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All Apple PCs should have user-replaceable RAM, storage, and high-end PCs should have user-replaceable processors and graphics cards.

Sadly, but probably Apple want eager to get rid all upgradable components from main lineup of MacBook and iMac when arm transition complete, with exception probably only Mac Pro which retain access to main internals.

Even with current Mac Pro accessible components user still need to shell out additional cash like power cable or storage drive tray which isn't included by default and deal with exorbitant for such peripheral, shame.
 
Do we know why they are so ridiculous, aside from the fact they are Apple?

This is much ado about nothing. Memory has always been more expensive when customizing a new computer.

Apple charges less for memory upgrades than Dell and most other manufacturers. On a Precision 7820, for example, it costs $2,018.62 to go from 32Gb to 128GB. HP charges $3,220 to do the same on a Z8 workstation.
 
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Apple yesterday announced a new 27-inch iMac with faster 10th-generation Intel Core processor options, next-generation AMD graphics, and up to a whopping 128GB of RAM.

new-27-inch-imac-2020.jpg

To max out the RAM at checkout, Apple charges an additional $2,600, which is like buying another whole iMac. Fortunately, the memory in the 27-inch iMac is user-replaceable thanks to the easily-accessible memory backdoor slot, and there are far more affordable options available from third parties.

OWC offers 128GB of DDR4 PC4-21300 RAM that's compatible with the 27-inch iMac. The total cost on Amazon is $599.99, or $2,000 less than Apple charges its customers. These are the OWC memory upgrade kits available, compared to the prices that you'd pay when purchasing an iMac from Apple:
Apple provides instructions for users wanting to install memory in an iMac. Note that the RAM in the 21.5-inch iMac models, which were not updated yesterday, is not user-accessible.

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Article Link: Third-Party RAM for 27-inch iMac Still Far More Affordable Than Apple's Checkout Upgrade Options

Well...yeah.

£600 to get to 32 gigs?

When I can get it £140 or less elsewhere?

Azrael.
 
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It's this kind of stuff - especially in the laptops where this is not an option, that really sours me on Apple. It's profiteering (hey, I run a business too - but I run a "reasonable" profit and do things pro bono when I feel it's right)

"Reasonable" profit? That's how you run a business? 🤦‍♂️
 
There's a good reason right there to buy the last intel iMac. Yeah you're gonna have bezels that are huge and you're going to have less power per watt efficiency but Apple is going to support this thing for the next 5-7 years at least. I believe I read Mac OS will support intel for 5 years after the last intel Mac is replaced so buy with confidence, get your cheap RAM and max this baby out.
 
But I thought Apple was different and better than everyone else :oops:

Really unsure what your point here is...
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Wrong. There is an access panel on the 27in. which allows you to easily upgrade your own RAM. There is no such access panel on the 21in. iMac, which is dumb.

That’s RAM, the question was about the SSD...
 
This is really quite useful, thanks. It's incredible to see how this is everywhere in all of our purchase decisions, not just with Apple.
 
The fact that Apple can charge these markups is why they are the most valuable company in the world.
I don't know how they manage to keep a straight face when they promote these prices.
Turns out there’s an entire customer segment that wants to deal with neither figuring which sticks to buy nor opening a computer and playing with the innards. Also turns out that the convenience of doing all that with a click at checkout is worth, at least to them, exactly what Apple charges. Economics is funny that way.
 
The modules are installed by Swedish virgins during the full moon. It's really hard to get clear sky and full moon in Sweden. Even harder to find virgins.
This might be one of the absolute best responses to "why Apple RAM is so expensive" I've ever read.
 
It literally isn't.

There is no short term price increase, there is no short term supply constraint or elevated demand, and there are other available products that perform the same requirements. This does not meet the definition of price gouging in any aspect.

It's just expensive.

Fine, it's long term price gouging. When end users can get the same amount for a quarter of the price (not including what's already preinstalled as base 8gb ram), after the manufacturer, distributor, and the end seller make their profit, then it's price gouging.

They're industry standard SO-DIMMS that have been around for ages. It's not new or anything Apple specific.

The only saving grace is that they are still user upgradeable in the 27" iMac, so only the truly uneducated sheep would pay for the upgrades during checkout. But that will be ending with Apple Silicon Macs for sure.
 
Does anyone know if this is the same Ram from the 2019 model or different? I just ordered a 27" and want to upgrade the ram myself through someone like OWC ... Just wanted to make sure before I buy the chips.
 
We all know this ... i mean, it's Apple and their usual shinanigans ...

But here in Europe (portugal for me, actually) it's getting ridiculous:
- upgrading the 16" MBP top model from 16GB to 32GB is +500€ (592$ usd)
- upgrading the 27" iMac top model from 8GB to 32GB is +750€ (889$ usd)

I'm sadly considering ditching my old "work horse"MBP (i7 from late 2013) for a Surface Book 3 .... i will feel the pain of loosing my beloved Mac OS .... but we are talking about a 500$ usd difference minimum ... and i still get a tablet (although probably a bad 15" windows table).

It's very sad the way Apple treats us european customers ...
 
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Also if you upgrade 3rd party it means you get to keep the 8GB of RAM that comes with the system and since there are 4 slots you can always keep the 8GB in and have additional RAM.
This is what I did. Leave the 8GB (2x4) in, plus add 16GB (2x8) in the other two slots for a total of 24GB. A pair of slots should have matching sizes, but there does not have to be a match between each pair.
 
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