Keep 2021 iMac or wait for 2022?

[ebesp]

Hello!

I am new to the world of Apple. I bought an iMac in late December because I am also new to photography and was told Apple is the best computer for photo editing and running photoshop. I didn’t realize at the time of purchase that a new iMac is coming soon. I was wondering if it would be best to return my current iMac and wait for the new one? I don’t want to upgrade or get a new computer again for another 7-8 years, if possible, and if the new iMac has a better system, I’d prefer that as photoshop is constantly upgrading and requiring heavier ram to run it.

Thank you for your thoughts.

 

[Papanate]

Did you buy the 27" or the 24" that just came out? If you want it to last 8 years - you had to have bought the 24" with the M1 chip. The Intel chipped 27" probably have 3 or 4 years at best. So depending on which chip you bought would determine if you bring it back or not.

 

[ebesp]

Did you buy the 27" or the 24" that just came out? If you want it to last 8 years - you had to have bought the 24" with the M1 chip. The Intel chipped 27" probably have 3 or 4 years at best. So depending on which chip you bought would determine if you bring it back or not.

Hello! I bought the 24” one… one thing I read from experienced photographers (I am new) is that Adobe keeps requiring more and more memory to run photoshop, that’s where my concern lies.

 

[KennyB123]

I have a late 2013 iMac with Intel Core I7 chip and it is still going strong. However, I'm "forced" into an upgrade this year because I can't install the Big Sur OS on this hardware. I have a couple apps that will require Big Sur soon. It is a shame I have to upgrade just because of this. I don't run photoshop though.

 

[wilberforce]

I have a 2020 27" iMac (Intel, with 32GB RAM) and a 14" MBP M1 Pro (with 16GB RAM), and do quite a lot of Photoshop and Lightroom editing of photos.

You don't say if your iMac has 8GB or 16 GB RAM. If it has 8GB I would definitely return it. Adobe recommends 16GB.

I have found that PS and LR "use" more RAM on M1 than on Intel. However, with 16GB RAM on M1, this is only a potential issue for very large files, like 200 megapixel stitched panoramas, and if you are new to photo-editing it is unlikely you will encounter this very often if at all. "Potential issue" does not mean you cannot do such large files, it just means working on them will be a little slower and less snappy.

Trying to make a computer last 7-8 years is optimistic and not cost-effective. (You could spend thousands more and it only "lasts" a year longer before you upgrade.)

I think if you have a 16GB 24" iMac you will be fine, if you like the size. The 27" iMac screen is great for photo-editing. I would consider the 27" not so much to get more RAM, but simply for the larger screen - if you feel you would prefer it.

There are always new and better models coming out. You can wait forever for the "best" machine that "lasts" the longest.

 

[SalisburySam]

Hello!

I am new to the world of Apple. I bought an iMac in late December because I am also new to photography and was told Apple is the best computer for photo editing and running photoshop. I didn’t realize at the time of purchase that a new iMac is coming soon. I was wondering if it would be best to return my current iMac and wait for the new one? I don’t want to upgrade or get a new computer again for another 7-8 years, if possible, and if the new iMac has a better system, I’d prefer that as photoshop is constantly upgrading and requiring heavier ram to run it.

Thank you for your thoughts.

1- there will always be a new iMac coming soon. Even if there isn’t one on your timeline.
2- whatever is on hand is what a vendor will sell you as the ”best computer for photo editing and running Photoshop.”
3- if you wait for the next one and get it when it is available, aren’t you in the same situation again?
4- software, especially Adobe’s, will always get more bloated over time as new features are built in and the software is never optimized as that is expensive for the developer with little return on investment. Get the most relevant configuration you can at the beginning, then plan to replace it when it no longer works to your satisfaction. That may be a decade, or a month. And you won’t know until it happens.
5- how does your 24” iMac run Photoshop now? If terrible, get something else. If great, enjoy. If mediocre, you may wish to wait.

 

[Isengardtom]

It’s not very likely that the M2 iMac 24” is released soon. It’s probably going to be October at the earliest and possibly spring next year

it’s also not expected to be that big an increase to the M1.

 

[ebesp]

It’s not very likely that the M2 iMac 24” is released soon. It’s probably going to be October at the earliest and possibly spring next year

it’s also not expected to be that big an increase to the M1.

This is what I was thinking about! I am happy with a 24” monitor vs 27” but I was concerned about hardware. I didn’t want to buy “old” tech (I know it’s not old) if I can buy new tech in just a few months.

 

[ebesp]

1- there will always be a new iMac coming soon. Even if there isn’t one on your timeline.
2- whatever is on hand is what a vendor will sell you as the ”best computer for photo editing and running Photoshop.”
3- if you wait for the next one and get it when it is available, aren’t you in the same situation again?
4- software, especially Adobe’s, will always get more bloated over time as new features are built in and the software is never optimized as that is expensive for the developer with little return on investment. Get the most relevant configuration you can at the beginning, then plan to replace it when it no longer works to your satisfaction. That may be a decade, or a month. And you won’t know until it happens.
5- how does your 24” iMac run Photoshop now? If terrible, get something else. If great, enjoy. If mediocre, you may wish to wait.

You bring up many great points, thank you. I do agree, not sure why I’m so caught up in wanting the latest. I suppose I’m trying to make up for my lack of skills and thinking a better computer would help.

Right now, I am still trying to get used to the mouse. I find it so difficult to use. It is not very responsive. It lags and the best way I can describe it is walking with rubbery legs.

 

[ebesp]

I have a 2020 27" iMac (Intel, with 32GB RAM) and a 14" MBP M1 Pro (with 16GB RAM), and do quite a lot of Photoshop and Lightroom editing of photos.

You don't say if your iMac has 8GB or 16 GB RAM. If it has 8GB I would definitely return it. Adobe recommends 16GB.

I have found that PS and LR "use" more RAM on M1 than on Intel. However, with 16GB RAM on M1, this is only a potential issue for very large files, like 200 megapixel stitched panoramas, and if you are new to photo-editing it is unlikely you will encounter this very often if at all. "Potential issue" does not mean you cannot do such large files, it just means working on them will be a little slower and less snappy.

Trying to make a computer last 7-8 years is optimistic and not cost-effective. (You could spend thousands more and it only "lasts" a year longer before you upgrade.)

I think if you have a 16GB 24" iMac you will be fine, if you like the size. The 27" iMac screen is great for photo-editing. I would consider the 27" not so much to get more RAM, but simply for the larger screen - if you feel you would prefer it.

There are always new and better models coming out. You can wait forever for the "best" machine that "lasts" the longest.

Hello! I have the 16gb one. Thank you for your thoughts. Do you think it’s worth waiting for more hardware?

 

[CooperBox]

Did you buy the 27" or the 24" that just came out? If you want it to last 8 years - you had to have bought the 24" with the M1 chip. The Intel chipped 27" probably have 3 or 4 years at best. So depending on which chip you bought would determine if you bring it back or not.

"If you want it to last 8 years - you had to have bought the 24" with the M1 chip."
Do I understand here that you are saying the 24" M1 iMac has an approx life span of only 8 years!! if so, why?
Until last year I had a 2010 27" iMac upgraded with SSD and 12Gb memory which was doing every task I threw at it. Recently sold to a good friend, and I wager he'll still be using it years from now. If it develops a fault I'll fix it, cheaply, as this was one of the last easily upgradable iMacs.
Now i've recently been given a mid 2009 Intel i5 27" iMac with 500 Gb SSD and 16Gb Ram (upgradeable to 32Gb) and after a little tweaking with updated web browser etc it's a marvelous machine and does everything I want from it. That's 13 years old already and still going strong with plenty of life left. Just because Apple do not allow one to upgrade to the latest OS does not mean it's come to the end of it's useful working life - but of course that's want they want you to believe.
And regarding the comment, "The Intel chipped 27" probably have 3 or 4 years at best", this is painfully untrue! I was recently fortunate enough to pick up a 2020 5k Retina 27" iMac (the last of the 10th Gen Intel Comet-Lake) for a drop-dead low price. I have no doubt whatsoever that this will still be functioning well with updated OS, web browser etc for the next 10 years. On the other hand, with an official repairability score of 2/10 if an M1 Silicon iMac should develop faults outside of it's AppleCare period, the chances are the repair charges will be horrendous and probably not cost effective. Watch this space..........
Let me add that I think the current M1 iMac is a good machine (with the exception of the base model - the glaring lack of ports is shameful), and I'd like to think that the 2021 models will still be going strong for at least 10 years.

 

[russell_314]

If it works well then just keep what you have. The whole wait for the next version is silly. Yes maybe in 10 months they’ll release the M2 but if you wait another 12 months they’ll release the M3 and just wait one more year and you can get the M4. Each one is probably going to be about 20% faster but that’s just speculation.

The only reason I would say wait is if you wanted the larger screen.

 

[Realityck]

You bring up many great points, thank you. I do agree, not sure why I’m so caught up in wanting the latest. I suppose I’m trying to make up for my lack of skills and thinking a better computer would help.

Right now, I am still trying to get used to the mouse. I find it so difficult to use. It is not very responsive. It lags and the best way I can describe it is walking with rubbery legs.

I use a wired gaming mouse with mouse pad has it gives me more precise movement. Logitech G502SE connected using a USB-C to USB-A dongle from Apple. Corsair MM200 medium size mouse pad. All available at Bestbuy as example. Logitech software is G Hub with no account/profile compatible with most recent MacOS beta. 1500 movement sensitivity. You could go wireless too on same mouse. All of this is very reasonable pricing. You never limited to just using a Magic Mouse.

 

[Bug-Creator]

Trying to make a computer last 7-8 years is optimistic and not cost-effective. (You could spend thousands more and it only "lasts" a year longer before you upgrade.)

This really all the OP needs to know.

As long as that 16GB M1 does the job keep it. Be it 1 year or 8.

IF there is an M2 iMac anytime soon you'd still have to BTO for the 16GB with minimal increase in performance while loosing 25% of what you spend on the M1.

If there is a bigger M1Pro iMac anytime soon expect it to be >2000$ even for the base config. Sure you get bigger (better?) screen and more CPU/GPU but you would still be at the same 16GB. BTO to 32 and you will be >2500$ (judging from the prices on the MBP).

Or just wait till you really need 32GB, by which time it might be an option on the base M? and the default on M?Pro model.

 

[Realityck]

Probably the worse thing to ponder is something nice in the future versus something useful now.

A 16GB 24" M1 8/8 iMac with 1 TB SSD is fairly useful for some time for photography, its just there is nothing as a alternate except buying a more expensive M1 Pro/Max 14"/16" MBP and using it with some 4K or better external display.

I don't expect the larger iMac, or a more powerful Mac mini that utilize M1 Pro/Max processing until late April 2022.

You also have the https://www.macrumors.com/2021/12/15/lg-pro-display-xdr-apple-silicon-chip-rumor/ discussion of badly needed external monitors for Macs such as the Mac mini and MBPs. The Mac Pros are a bit further out.

 

[ebesp]

"If you want it to last 8 years - you had to have bought the 24" with the M1 chip."
Do I understand here that you are saying the 24" M1 iMac has an approx life span of only 8 years!! if so, why?
Until last year I had a 2010 27" iMac upgraded with SSD and 12Gb memory which was doing every task I threw at it. Recently sold to a good friend, and I wager he'll still be using it years from now. If it develops a fault I'll fix it, cheaply, as this was one of the last easily upgradable iMacs.
Now i've recently been given a mid 2009 Intel i5 27" iMac with 500 Gb SSD and 16Gb Ram (upgradeable to 32Gb) and after a little tweaking with updated web browser etc it's a marvelous machine and does everything I want from it. That's 13 years old already and still going strong with plenty of life left. Just because Apple do not allow one to upgrade to the latest OS does not mean it's come to the end of it's useful working life - but of course that's want they want you to believe.
And regarding the comment, "The Intel chipped 27" probably have 3 or 4 years at best", this is painfully untrue! I was recently fortunate enough to pick up a 2020 5k Retina 27" iMac (the last of the 10th Gen Intel Comet-Lake) for a drop-dead low price. I have no doubt whatsoever that this will still be functioning well with updated OS, web browser etc for the next 10 years. On the other hand, with an official repairability score of 2/10 if an M1 Silicon iMac should develop faults outside of it's AppleCare period, the chances are the repair charges will be horrendous and probably not cost effective. Watch this space..........
Let me add that I think the current M1 iMac is a good machine (with the exception of the base model - the glaring lack of ports is shameful), and I'd like to think that the 2021 models will still be going strong for at least 10 years.

Hello, I don’t know much about computers. It was an uneducated comment made because I just assumed older computer = shorter lifespan. I am just concerned and wondering if I should wait for the 2022 iMac because I want to be able to use photoshop without issues (lagging).

 

[Berti10]

The M1 is already such a powerhouse, an upgrade is only necessary if your needs cannot be delivered by the 24“

 

[ebesp]

If it works well then just keep what you have. The whole wait for the next version is silly. Yes maybe in 10 months they’ll release the M2 but if you wait another 12 months they’ll release the M3 and just wait one more year and you can get the M4. Each one is probably going to be about 20% faster but that’s just speculation.

The only reason I would say wait is if you wanted the larger screen.

I know, you are right about that. I haven’t really used this one much, probably less than an hour total. I can’t get used to the mouse, it’s so wobbly. But I was just thinking that if waiting two months results in a faster computer that ultimately lasts longer so that I don’t have to upgrade sooner down the line, that it would be worth waiting…

 

[ebesp]

I use a wired gaming mouse with mouse pad has it gives me more precise movement. Logitech G502SE connected using a USB-C to USB-A dongle from Apple. Corsair MM200 medium size mouse pad. All available at Bestbuy as example. Logitech software is G Hub with no account/profile compatible with most recent MacOS beta. 1500 movement sensitivity. You could go wireless too on same mouse. All of this is very reasonable pricing. You never limited to just using a Magic Mouse.

Thank you so much! I will look into buying this. The mouse has probably been the most frustrating thing so far in switching from Windows. I don’t understand why it lags so much.

 

[Fatus_Asticus]

I wouldn’t buy a 27 iMac right now but a 24 is perfectly fine if it suites your needs.

 

[burgman]

Hello!

I am new to the world of Apple. I bought an iMac in late December because I am also new to photography and was told Apple is the best computer for photo editing and running photoshop. I didn’t realize at the time of purchase that a new iMac is coming soon. I was wondering if it would be best to return my current iMac and wait for the new one? I don’t want to upgrade or get a new computer again for another 7-8 years, if possible, and if the new iMac has a better system, I’d prefer that as photoshop is constantly upgrading and requiring heavier ram to run it.

Thank you for your thoughts.

You are stuck with the tech disease of need vs want. We all suffer it to some extent. If you are stuck on wanting the newest then no tech discussion will help. If you are looking at what’s best for me, then you have it. Nobody here can give you the right answer. It’s your money, so decide what’s more important, bragging rights which is the most fleeting, and a real letdown when the next shiny object is released. Or the more boring right tool for the job. Good luck with that internal wrestling match.?

 

[ebesp]

This really all the OP needs to know.

As long as that 16GB M1 does the job keep it. Be it 1 year or 8.

IF there is an M2 iMac anytime soon you'd still have to BTO for the 16GB with minimal increase in performance while loosing 25% of what you spend on the M1.

If there is a bigger M1Pro iMac anytime soon expect it to be >2000$ even for the base config. Sure you get bigger (better?) screen and more CPU/GPU but you would still be at the same 16GB. BTO to 32 and you will be >2500$ (judging from the prices on the MBP).

Or just wait till you really need 32GB, by which time it might be an option on the base M? and the default on M?Pro model.

I see what you are saying now about the screen size being the big difference.

Would the upgraded hardware of the 2022 increase its usage life though?

 

[CooperBox]

I have a late 2013 iMac with Intel Core I7 chip and it is still going strong. However, I'm "forced" into an upgrade this year because I can't install the Big Sur OS on this hardware. I have a couple apps that will require Big Sur soon. It is a shame I have to upgrade just because of this. I don't run photoshop though.

It's true you cannot upgrade natively to Big Sur, simpy because.......Apple don't want you to. They want you to buy a newer model. Your Intel i7 however is more than powerful enough to run Big Sur. Fortunately there is a dedicated community who have put in many hours of research into finding a solution, resulting in several patchers that allow you to perform this.
Patched Sur is one which appears to be relatively straight forward. Google 'Install Big Sur on Unsupported Mac with Patched Sur - Full Walkthrough' to find the YTube tutorial.
You don't say if your iMac is a 21" or 27". If the latter, RAM memory can be added easily in minutes if desired. With the 21" model - unless I'm mistaken - it's far more difficult, as to get to the Ram blade, a full tear-down is required and the logic board must be removed to get access to the underside.
So, give the patched upgrade a try, and not be "forced" into buying a newer model.

​

 

[Bug-Creator]

Would the upgraded hardware of the 2022 increase its usage life though?

That depends and what you get and were your issues with it will be in the future.

OS support will (IMO) be dropped for all M1 variants at the same time (ca. 2028 I'd guess) so a bigger iMac with an M1Pro won't help here. A 24" M2 iMac may last 1 year longer but those are 10-16 months out so not really an option.

You should be o.k. with RAM for quite a while and storage can always be expanded externally.

-> use your M1 and see if you run into any performance issues
---> if yes, replace it with something that fixes those issues (which would most likely be something M1Pro based)
---> if not, keep using till issues appear (which might be a decade away depending on your actual use case)

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

Thank you so much! I will look into buying this. The mouse has probably been the most frustrating thing so far in switching from Windows. I don’t understand why it lags so much.

Keyboard and even the Trackpad can do that as well causing me to turn them off/on every once in awhile. Almost makes me want to go back to a laptop especially when there’s no keyboard backlight in 2022.