A bit confused. Ordered an imac 21-5, got an 2017 model

[dma0245]

Hi all,

In the Netherlands all Imacs are not in stock, not with Apple store, not in certified suppliers. They both told me new macs were coming with the 256 ssd drive with i5. So i ordered one at Apple, waited some weeks.

Today my Imac 21.5 arrived.

But when i check the machine, it says its the 2017 model. It with an 256 ssd, so thats fine

Is this just the model they are selling now? The only one? Or did i just get an ''older'' version?

Thanks all!

my order:

IMAC 21.5"/2.3DC/CTO
PROCESSOR 2.3 GHZ DUAL CORE I5
PROCESSOR
MEMORY 8GB 2133MHZ DDR4 ONBOARD
MEM
SOLID STATE DRIVE 256GB FLASH
STORAGE
GRAPHICS INTEL IRIS GRAPHICS 640
MOUSE AND TRACKPAD MAGIC
TRACKPAD 2-INT
PRO APPS NONE
LOGIC PRO X NONE
KEYBOARD AND DOCUMENTATION
MAGIC KYBD NUM KEYPAD+UG-NLD
COUNTRY KIT COUNTRY KIT-INT
Land van oorsprong: CN

Danny

 

[DeltaMac]

Yes, you have a 2017 iMac. That's the same model that Apple has been selling since June 2017.
Apparently, Apple is still building that model.
It is the basic, non-retina iMac. The upgraded Retina 4K iMac was also introduced in June 2017, and has been upgraded to newer CPU and GPU since then. Your basic iMac is still much the same as sold for more than 3 years, although the installed macOS is probably whatever is current.
You would have some advantage (for some uses) to go back to Sierra (macOS 10.12.6), should you ever want to do that.

 

[wilberforce]

Yes, you have a 2017 iMac. That's the same model that Apple has been selling since June 2017.
Apparently, Apple is still building that model.
It is the basic, non-retina iMac. The upgraded Retina 4K iMac was also introduced in June 2017, and has been upgraded to newer CPU and GPU since then. Your basic iMac is still much the same as sold for more than 3 years, although the installed macOS is probably whatever is current.
You would have some advantage (for some uses) to go back to Sierra (macOS 10.12.6), should you ever want to do that.

Wow, I did not realize Apple is still selling non-retina models, but I just checked their website and it is true! I can't see recommending this model for anyone other than schools or kids. For $200 more (U.S.) the base retina model is vastly better.

Also be aware that rumors (or perhaps just wishful thinking) are that the 21.5" Intel iMac will be upgraded to 24" Apple Silicon iMac in early 2021, so many are holding off waiting to see if this happens. Probably with a price increase, though.

 

[BluAffiliate]

Return it ASAP.

 

[johannnn]

It didn't have SSD as default in 2017. So they must have changed that recently? I don't keep track of the 21" iMac.
Anyway, it's really cheap, so makes sense that the CPU is not the latest. But the computer should still be plenty fast due to the SSD. I'd keep it unless you have the capacity to spend more money, or wait a few months for the ARM iMac whenever that comes (and we don't know the price of it).

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

Hi all,

In the Netherlands all Imacs are not in stock, not with Apple store, not in certified suppliers. They both told me new macs were coming with the 256 ssd drive with i5. So i ordered one at Apple, waited some weeks.
Today my Imac 21.5 arrived.
But when i check the machine, it says its the 2017 model. It with an 256 ssd, so thats fine
Is this just the model they are selling now? The only one? Or did i just get an ''older'' version?

Yes, you got an "older" version of the iMac.
If it was a bargain deal (much cheaper than the 2020 iMac), then keep it.
If it is about the same price as the 2020 iMac, return it ASAP for the 2020 model. (model name must be MHK33, price around $US 1700)

 

[vjson]

Yes, you got an "older" version of the iMac.
If it was a bargain deal (much cheaper than the 2020 iMac), then keep it.
If it is about the same price as the 2020 iMac, return it ASAP for the 2020 model. (model name must be MHK33, price around $US 1700)

I think your reply and a few others here are a bit misleading. Yes, the model was introduced back in 2017, but it is still the current entry-level iMac sold by Apple, i.e. it is not discontinued, so the OP got exactly the model he ordered. As such, there is no bargain deal, and the OP did not receive an old iMac that some store happened to have in their old stock.

However, I agree that the newer 2020 model is a much better computer, and it only costs $200 more.

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

I think your reply and a few others here are a bit misleading. Yes, the model was introduced back in 2017, but it is still the current entry-level iMac sold by Apple, i.e. it is not discontinued, so the OP got exactly the model he ordered. As such, there is no bargain deal, and the OP did not receive an old iMac that some store happened to have in their old stock.

However, I agree that the newer 2020 model is a much better computer, and it only costs $200 more.

Yes, the OP might mistakingly order a 2017 model. But that's the mistake he doesn't have to live with.

I and others adviced him to return the machine (if possible) for that exact reason. Why he has to live with a 2017 model when for 200$ more he can have a much newer and better model?

 

[vjson]

Yes, the OP might mistakingly order a 2017 model. But that's the mistake he doesn't have to live with.

I and others adviced him to return the machine (if possible) for that exact reason. Why he has to live with a 2017 model when for 200$ more he can have a much newer and better model?

I totally agree with that advice! It’s very easy to get deceived by apple’s lineup and marketing, especially when everybody is talking about the new 2020 iMac. If there is a 2020 model and you buy an iMac in 2020 most people would assume that every available option will be a 2020 model

 

[wilberforce]

To avoid confusion, there is no 2020 model 21.5" iMac. There is a 2019 model (retina) and a 2017 model (non-retina). Please read this carefully:

Identify your iMac model - Apple Support

Use this information to find out which iMac you have, and where it fits in the history of iMac.

support.apple.com

Note that the number in the model identifier (like iMac18,1) is not necessarily the same as the model year (2017)