think you'll need NOW.
Personal experience:
I bought a 2024 m4 Mini in March from the Apple online refurbished store.
I got a good deal with the veteran's discount (24% off retail).
I got 32gb of RAM and a 1tb SSD.
Working well...
Do you have a Mac NOW?
If so, what size is the display?
A word of caution:
You may find it not to your liking if you are moving from, say, a 27" display "down to" a 24" display. Doesn't sound like much... but the eyes may react diffferently.
I'd suggest the m4 Mini (properly equipped) and a 27" display, either 4k or 5k.
How long do you intend to keep using the new Mac?
5, 6, 7 years?
If so, keep in mind that the "needs of the OS" are probably going to "grow" quite a bit from now until then.
That means, if you buy "the bare minimum" of RAM and SSD today, it almost certainly isn't going to be "enough" in 5 or 6 years.
I'd recommend "more than" entry-level RAM (which is now 16gb) and at least a 512gb SSD (1tb would be better).
If you're thinking of the Mini, BE AWARE that there are relatively low-cost SSD upgrades out there right now (you have to open it up, and doing so will void the warranty). You might consider a 256gb SSD now, IF you feel "able enough" to upgrade it yourself later on.
BUT ... RAM is NOT upgradeable.
So buy what you think you'll need NOW.
Personal experience:
I bought a 2024 m4 Mini in March from the Apple online refurbished store.
I got a good deal with the veteran's discount (24% off retail).
I got 32gb of RAM and a 1tb SSD.
Working well...
Power supplies can (and do) fail, so it improves longevity. Also, it improves the thermals of the machine.
27" is a sweet spot for those working in design and print. Every print shop and design house I have been in has had the 27" 5K iMacs. They were great machines at a decent price, especially considering the quality of the monitor that came with it. These were probably more used by pros then the Mac Pro and the iMac Pro as those are for a far more niche pro user. Of course as the 5K iMac was a good value for Pros Apple have to remove it from the lineup. All the M chip machines are great buys but you are now needing a monitor and have to go with Apple to get the quality or look elsewhere, giving a less clean look overall. There was nothing quiet like a single cable going down the back of a 5K iMac and that was it.
RAM can and does fail.
SSDs can and do fail (and actually have a finite lifetime) - having them external would improve the thermals.
LCD panels can and do fail - having them external would improve the thermals.
USB-C sockets can and do wear out.
Power supplies can and do fail, but they aren't so unreliable that they need to be made a special case.
The ability to easily repair/replace any of those is a compromise you make by choosing a computer where even the potentially replaceable parts are behind a glued-on screen. The justification for that compromise is that you get a small, attractive, semi-portable computer with the minimum of trailing cables. When you start leaving out the power supply, ethernet, HDMI, SD etc. so that everybody ends up needing at least one external box not shown in the publicity shots that is form over function.
The Studio Display and M4 Mini show that it's quite possible to build a power supply into a small unit.
If repairability is a particular priority (maybe you manage 100 computers so component failures actually add up to a significant part of your time) then an iMac may not be the tool for the job anyway.
Mac mini, hands down between those two choices. A mini best allows for adaptation to the changes (workspace, apps, finances, workflow, hardware failures) that almost all of us go through over time.
iMac is cool looking on an OCD work surface but that is it. And a mini can be almost as OCD while being hella more versatile. If one does real computing work either a mini or iMac end up with a mess of wires attached - - but unlike the iMac, you can hide the mini and its wires if you want to.
With a mini you can buy a dirt cheap display if you are out of $$ and add a better display(s) later; or upgrade to a larger display when your workspace/$$ allow it; or get a Studio display now and keep it forever, upgrading the mini when it RAMs out, etc.
A third choice would be to get a laptop. Mac laptops can be configured to be stronger desktops than an iMac or a mini and have the huge value add of also being portable when one wants to sit on the couch, fly to Timbuktu, work at the library, etc.
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Prices from Apple.com
iMac M4 (which includes Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse, which I both love): $1299
Mac mini M4: $599
Magic Mouse: $99
Magic Keyboard: $149
Studio Display: $1599
Total for Mac Mini + Studio Display: $2446
That's almost DOUBLE the price for the Mac mini + Studio Display.
3 extra inches on the display are definitely not worth that much.
And I only have bad experiences with random third party screens. Either they're wobbly, or ugly, or have random startup issues.
(disclaimer: I have the iMac M4 and I love it)
iMac M4 (which includes Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse, which I both love): $1299
Mac mini M4: $599
Magic Mouse: $99
Magic Keyboard: $149
Studio Display: $1599
Total for Mac Mini + Studio Display: $2446
That's almost DOUBLE the price for the Mac mini + Studio Display.
3 extra inches on the display are definitely not worth that much.
And I only have bad experiences with random third party screens. Either they're wobbly, or ugly, or have random startup issues.
(disclaimer: I have the iMac M4 and I love it)
Fully agreed that "Every print shop and design house I have been in has had the 27" 5K iMacs.."
But that is past tense and reflects sound purchase decisions made by design houses often more than a decade ago. Today we have different hardware choices, and those same design houses would today not be buying iMacs and instead would 2025 wisely be choosing Studios with Studio Displays (or with Pro XDR Displays if they had a good year).
Note also that the main reasons for having a bunch of iMacs or Studio or XDR displays in a design house are A) because we design better when in a visually well designed workspace and B) because a visually well designed workspace impresses design clients.
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I disagree. While the shops dealing with the large brands need the colour accurate monitors calibrated to presses and all the rest, the local shops are mostly running "pleasing colour" for digital and offset printing and 1 and 2 colour presses with Pantones. The 5K screen was a great monitor to work with and the iMac itself powerful to handle all the tasks. Throw an M chip in those with the RAM and Flash drives along with that 5K screen and you still have a competent winner for the majority of shops.
The problem with the iMac is that in a few years, you will have an older computer that needs to be upgraded, but you also have a really nice functioning monitor that is going to be thrown away as e-waste.
Buy the Mini and the best 27" monitor you can afford.
Like you said, we disagree on today decisions while agreeing on the past. The question is what would be a wise new purchase decision in 2025. If a shop has low enough needs, they can use a mini plus a Dell display and they can feed their higher end needs with a Studio plus an Apple display. The point is that 2025 an all-in-one is a poor purchase decision. Design shops just do not throw flash drives, M chips and ram along with 5K displays as if that's a magic solution available; the reality is about what hardware can one walk out the door and buy.
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And with a mini or Studio you need not limit yourself to 27" size, get what fits your work space and your workflow and your budget; a zillion choices. I chose Viewsonic 32" but that was years ago.
Also note choosing a separate display allows using monitor arm(s) with VESA mounts(s). IMO huge value add.
I bought an original iMac for my daughter for college, it lasted about 5 years or so, crt failure I think, I've owned an iMac g4 (17 inch screen), an iMac g5, and a 2019 27 inch iMac. the all in one has advantages , and disadvantages but with ram and other items integrated on the motherboard - some of the component arguments fail. in a way the new iMac is just a big screen version of an iBook air, which for older eyes makes sense. at a certain point in life a new computer will outlast you , pick your machine based on your desires and financial ability
I have a Mac Mini M4 with a 27'' 1080p monitor.
No external PSU, with a large screen, and very good ventilation of Mac Mini M4 inside.
There are nontrivial efficiency costs to moving RAM and storage external. The same cannot be said about power supplies. The thermal benefits from moving the power supply external would also be nontrivial for small, thermally restricted designs like the iMac and mini.