What was the last iMac released, with a 27" screen, that could run macOS Mojave please ?
nb. non M1
nb. non M1
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Last iMac before M1
- Thread starter winterquilt
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Can I Upgrade or Downgrade macOS? Every Mac From 2006-2020
What is the Minimum or Maximum version of macOS that I can install on my Mac? Can I Upgrade or Downgrade macOS on my Mac? I list every Mac from 2006-2020.
mrmacintosh.com
Actually, the latest Intel iMac 27" models were 2020:
All Apple iMac Specs (1998-Current): EveryMac.com
Tech specs for all Apple iMac from the original to the latest (1998-Current). Dates sold, processor type, memory info, storage details, configuration options and more.
everymac.com
The 2020 iMac 27" shipped with Catalina (10.15.6).Actually, the latest Intel iMac 27" models were 2020:
View attachment 1992549
All Apple iMac Specs (1998-Current): EveryMac.com
Tech specs for all Apple iMac from the original to the latest (1998-Current). Dates sold, processor type, memory info, storage details, configuration options and more.
iMac "Core i5" 3.1 27" (5K, 2020) Specs (Retina 5K, 27-Inch, 2020, MXWT2LL/A, iMac20,1, A2115, 3442): EveryMac.com
Technical specifications for the iMac "Core i5" 3.1 27" (5K, 2020). Dates sold, processor type, memory info, hard drive details, price and more.
everymac.com
The 2020 iMac 27" shipped with Catalina (10.15.6).
iMac "Core i5" 3.1 27" (5K, 2020) Specs (Retina 5K, 27-Inch, 2020, MXWT2LL/A, iMac20,1, A2115, 3442): EveryMac.com
Technical specifications for the iMac "Core i5" 3.1 27" (5K, 2020). Dates sold, processor type, memory info, hard drive details, price and more.
View attachment 1992551
OP said that "could" run Mojave. Can you not install Mojave on a 2020 iMac if you have the installer and the know-how or does the 2020 iMac hardware have some sort of block built in to not allow this (not sure why it would)? On Apple's website, the macOS Mojave hardware requirements simply say "late 2012 or newer" for iMac. They don't give a cutoff date for the iMac year.
macOS Mojave - Technical Specifications - Apple Support
Apple does not support Mac OS versions older than what was installed during the original Mac release date. An older OS does not have the hardware drivers to support newer hardware.
There seems to be a workaround if you really want to though (haven't tried myself, so I can't verify):
Downgrading a Mac that shipped with Catalina to Mojave
Apple has started shipping Mac models that used to come with Mojave pre-installed with Catalina. If your organization has blockers for Catalina (incompatible software, etc.) you may want to install…
scriptingosx.com
In any case, I'm sure a 2019 iMac would suit the OP just as well as a 2020, so it's probably not a big deal either way.
iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2019) is the newest iMac that supports Mojave. It was originally shipped from Apple with Mojave installed (10.14.4) when the 2019 27" iMac was released. Mojave will run and is supported by Apple.
Any newer iMacs like a 2020 do not support Mojave because drivers for the hardware are not included in Mojave. The 2020 iMac was originally shipped from Apple with Catalina installed. Apple never supported Mojave on the 2020 27" iMac. DO NOT get a 2020 iMac if you want to run Mojave.
This article is referring to models that originally were shipping with Mojave but then began shipping with Catalina pre-installed instead. E.G. Catalina was installed on these models at some point in time. Similarly to how the iPhone XR originally shipped with iOS 12, but now comes with the latest version pre-installed.There seems to be a workaround if you really want to though (haven't tried myself, so I can't verify):
Downgrading a Mac that shipped with Catalina to Mojave
Apple has started shipping Mac models that used to come with Mojave pre-installed with Catalina. If your organization has blockers for Catalina (incompatible software, etc.) you may want to install…
In any case, I'm sure a 2019 iMac would suit the OP just as well as a 2020, so it's probably not a big deal either way.
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But that still means that the hardware is natively Mojave compatible, correct ?
No, only the 2019 iMac can run Mojave. There were some models where the OS got upgraded part way through the production run, and those particular models can be downgraded to whatever the original macOS version was out when they were first released. For instance, I got some 2020 iMacs that shipped with Big Sur, but needed to run Catalina for app compatibility reasons, so I downgraded them to Catalina. Those 2020 iMacs cannot run Mojave, whatsoever.
I am really confused now.
So the 2019 model runs Mojave.
I can forget about the 2020 model.
Indeed. Essentially, the 2020 models shipped with Catalina and can’t be downgraded. The 2019 models originally shipped with Mojave, so even 2019 models that later shipped with Catalina can still be downgraded back to Mojave.