iMac

27-inch model updated on August 4, 2020.

At a Glance

Apple's iMac is an ultra-thin all-in-one desktop computer with an array of build-to-order upgrades, available in 21.5- and 27-inch sizes. On August 4, 2020, the 27-inch model was updated with new Intel processors from the 10th generation, a True Tone display, a $500 nano-texture glass option, and more. The 21.5-inch model moved the same day from a 1 TB hard drive to a 256 GB SSD as the base storage option, but was last modified elsewhere in March 2019.

27-inch iMac

5120 x 2880 Retina display
Comet Lake processors
True Tone display
Improved webcam, speakers, and mics
$500 nano-texture glass option
AMD Radeon Pro graphics options
Pricing starts at $1799

21.5-inch iMac

4096 x 2304 Retina display
Coffee Lake processors
Radeon Vega Pro graphics options
Faster 2666MHz memory
Pricing starts $1299
Apple's 2020 iMac Lineup
On August 4, 2020, Apple refreshed the 27-inch iMac lineup, adding Intel 10th-generation processors, more RAM, more SSD storage, faster AMD GPUs, and show True Tone support.

The 27-inch iMac update was just an internal and display update and no significant design improvements were made to the body of the computer. The 21.5-inch iMac has not been refreshed, but it now ships with an SSD rather than a Fusion Drive by design. In March 2019, it will also continue to have the same hardware launched.

The same "ultra-thin" slim-bodied design first introduced in 2012 continues to be used by both the 21.5 and 27-inch 4K and 5K iMacs, although a new model with an updated design and Apple Silicon chip is said to be coming in 2020 or 2021.

Apple updated the 27-inch model monitor, adding True Tone feature support for the first time. For a more realistic viewing experience, True Tone adapts the white balance of the show to the lighting of the room you're in.

There is also a new option for nano-texture glass that was first brought to the Pro Display XDR and is available for an extra $500 for the iMac. Under bright lighting conditions, nano-texture glass provides better viewing and it adds a matte finish.

Apart from True Tone and nano-texture glass, the 27-inch iMac panel is otherwise unchanged. Both iMac models feature brightness of 500 nits, 1 billion colours, and P3 large colour support.

Within, Intel's 10th generation chips with up to 10 cores at the high end are fitted with the 27-inch iMac. For 65 percent faster CPU performance, Turbo Boost speeds can reach up to 5.0GHz.

In the latest 27.5-inch iMac, which is up to 55 percent faster than the GPUs in previous-generation 27-inch iMac versions, Apple added Radeon Pro 5000 graphics. For the first time, 16GB of video memory is supported by the high-end Radeon Pro 5000 option, double the memory space.

The 21.5-inch iMac is fitted with up to 6-core Intel 8th-generation processors, for up to 60% faster performance compared to the previous-generation model, along with high-end Radeon Pro Vega graphics.

Both iMacs, 21.5 and 27-inch, come standard with SSDs, and the 27-inch iMac SSDs provide up to 3.4 GB/s of fast performance. With much more storage space than before, the 27-inch computer supports up to an 8TB SSD, while the 21.5-inch iMac provides up to 1TB SSD storage.

The 27-inch iMac contains an Apple T2 Chip for extra security, which is an Apple-designed chip that offers on-the-fly data encryption, checks boot security for applications, and more.

The 27-inch iMac offers up to 128GB of fast 2666MHz RAM, twice the amount available in the model of the previous generation. Up to 32GB of fast 2666MHz RAM is supported on the 21.5-inch iMac.

Two USB-C Thunderbolt 3 ports, four USB-A ports, a headphone jack, an SD card slot, and a Gigabit Ethernet port are also included in the iMac models.

Apple is marketing a lower-end $1,099 iMac that has not been revised since 2018, offering a 2K display and an older 7th-generation processor, alongside the 2019 21.5-inch iMacs and the 2020 27-inch iMacs. In our iMac Pro roundup, Apple also has an iMac Pro built for advanced users, with specifics available.

The iMac comes with an Apple Magic Keyboard that can be upgraded to a $30 Numeric Keypad Magic Keyboard and a $50.0 Magic Mouse 2 that can be upgraded to a Magic Trackpad 2. Pricing begins at $1,799 on the 2020 27-inch iMac, while pricing begins at $1,299 on the 2019 21.5-inch iMac.

2020 27-inch iMac Reviews

Multiple media sites and YouTubers posted reviews of the machine following the launch of the iMac, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive.

Reviewers considered the iMac to be the perfect computer for working from home, with its improved 1080p camera, enhanced microphone array, and speaker upgrades.

True Tone, which tweaks the display's white balance to fit the room's ambient lighting, was well received, and most reviewers liked the inclusion of the $500 nano-texture display, although some did not think it was worth the price and worried about long-term durability.

For content creators who need a lot of strength, the 10th-generation Intel processors are blazing fast and fantastic, but there were some concerns about the lack of Touch ID and the outdated design.

Issues

Several 2020 27-inch iMac owners with a high-end computer with a Radeon Pro 5700 XT GPU have registered persistent graphics glitching. IMac owners sometimes see a white horizontal line flicker across the window, although it is not clear if the problem is based on hardware or software.

Design

Since 2012, when the slim unibody design with a razor thin 5 mm display, aluminium stand, and aluminium border at the bottom of the machine was launched, Apple has not altered the iMac design.
This configuration is used for all of the 2019 and 2020 iMac models, with a single back plug for power and rear ports for connecting accessories. There is also a rear hatch for accessing the RAM for upgrade purposes on 27-inch computers, which will continue to be present in 2020.

The 21.5-inch iMac is 17.7 inches high and 20.8 inches tall, with a standing depth of 6.9 inches and a total weight of 12.5 pounds. The 27-inch iMac is 20.3 inches high and 25.6 inches tall, with a standing depth of 8 inches and a weight of 19.7 pounds.

A wireless Apple Magic Keyboard and an Apple Magic Mouse 2 are included with all iMacs, with a Magic Trackpad 2 available as a $50 upgrade option. For an extra $30, a wireless Magic Keyboard with a Numeric Keyboard is also available.
Also available separately are iMac models equipped with built-in VESA mount adapters for mounting the iMac on a wall. Due to the extra hardware, these computers are $40 more expensive.

Display

All 4K and 5K iMac models feature displays last upgraded in 2017 with 500 nits brightness and support for 10-bit dithering and wide colour gamut. These features allow the displays to accurately reproduce up to a billion colours for more a vivid, true-to-life screen.

imacdisplay 1

Apple's 5K 27-inch iMac has a 5120 by 2880 resolution, while the 4K 21.5-inch iMac has a 4096 x 2304 resolution. With a non-Retina 1920 x 1080 display, Apple still continues to market a low-end 21.5-inch iMac.

True Tone

For the first time, the 2020 27-inch iMac supports True Tone, allowing the device's ambient light sensor to sense the lighting in the room you're in to change the display to match.

For years now, True Tone has been introduced to Apple's Macs, but this is the first time that an iMac monitor has been included. The role adjusts both the colour and the show intensity to match the lighting of the room, which can allow a more paper-like viewing experience that also cuts down on eyestrain.

True Tone makes the show more yellow a lot of the time because most room lighting tends towards warmer colours, but if needed, it is a subtle effect that can be disabled.

Nano-Texture Glass

For an extra $500, with a nano-texture glass option, which was first introduced for the Pro Display XDR, the 27-inch iMac models can be customised.

Nano-texture glass is designed to provide improved visibility, cutting down on glare under lighting conditions such as a bright room or indirect sunlight. It provides a matte finish, but the nano-texture glass features etching at the nanometer level, hence the name, unlike traditional matte finishes that use a coating on the surface to scatter light.

Apple says that nano-texture glass, though still providing stellar image quality and contrast, is designed to provide extremely low reflectivity and glare.

27-Inch iMac

The 27-inch iMacs upgraded in 2020 feature 5K displays with True Tone support, 256GB or 512GB SSDs as the standard storage option with up to 8TB updates, 10th-generation Intel processors, Radeon Pro graphics, and up to 128GB of 2666MHz DDR4 RAM support (double the amount that was offered in the prior-generation model).

In all 27-inch iMacs, 8 GB of RAM is the standard, so most people would probably want to update this or do after-market upgrades to improve performance.

All iMac models can be upgraded with faster solid state storage, higher-end processors, and improved GPUs.

CPU and GPU

Intel's 10th-generation 6-core, 8-core, and 10-core processors are fitted with Apple's 2020 27-inch iMacs that Apple claims deliver major performance improvements over the previous 8th and 9th-generation processors.

A 3.1GHz 6-core 10th-generation Intel Core i5 processor comes with the base 27-inch iMac model, while a 3.3GHz 6-core 10th-generation Intel Core i5 processor comes with the middle tier model. With a 3.8GHz 8-core 10th generation Intel Core i7 processor, the high-end model ships.

With a 3.6GHz 10-core 10th-generation Intel Core i9 processor, both the middle and high-end versions can be upgraded, and the 8 and 10-core chip options deliver up to 5.0GHz Turbo Boost.

Compared to the previous-generation 8-core model, Apple says the 10-core CPU option offers up to 65 percent better CPU output. Most assignments are also quicker:

Up to 65 percent more plug-ins in Logic Pro X.
Up to 40 percent faster 8K ProRes transcode in Final Cut Pro X.
Up to 35 percent faster rendering with Arnold in Autodesk Maya.
Up to 25 percent faster build time in Xcode.

With up to 16GB VRAM, the latest iMacs feature AMD Radeon 5000 series graphics. For the entry-level and middle-tier versions, the Radeon Pro 5300 is the standard option, while the higher-end model features a Radeon Pro 5500 XT that can be upgraded to a Radeon Pro 5700 XT.

Up to 55 percent faster rendering in Maxon Cinema 4D ProRender.
Up to 50 percent faster demo fly-through in Unity Editor.
Up to 45 percent faster performance in "Total War: Three Kingdoms."
Up to 30 percent faster timeline rendering in Final Cut Pro X.

Compared to the previous generation 3.7GHz computer, with a single-core Geekbench score of 1090 and a multi-core score of 5688, Geekbench benchmarks have indicated the entry-level 3.1GHz iMac provides 20 percent better multicore efficiency.

A single-core score of 1141 and a multi-core score of 7006, which is 36 percent faster performance compared to the previous generation iMac, were achieved by the higher-end 3.8GHz 8-core iMac.

The Radeon Pro 5300 is 40 percent faster on the iMac than the AMD Radeon Pro 570X on the 2019 machine, according to Geekbench Compute benchmarks. However it does not outperform AMD's Radeon Pro Vega 48 graphics.

T2 Chip

The 2020 27-inch iMac models feature an Apple-designed T2 chip for the first time, which has been rolled out by Apple to the entire Mac lineup. For anything stored on the SSD, the T2 chip provides on-the-fly data encryption, and it also guarantees that software loaded while booting up your Mac has not been tampered with and is free from malware.

Apple claims the most reliable storage and booting mechanism of any device is supported by the T2 chip.

SSD

The 27-inch iMacs are supplied with either 256 or 512GB SSDs, but can be upgraded to 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, or 8TB of SSD capacity. The lower-end iMac can not be upgraded, while 1TB or 2TB of capacity can be upgraded to the middle tier. The higher-end model is the only one with 4TB or 8TB SSDs that can be customised.

The flash storage of the 27 inch iMac is soldered to the logic board and can not be removed, although a flash storage expansion board is connected to a connector on the logic board for 4TB and 8TB configurations. There are no expansion boards and connectors in the 256GB, 51GBB, 1TB, and 2TB configurations, and there are also no SATA connectors on the logic board to support the mechanical HDD.

The flash storage and the logic board are combined together for hardware encryption, according to Apple, which can result in data loss if the logic board is replaced. Daily backups are advised.

Available Models

$1,799 - 3.1GHz 6-core 10th-generation Intel Core i5 processor with Turbo Boost up to 4.5GHz, 8GB 2666MHz DDR4 RAM, 256GB SSD, Radeon Pro 5300 with 4GB VRAM.
$1,999 - 3.3GHz 6-core 10th-generation Intel Core i5 processor with Turbo Boost up to 4.8GHz, 8GB 2666MHz DDR4 RAM, 512GB SSD, Radeon Pro 5300 with 4GB VRAM.
$2,299 - 3.8GHz 8-core 10th-generation Intel Core i5 processor with Turbo Boost up to 5.0GHz, 8GB 2666MHz DDR4 RAM, 512GB SSD, Radeon Pro 5500XT with 8GB VRAM.

Build-to-Order Options

For an additional amount, as illustrated below, graphics, memory and storage can all be upgraded on the 27-inch iMac models. On 27-inch iMac models, RAM is accessible and can be updated with packages from companies such as OWC after purchase, which is worth knowing for those who want to save money on memory upgrades. For $500, all the iMacs can be upgraded with nano-texture glass.

Upgrade options for $1,799 iMac:

16GB RAM - +$200
32GB RAM - +$600
64GB RAM - +$1,000
128GB RAM - +$2,600
10Gb Ethernet - +$100

Upgrade options for $1,999 iMac:

3.6GHz 10-Core 10th-Gen chip - +$500
16GB RAM - +$200
32GB RAM - +$600
64GB RAM - +$1,000
128GB RAM - +$2,600
1TB SSD - +$200
2TB SSD - +$600
10Gb Ethernet - +$100

Upgrade options for $2,299 iMac:

3.6GHz 10-Core 10th-Gen chip - +$400
Radeon Pro 5700 - +$300
Radeon Pro 5700 XT - +$500
16GB RAM - +$200
32GB RAM - +$600
64GB RAM - +$1,000
128GB RAM - +$2,600
1TB SSD - +$200
2TB SSD - +$600
4TB SSD - +$1,200
8TB SSD - +$2,400
10Gb Ethernet - +$100

A high-end iMac with every available upgrade (except for peripherals) is priced at $8,799.

21.5-Inch iMac

Two models of the 21.5-inch iMac are sold by Apple: a $1,099 model with a slower processor and a non-Retina display that did not see updates in 2019, and a more costly 2019 model that includes a faster processor and a 4K display.

ay.

215inchimac

The monitor of the 4K 21.5-inch iMac has a resolution of 4096 x 2304, and like the 5K iMac, it has brightness of 500 nits and large colour support for vivid, vibrant colours

.
Apple updated the iMac lineup with SSDs in August 2020 as the default storage option, but as a purchasing option, regular Fusion Drives continue to be available. With up to 1TB of SSD storage, 21.5-inch iMacs can be upgraded.

With up to 32 GB of faster 2666 MHz RAM, both the middle tier and high-end K iMacs can be upgraded, but all versions ship with 8 GB RAM as normal. As with the 27-inch iMac, with two TB3 ports available alongside a number of other ports, Thunderbolt 3 is standard on the 21.5-inch machine.

CPU and GPU

With the exception of the base model that does not have a 4K display, the 21.5-inch iMac models use Intel's 8th-generation Coffee Lake chips. In 2019, this computer was not refreshed and continues to use an older Intel 7th-generation processor.

As for the 4K versions, the mid-tier machine ships with a Core i3 chip of the 8th generation quad-core 3.6GHz, while the higher-end machine has a Core i5 chip of the 8th generation 6-core 3.0GHz. With a 3.2 GHz 8th generation 6-core Core i7chip, both versions can be upgraded.

The latest 8th-generation chips in the 21.5-inch iMacs 2019 deliver up to 60 percent faster performance, according to Apple.

For the 21.5-inch 4K iMac models, improvements are more modest than the 27-inch models, but are still important in the Geekbench benchmarks. Single-core output is up 5 to 10 percent, while multi-core output has risen by 10 to 50 percent.

2019imac4ksinglecore

2019imac4kmulticore

As the underlying 14-nanometer architecture has not been revised, efficiency improvements in the 2019 iMac models are attributed to higher frequencies and core counts.

Instead the lower-end 4K iMac is fitted with a 2GB VRAM Radeon Pro 555X, while the higher-end K iMac has a 4GB VRAM Radeon Pro 560X. With quicker Radeon Pro Vega 20 graphics, the higher-end model can be upgraded.

There is no discrete graphics option on the lower-end non-Retina 21.5-inch iMac and uses Intel's integrated Iris Plus Graphics 640.

Available Models

$1,099 - 2K display, 2.3GHz 7th-Gen dual-core Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB 2133MHz RAM, 256GB SSD, Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640
$1,299 - 4K display, 3.6GHz 8th-Gen quad-core Intel Core i3 processor, 8GB 2666MHz DDR4 RAM, 256GB SSD, Radeon Pro 555X w/ 2GB VRAM
$1,499 - 4K display, 3.0GHz 6-core 8th-Gen Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB 2666MHz DDR4 RAM, 256GB SSD, Radeon Pro 560X w/ 4GB VRAM

Build-to-Order Options

With additional RAM, the low-end non-4K iMac can be upgraded, although with faster processors, more RAM, and improved storage options, 4K iMacs can be upgraded. With Radeon Pro Vega 20 graphics, the higher-end K iMac can be modified. All 21.5-inch iMacs are now standard with an SSD storage option.

Upgrade options for $1,099 non-4K iMac:

16GB RAM - +$200
1TB Fusion Drive - No Cost

Upgrade options for $1,299 4K iMac:

3.2GHz 6-core Intel Core i7 processor - +$300
16GB RAM - +$200
32GB RAM - +$600
1TB Fusion Drive - No Cost
512GB SSD - +$200
1TB SSD - +$400

Upgrade options for $1,499 4K iMac:

3.2GHz 6-core Intel Core i7 processor - +$200
Radeon Pro Vega 20 w/ 4GB VRAM - +$350
16GB RAM - +$200
32GB RAM - +$600
1TB Fusion Drive - No Cost
512GB SSD - +$200
1TB SSD - +$400

A fully updated top-of-the-line K iMac is priced at $3,049 with all possible upgrades. The 4K iMac RAM is not as easy to access as the 5K iMac RAM, but it can still be updated after purchase.

Other iMac Features

Thunderbolt 3

Both iMac models are fitted with two Thunderbolt 3 ports that can drive a single 60Hz 5K external display, two 60Hz 4K UHD displays, or two 60Hz 4K displays.

Hz.

imacrearports

DisplayPort, Thunderbolt (up to 40Gb/s), USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10Gb/s) and Thunderbolt 2, HDMI, DVI, and VGA adapters are supported on Thunderbolt 3 ports.

Other Ports

All iMacs include a 3.5mm headphone jack, an SD card slot, four USB 3 ports, a Gigabit Ethernet port, and a Kensington lock slot.

Camera, Speakers and Microphone

On all iMac models, there is a front-facing FaceTime HD camera. A 1080p FaceTime HD camera is supported on the 27-inch iMac, while the 21.5-inch iMac is fitted with a 720p FaceTime HD Camera.

To provide a much higher quality camera experience, an image signal processor in the 27-inch iMac provides tone mapping, exposure control, and face detection.

Stereo speakers and a built-in microphone are included in all iMac versions, but Apple introduced changes to the 27-inch iMac in 2020.

In the 27-inch iMac, Apple says the T2 chip works with the speakers to allow variable EQ for enhanced balance, higher fidelity, and deeper bass. There's also a new microphone array with studio quality that helps users to capture high-quality audio.

Connectivity

802.11ac Wi-Fi, backwards compatible with 802.11a/b/g/n, is supported by the iMac. Bluetooth 5.0 technology is supported on the 27-inch iMac, while Bluetooth 4.2 is supported on the 21.5-inch iMac.

How to Buy

The 2019 and 2020 iMacs can be purchased from the Apple online store and from Apple retail stores.

What's Next for the iMac

Apple is experimenting on a refreshed concept on an iMac, which will be the first design update since 2012 that the iMac has seen. Rumors say that the latest Mac will use the "iPad Pro design language" and will have thinner bezels similar to the Pro Display XDR bezels.

iPac Pro Mac Pad XDR

The new iMac will be fitted with an Apple Silicon chip rather than an Intel chip, which can be measured at 23 or 24 inches. In November 2020, in order to get an Apple Silicon update, Apple updated the 13-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook Air with Apple Silicon M1 chips, and the iMac is rumoured to be next on the list.

A 23 or 24 inch iMac will likely be physically the same size as the current 21.5 inch iMac, with the larger display supported by smaller bezels. In either the fourth quarter of 2020 or early 2021, a new iMac with a new design and an Apple Silicon chip may arrive.