Would you buy the 2021 M1 iMac today?

[richard13]

I'm looking to do some upgrading on my current computers and my 2013 iMac is on this list. Still works great with upgraded RAM but there's some things it can't do like today's iMac models. I really like the M1 iMacs with their fun colors. But since it's been almost a year and half since their introduction I have to wonder if it's a good idea to buy one. If you had to buy one today, would you, or wait for the next release?

 

[pshufd]

No.

I like the 27 inch screens, ability to support two external displays and options for more than 16 GB RAM.

 

[0128672]

If I needed one now, yes I'd buy one. I just bought an Apple refurb M1 MBA and there are refurb iMacs there too for $200-260 off the new retail price. Of the many things I love about Apple refurbs, you can buy a CTO for a nice discount and get it with one or two day shipping.

 

[Juicy Box]

I wouldn't, unless I was desperate. I would wait until I needed something, or at least, until the next generation of AS came out and see how they do.

While the display on the M1 iMac would probably look a lot nicer, it is also smaller (assuming you have a 27").

I have a lot of iMacs, and one is a maxed out, BTO Late 2013 27", maxed out except it has a 3TB HDD (now dead HDD). The M1 Macs are faster in just about every way than the Late 2013 iMac, but I was a little disappointed by by the lack of performance increase over my Late 2012 and Late 2013 iMacs.

I was expecting a bigger leap in performance, and the M1 is definitely faster, but not nearly as much as I expected.

 

[deuxani]

I am in the same boat, I really want to upgrade but chances are in the next month or two it will get the M2 update. So I have to stay strong and resist….

 

[1user2]

I'm looking to do some upgrading on my current computers and my 2013 iMac is on this list. Still works great with upgraded RAM but there's some things it can't do like today's iMac models. I really like the M1 iMacs with their fun colors. But since it's been almost a year and half since their introduction I have to wonder if it's a good idea to buy one. If you had to buy one today, would you, or wait for the next release?

Nope, always the apple gatcha.
the unit is underpowered vs the screen it is coupled to.
those apple tricksters!
also remember the M1 chip has a security flaw on the M1 chip itself and can never be repaired.

 

[Bodhitree]

In your position I’d wait until the September and perhaps October Apple Events are over, in case they announce an M2 iMac.

But really, the 24” screen is big enough for most things. You get used to it, and unless your needs are very specific for the most screen size you won’t notice it after a while.

I’m very happy with my 24” M1 iMac, its a beautiful, snappy, very quick machine.

 

[pshufd]

In your position I’d wait until the September and perhaps October Apple Events are over, in case they announce an M2 iMac.

But really, the 24” screen is big enough for most things. You get used to it, and unless your needs are very specific for the most screen size you won’t notice it after a while.

I’m very happy with my 24” M1 iMac, its a beautiful, snappy, very quick machine.

I have 2 Dell Ultrasharp 27 inch monitors, a 5k monitor and a Dell Ultrasharp 25. I have another Ultrasharp 27 but my DisplayLink adapter doesn't support 4k. I would like to have consistency on monitor sizes and resolutions and I'm all in on 27 inches, whether Dell Ultrasharp monitors or iMacs.

 

[gpat]

It looks like the worst value of the lineup to me.
Actually it gave me that impression from day one.
Could say the same about the old 21", though.

 

[Bodhitree]

It looks like the worst value of the lineup to me.
Actually it gave me that impression from day one.
Could say the same about the old 21", though.

I thought the old 21.5” deserved its place, it was cheap and a good entry level machine.

The 24” iMac preserves what’s good about an all-in-one, it gets you good speakers, camera, and microphones and an excellent screen, on top of a computer in a minimalist no-fuss package. Plus it’s just a fun machine, in bright colours.

The downside is that once you spec up the ram and storage, it is not that far off a 14” MacBook Pro in price, and you’re still getting a base M1 processor and not the more capable M1 Pro.

 

[pshufd]

I thought the old 21.5” deserved its place, it was cheap and a good entry level machine.

The 24” iMac preserves what’s good about an all-in-one, it gets you good speakers, camera, and microphones and an excellent screen, on top of a computer in a minimalist no-fuss package. Plus it’s just a fun machine, in bright colours.

The downside is that once you spec up the ram and storage, it is not that far off a 14” MacBook Pro in price, and you’re still getting a base M1 processor and not the more capable M1 Pro.

It is hard going to the 24 when you're used to the 27.

 

[gpat]

I thought the old 21.5” deserved its place, it was cheap and a good entry level machine.

The 21" was equipped with 5400rpm hard drives from 2011 all the way to 2019.
Some were even equipped with Macbook Air logic boards... but still without the SSD.
It deserves a top place in Macintosh Hell together with the butterfly keyboard atrocities.

 

[pshufd]

The 21" was equipped with 5400rpm hard drives from 2011 all the way to 2019.
Some were even equipped with Macbook Air logic boards... but still without the SSD.
It deserves a top place in Macintosh Hell together with the butterfly keyboard atrocities.

 

[gpat]

This one even has an SSD.
Apple had already fixed its worst flaw at that point.

 

[telemoxy]

I'm looking to do some upgrading on my current computers and my 2013 iMac is on this list. Still works great with upgraded RAM but there's some things it can't do like today's iMac models. I really like the M1 iMacs with their fun colors. But since it's been almost a year and half since their introduction I have to wonder if it's a good idea to buy one. If you had to buy one today, would you, or wait for the next release?

It is still early days for Apple Silicon running macOS and there is still a chip shortage worldwide constraining Apple. In a case like that it is usually best to hold off as long as you can.

 

[Bodhitree]

Hmm yes. In its defense, I’ve seen computers like this live long and useful lives in an all-Mac office where they did email and invoice generation and basic finances. But I agree for a Mac enthusiast it is not a very good computer.

 

[andreyush]

It looks like the worst value of the lineup to me.
Actually it gave me that impression from day one.
Could say the same about the old 21", though.

It gives you a display that is better than most of the monitors that cost up to $600-700 maybe more.
It gives you M1, speakers, mics, accessories.
iMac and macbook air M1 are the best deals out there for most users.

 

[fivenotrump]

It is hard going to the 24 when you're used to the 27.

I didn't find it so. I bought the 24" last year thinking that if they later brought out a 27" I would trade up. I no longer wish for a 27" iMac: the 24" is just perfect for me.

 

[pshufd]

I didn't find it so. I bought the 24" last year thinking that if they later brought out a 27" I would trade up. I no longer wish for a 27" iMac: the 24" is just perfect for me.

It's too small for me. But I view 4k at native resolution at 27 inches. 4.5k native at 24 inches would be too small.

 

[arefbe]

I would, and I did. I bought one three weeks ago. 24" is the perfect size for my space and me. I don't regret it.

 

[rpmurray]

It is hard going to the 24 when you're used to the 27.

Agreed. You'll definitely notice it. When looking at the display your brain will be constantly reminding you that something is missing. Of course I still wish Apple would come out with an iMac with a 30 inch 8K display.

 

[wilberforce]

It is hard going to the 24 when you're used to the 27.

Especially as it is actually 23.5”.
But if you want a more compact machine it is great.

 

[Lioness~]

No, but I already bought the Mac Studio & the ASD 😁
Couldn’t be happier. More costly then an iMac I assume. But these displays are awesome, will buy another one later.
They could well last onto next Mac too. Though that will take some yrs.

I was almost in your situation, had a 2013 iMac, with worse processor, more RAM and spin disk. But I also had my MBA when I was waiting for a replacement. The small iMac 24" didn’t felt like a replacement I wanted at all.
Who knows yet if it comes a larger iMac? Maybe, we’ll see…
I won’t regret my purchase regardless though.

 

[Mac47]

I won’t downgrade my screen size. I also am not impressed with the ASD, and the Mac Studio is overpowered for my purposes. My 2017 iMac 27 is doing fine right now. I’m not a power user, just teach on Zoom. For me, the speed upgrade with M1 would be nice, but it’s not needed. But more screen real estate would be hard to resist. A 6k iMac at 32” would be an immediate buy.