If you’re ready to invest in a new desktop computer, you’re in for a huge treat. Apple has released
two new iMac machines to make your decision all the more challenging. It isn’t an unusual predicament for Apple fans, but that doesn’t make it easier, especially when the offerings are this good. When so much of the world has turned to laptops, tablets, and smartphones, it’s always exciting to see what desktop designers do to satisfy digital traditionalists who love an iMac setup.
As of 2020, Apple was still selling 21.5-inch and 27-inch iMacs, but the company was priming them with new Intel chips and solid-state drives (SSDs). The 27-inch iMac still had the better display and most computing power.
The big question on everyone’s minds now is whether and how well the new M1 iMac will stand up to any iteration of the Intel iMac. Both versions will cost well into the mid-one-thousand dollar range, so make sure you find the
best extended computer warranty to keep your Apple machine safe and running.
Let’s take a look at the brand-new M1 iMac vs Intel iMac to see which one is the right choice to serve your needs.
The 2020 Intel iMac: Apple Saved the Best for Last
Launched in August 2020, the 27-inch iMac was the last Intel version of this popular computer line. The brand decided to start selling Mac products using Apple Silicon inside for their next release. Customers who realized the future shift wondered if buying the last Intel iMac was the right choice, or if they should wait until the M1 arrived on the scene.
iMore discussed this question in detail, noting these improvements for the M1 iMac:
- Increased speed
- Matte screen option
- 1080p webcam
- SSD
- True Tone display
In the online magazine’s estimation, the only downsides to the Intel machine were its lack of Apple Silicon and no new design from the previous model. However, it would make sense that the Apple team let the design stand for one last Intel model.
Here are a few included specifications you might like to know about the 2020 Intel iMac:
- 256GB or 512GB SSD storage as the standard
- 8GB RAM as standard, but it’s possible to add more
- Radeon Pro 5300 or 5500 TX graphics card
- Intel’s 10th-generation processor, featuring either six or eight cores
People wondered whether it was a good idea to buy this machine upon its release in August 2020, so you might wonder why it’s even a consideration as the M1 becomes available.
Here are a few things to consider when trying to decide whether to give the last Intel iMac one last chance:
- Do you like or prefer Intel to other processors, generally?
- Are you worried about adopting the M1 at an early phase of its production while Apple works out any potential issues?
- Do you want to run Windows on your hard drive?
The last Intel iMac is an excellent computer. The price difference between the two isn’t huge, so the main factor might come down to whether you’re excited about trying out the new Apple Silicon technology.
The M1 iMac Is Here and Ready for a Test Drive
Touted as a
system on a chip, the buzz for the new M1 iMac has been going on for well over a year now, and people are ready to see what it can do. The driving question for most Apple fans and industry professionals is whether
the M1 chip is really faster than Intel chips. Apple reports that it will be two times faster than the last Intel iMac so that you can expect speedy productivity.
Here are some quick details about this highly anticipated addition to the Apple family of desktops:
- .43-inches thick, making it the thinnest iMac ever, disappearing when looking at it from the side
- Volume is about 50% less than previous models
- 4 USB-C ports and 2 Thunderbolt ports on the back
- 1080p webcam with FaceTime HD for high-quality video in low light
- Improved camera quality with better noise reduction
- Two pairs of force-canceling woofer speakers
- New keyboard and Touch ID
- 4.5K Retina Display
- Wi-Fi 6
- Broad color range to bring the fun back to iMac, including blue, green, pink, silver, yellow, orange, purple (white bezels)
So, Which iMac is Right for You?
With comparable pricing, you might find it difficult to choose between the two iMacs. It might come down to the speed or colorful take on this classic machine. The most important factor is that you’re getting quality, regardless of what you choose.
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