The new iMac has impressed both for its exterior design and for its interior design, with the incredible M1 processor from Apple. But if you don’t know what the differences are between this new model and the previous one, here is a complete comparison between the iMac 2021 and the previous iMac 2020.
Key Specification
| New iMac 2021 | iMac 2020 | |
| Brand | iMac | iMac |
| Model | iMac 24 M1 Chip | iMac 27 |
| Gaming Monitor | No | No |
| Webcam | User Facing1080p | User Facing1080p |
| Weight | 4.46 kg | 8.94 kg |
| Colour | Silver, Blue, Green, Pink, Orange, Purple, Yellow | Grey |
| Dimension | 546.1 x 459.7 x 147.3 mm | 650.2 x 515.6 x 203.2 mm |
| Power Consumption | 143 W | 45 W |
One of the main novelties is the design change. The previous iMac had a curved design in the rear area where the large fan and motherboard should be located.
The bottom of the iMac of 2020 and previous years was 17.5 cm, the new iMac of 2021 only occupies 1.15 cm of depth. This is achieved because the entire computer is in the lower frame.
- IMac 2021 Dimensions and Weight : 46.1 cm H x 54.7 cm and 4.48 kg.
- 2020 iMac Dimensions and Weight : 45cm H x 52.8cm and 5.48kg.
In addition to the differences in size and thickness, there is also a key change in colors. The iMac was so far available in silver, but the new 2021 iMac arrives in blue, green, pink, silver, yellow, orange, and purple. Also, we don’t have the apple in the front area, and the frame is now white instead of black.
Processor and specs
This major design change is mainly due to the change in specifications and processors. Using your own processor designs makes the iMac so slim.
- IMac 2021 processor: M1 chip with 8 cores and 16 GB of unified memory.
- IMac 2020 Processor: Intel Core i5 or i7 chip with up to 6 cores and up to 32GB of memory.
Another main difference is that the new iMac from 2021 supports SSD storage of up to 2TB, while the previous model only reached 1TB of capacity.
Finally, we have the new 1080p FaceTime camera, which improves substantially on the archaic 720p front camera that iMac equipped with until now.
Design
The minimalist design of the iMac (2020) versus the colorful iMac (2021). What has Apple changed?
First, the colors. You just can’t help but pay attention to them: seven bright colors are just the exact opposite of what we have been offered all these years. The new iMac is just an explosion of spring colors and a return to G3 design. If you want something a little less flashy, you can opt for a silver iMac, but why limit yourself when there are so many beautiful shades available? By the way, all seven are only available in more premium configurations. If you want a basic one, you will have to limit yourself to a choice of four colors. The iMac (2020), on the other hand, is no-nonsense minimalism available in just one silver color.
Secondly, a completely redesigned form. Unfortunately, not frameless, as the designers drew on concepts. But quite interesting. Apple changed the black frame to white, redesigned the curved leg, reduced the chin, and removed the logo.
Comparing these two models in design, it is difficult to decide which one is best for you. On the one hand, a solid iMac (2020) will look good on the desktop in the office, on the other hand, the iMac (2021) will brighten up everyday life, it will be a pleasure to work with it.
Picture/Display
| New iMac 2021 | iMac 2020 | |
| Display Type | IPS-Type LCD | IPS-Type LCD |
| Size | 23.5 inch | 27 inch |
| Touchscreen | No | No |
| Curved | No | No |
| Finish | Glossy with Anti-Reflective Coating | Matte |
| Aspect ratio | 16:9 | 16:9 |
| Resolution | 4480 x 2520 pixel | 5120 x 2880 pixel |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
The Retina display on the 2020 iMac was spectacular with a 4K resolution of 4,096 x 2,304 pixels, 500 nits of brightness, and a wide color gamut (P3). But the new model improves these specifications, improving both size and resolution and new technologies.
- IMac 2021Â display: 24-inch 4.5K Retina display, 4,480 x 2,520 pixels, 500 nit brightness, wide color gamut (P3), and True Tone.
- IMac 2020Â display: 21.5-inch Retina 4K display, 4,096 x 2,304 pixels, 500 nits brightness and wide color gamut (P3).
Performance
The 27-inch iMac seems like a better buy in terms of performance because it has more customization options. This capability in the 2021 iMac is quite limited via the M1.
Baseline Radeon Pro 5300 GPU with 4GB GDDR6 memory. The amount of configurable RAM was also larger: configurable up to 128GB of RAM and 8TB SSD. Speaking of processors, the base 2020 iMac can be bought with a 10th Gen 6-core Core i5, clocked at 3.1GHz and 4.5GHz Turbo Boost.
For the new iMac, Apple has offered two different versions of the M1, as for the MacBook Air. Both use an 8-core processor with four performance cores and four efficiency cores and a 16-core Neural Engine, but the base-level model has a 7-core GPU; the next one has an 8-core version. That being said, you can only install 8GB or 16GB of RAM and up to 2TB SSD.
It looks pretty limited, but the price of the iMac (2021) justifies it. In addition, according to Apple, the M1 is more powerful than Intel processors. Therefore, there should be no problems with the work. But everything, of course, needs to be tested at work.
The graphics capabilities also point in favor of the 27-inch iMac, as it can handle two external 6K 60Hz displays and an integrated screen. By comparison, a 24-inch iMac can only handle one external 60Hz display.
Connectivity
| New iMac 2021 | iMac 2020 | |
| DisplayPort | 1.4 x 1 | 1.2 x 1 |
| Audio Output | 3.5 mm | 3.5 mm |
| HDCP | No | No |
| USB-C | 2 x Thunderbolt 3 / USB4 | Type-A x 4 |
| RJ45 | No | No |
| Memory Card Slots | No | Yes |
| Built-in Speakers | 6 | 2 |
| Wi-Fi | No | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac); Dual-Band (2.4 & 5 GHz) |
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In terms of connections, it must be recognized that the new iMac offers better technologies, but fewer different types of options. All the connectors are via USB-C, and there are differences between the entry-level iMac 2021 and the higher models.
- Inbound iMac 2021 connections: Two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports, configurable with Gigabit Ethernet.
- IMac 2021 connections: two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports, two USB 3 ports, and Gigabit Ethernet.
- IMac 2020 connections: Two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports, Four USB-A ports, Gigabit Ethernet, an SDXC card slot.
The new iMac and the previous ones are also available with a 3.5 mm headphone jack, although in the new model it is located on one side. As for wireless connections, these are the ones we have:
- IMac 2021 Wireless Connections: Wi-Fi 802.11ax (6th gen.) And Bluetooth 5.0.
- IMac 2020 Wireless Connections: Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.2.
IMacs have always had good speakers and a good microphone, audio is one of the keys to an all-in-one computer. And with the iMac 2021, we have seen a very important leap, equivalent to that given in other aspects such as the screen or the design.
- IMac 2021 Speakers and Microphone: Hi-Fi six-speaker system with force-canceling woofers, wide stereo sound, and spatial audio support when playing video with Dolby Atmos. Studio-quality three-microphone array with high signal-to-noise ratio and directional beamforming technology.
- IMac 2021 Speakers and Microphone: Stereo speakers and microphone.
The built-in webcam in the 27-inch Intel iMac is 1080p. The 24-inch has the same 1080p camera, but now it uses the M1 and the Neural Engine for image enhancement, better noise reduction, and improved auto exposure.
The new iMac has received an updated Magic Keyboard with Touch ID. At the same time, the basic version comes with a regular keyboard, which must be additionally purchased for $ 50. When premium versions already include a new keyboard, and you can purchase an extended version.
Power
| New iMac 2021 | iMac 2020 | |
| Power On | 100-240VAC,50/60Hz | 100-240VAC,50/60Hz |
| Power Supply | 143 W | External |
As for the price, Apple has lowered the price of the iMac 2021. The 2021 iMac now starts at $ 1,449 with the M1 chip and two USB4 ports. The previous entry model with Intel Core i3 started at 1,810 USD.
If we go to the second step, the iMac 2021 with two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports and two USB 3 ports with an M1 chip starts at 2,000 USD when the 2020 model with Intel Core i5 started 2,051 USD.
Conclusion!
Without a doubt, the iMac 2021 is one of the most important leaps that the iMac has ever made—a new design, with new internal specifications and many improvements, at a lower price.
The arrival of the new iMac (2021) on Apple Silicon was only a matter of time. Apple decided not to delay with this and present it in the spring. But due to the rather limited configuration options, the update came out completely not as we hoped. Yes, the new monoblocks look interesting, many different small details, please, but the characteristics (especially the memory) are a little frustrating.
The old iMac 2020 looks somehow more impressive than its new sibling, with the ability to configure up to 8TB SDD and 128GB of RAM. And, given the fact that such devices are usually taken, not just “put on the table and watch YouTube,” such characteristics may not play into the hands of the update.
