I have a 27" iMac (2013) that's getting long in the tooth, what are my replacement choices

[YMark]

I have a 27" iMac that I'm looking to upgrade. Unfortunately, Apple no longer makes a 27" iMac. Besides personal use, I use this iMac to remote in to my work laptop via Citrix. Laptop is Windows based. This way I can use my 27" monitor instead of laptop screen.

Is my only Apple alternative a 24"? I'm actually thinking of going to a Windows based (maybe a Surface) and purchasing a large monitor. I also have a MacBook that is a bit old, so the Surface could replace both items. That might be insanity though. Any suggestions from the forum crowd?

Thanks

 

[MPclk2006]

I just bought a 27 inch 2020 imac at the on base store (just retired Army) for 50% off, their reasoning was it was missing mouse. I opened the box when I got home and mouse was there.

 

[casperes1996]

There's the 2020 (I own this and it's great)
There's a Mac Studio/Mini + display (if all Apple then Studio Display) - Separate display and computer means more flexible upgrading of either, so you don't have to replace a perfectly fine and lovely 5K display because the computer within is slowing.
There's waiting a bit longer to see if rumours hold for a larger iMac still in the works.
And of course there's the laptops, like getting a 14/16" MacBook Pro and possibly a display to go with too

 

[YMark]

There's the 2020 (I own this and it's great)
There's a Mac Studio/Mini + display (if all Apple then Studio Display) - Separate display and computer means more flexible upgrading of either, so you don't have to replace a perfectly fine and lovely 5K display because the computer within is slowing.
There's waiting a bit longer to see if rumours hold for a larger iMac still in the works.
And of course there's the laptops, like getting a 14/16" MacBook Pro and possibly a display to go with too

Where can you purchase a 2020, and is it NEW?

 

[casperes1996]

Where can you purchase a 2020, and is it NEW?

You may be able to find new old stuck at third party sellers like Amazon. It depends on where you are from. You may also be able to find a refurbished model from Apple which is "good as new" but not exactly new. - They are not produced anymore but are the last 27" model that was made and can be rather good with 10th gen Intel chips and Radeon Pro 5xxx GPUs

 

[bluespark]

I have a 27" iMac that I'm looking to upgrade. Unfortunately, Apple no longer makes a 27" iMac. Besides personal use, I use this iMac to remote in to my work laptop via Citrix. Laptop is Windows based. This way I can use my 27" monitor instead of laptop screen.

Is my only Apple alternative a 24"? I'm actually thinking of going to a Windows based (maybe a Surface) and purchasing a large monitor. I also have a MacBook that is a bit old, so the Surface could replace both items. That might be insanity though. Any suggestions from the forum crowd?

Thanks

I replaced my old 27" iMac with a MacBook Pro plus a Studio Display. Couldn't be happier -- it's the best of all worlds to have an iMac-like experience with the computer in clamshell mode, but to be able to unplug and take the computer on the go when I want to.

A MacBook Air would also work just fine with a Studio Display, depending on how much power you need.

 

[casperes1996]

A MacBook Air would also work just fine with a Studio Display, depending on how much power you need.

And if the portability gives you no benefit at all, a Mac mini would be slightly better (in terms of sustained performance) and cheaper.

 

[EugW]

Since you have a fully functional 2013 27" iMac, which IMO is still a nice machine (if it has SSD), I say hold off until spring and then decide. Rumour has it that is when the new M2 Mac minis and other Macs may be released.

 

[YMark]

There's the 2020 (I own this and it's great)
There's a Mac Studio/Mini + display (if all Apple then Studio Display) - Separate display and computer means more flexible upgrading of either, so you don't have to replace a perfectly fine and lovely 5K display because the computer within is slowing.
There's waiting a bit longer to see if rumours hold for a larger iMac still in the works.
And of course there's the laptops, like getting a 14/16" MacBook Pro and possibly a display to go with too

How bout this (crazy) thought..... if I was to purchase a MacBook Air, could I use my current 27" iMac as a monitor with the Air?

 

[EugW]

How bout this (crazy) thought..... if I was to purchase a MacBook Air, could I use my current 27" iMac as a monitor with the Air?

No. For that 2013 iMac, the source computer must be a 2019 or earlier running Catalina or earlier.

 

[Juicy Box]

I have the M1 Mac Mini, with 16GB RAM and 1TB Storage.

The M1 MM is a great deal, even with the base model. With current retail prices, it is the cheapest Mac Apple has ever sold when adjusted for inflation. Not only that, it is the fastest entry-level Mac Apple has ever sold, having more single-core performance than any Mac prior to its release.

You can sometimes find the base model for sale sub-$500. A few months ago, someone on the forum was asking advice if a used $350 M1 Mac Mini on Craigslist was a good deal.

But, once you start adding options like more RAM and larger storage, the deals tend to be less common.

As for performance, the M1 MM tends to be faster than the M1 MBP, M1 MBA, and M1 iMac in test results. This is with single-core, multi-core, and GPU related tasks, so the M1 MM tends to be the best among the non M1 Max and M1 Pro M1 Macs.

If adding a monitor, keyboard, and mouse, the M1 MM loses some of its price advantages, as you could get all those things with a M1 iMac purchase, and the display in the iMac is probably a lot better than what you can find at your local Best Buy.

At least you could get a monitor size that better fits your needs.

I have a 27" iMac that I'm looking to upgrade.

Are you having problems with your iMac or are you replacing it just because it is old?

If you are having a problem, maybe we could assist with a solution, maybe even just a temporary one until Apple releases the rumored 27" AS iMac.

 

[Juicy Box]

How bout this (crazy) thought..... if I was to purchase a MacBook Air, could I use my current 27" iMac as a monitor with the Air?

Only if the MBA is an Intel, at least with Target Display Mode. The AS Macs won't work with a compatible iMac in Target Display Mode.

There are other solutions, but not as good as an actual wired connection (TDM), such as screen sharing, and third party solutions like Luna Display.

 

[GMShadow]

Amazon cleared out the base 27" iMac 5K's last year (which is when I bought one, for $1300), but as time goes on you'll be buying an increasingly short macOS update window. We don't know how long the Intel Macs will get updates but it definitely won't be 9 years. Just something to keep in mind.

That said it's $1299 from the Apple Refurb Store, though it's only 256GB of non-upgradeable storage (the RAM can still be upgraded easily). A model with 512GB is $1439, and you can always use externals since they have a lot of ports for it.

 

[bluespark]

And if the portability gives you no benefit at all, a Mac mini would be slightly better (in terms of sustained performance) and cheaper.

True. And FWIW, while I love the 24" iMac for what it is, at the larger size I don't think I'd go back to an all-in-one. The Mac-plus-Studio Display works every bit as seamlessly IMO, and you're much better off from a future-proofing perspective. Decide you want a newer computer? Just get one and plug it in.

 

[Misheemee]

how much memory do you have in your 27 iMac? is it worth looking at upgrading the memory with some cheap RAM to get you through to the spring when new Macs are released? Upgrading the Ram is simply opening the door at the base of the iMac display, popping the old RAM out, and popping new RAM in.

While I'm sure you can find a deal on the 2020 iMac - my one hesitation is that it's an Intel chip - it's not an Mxx chip, and it won't be long before Apple drops support for the Intel Macs

 

[960design]

MacMini and Huawei MateView

M1 Version

Mac mini - Technical Specifications

See all the technical specifications for Mac mini with the M4 or M4 Pro chip.

www.apple.com

MateView Specs

HUAWEI Monitors - HUAWEI Global

Explore the latest technologies in monitors with Huawei. Check out HUAWEI MateView, HUAWEI MateView GT, HUAWEI Display 23.8''... Buy and get support from Huawei.

consumer.huawei.com

I went from iMac 27" to iMac 24" last year. The smaller display is noticeable for my work flow, even after a year of adapting. The 27" just worked for what I needed. The 24" is noticeably faster than the 27" intel based iMac.

My next update, I'm going with the solution above.
I currently have a couple of MacMinis in the office running on 4k TVs.
While they look fantastic from over 10 feet away, not so good at the 3-5 foot range.

 

[Jumpthesnark]

I currently have a couple of MacMinis in the office running on 4k TVs.
While they look fantastic from over 10 feet away, not so good at the 3-5 foot range.

But isn't the Huawei also 4K? It's got a lower resolution than a 5K (such as the Studio Display), and it's also 3x2 instead of widescreen.

But if you've tried the Huawei in person, let me know what you think. As my 27" iMac is also getting old, I'm looking at eventual replacement, possibly a Mini + monitor (if there's no announcement of a 27" iMac reincarnation next year) and I'd love a monitor that delivers quality but costs less than the Studio Display.

 

[profcutter]

You could do the LG 5k display and either a mini or a studio, depending on your needs.

 

[ThrowerGB]

There's some good advice and good alternatives here. The advice about going with Apple Silicon is important While Apple is usually reasonable about maintaining older software, I made the lead to M series because I wanted to future proof. I just transitioned from a 2017 27" iMac.
My other though is that if all you're doing on your iMac is logging onto a computer at work, then the work computer is doing the heavy lifting and the local machine could be minimal in terms of memory, CPU, etc. Although you'll want to make sure it's ethernet & WiFi speeds are enough to satisfy you for the next 9 years.

 

[EugW]

The advice about going with Apple Silicon is important While Apple is usually reasonable about maintaining older software, I made the lead to M series because I wanted to future proof. I just transitioned from a 2017 27" iMac.

Heh. I'm keeping my 2017 27" iMac until the bitter end.

I figure Ventura is the last macOS version it gets, until late 2023, but then it will get two more years of security and Safari updates, until late 2025. So, it will still be secure for 3 more years.

However, my CPU power needs are not high. I just need moderate amounts of memory, and its 24 GB RAM is sufficient. Also, in my case I will probably just pass it down to the kids after, so it's not as if I'm in any rush to get rid of it.

 

[gilby101]

I figure Ventura is the last macOS version it gets, until late 2023, but then it will get two more years of security and Safari updates, until late 2025. So, it will still be secure for 3 more years.

Not exactly. It will get some security updates in the second and third years. So it will gradually become less secure during years 2 and 3. Apple says: "Note: Because of dependency on architecture and system changes to any current version of macOS (for example, macOS 13), not all known security issues are addressed in previous versions (for example, macOS 12)." Monterey is already slipping behind.

 

[beginnersview]

You could replace with a Refurbished iMac 27" computer.
The 27-inch models Apple released after your 2013 27" would be:
------------------------------
Notes:
These are all Intel CPUs. Since there are as yet no Apple Silicon "M" series 27-inch iMacs, no one can say with certainty what Apple may release next year. So as with any technology purchase, you have to look at and weigh your needs, desires, requirements, $$, and etc. ;-)
The dates are the official Apple production/sale dates range.
The "Ci5" is short for Intel Core i5, the CPU Processor in the Mac, followed by the Intel code/common name of that CPU chip line.
The speed in GHz (GigaHertz) is the base/lowest frequency for that chip, all are able to boost into faster turbo mode when heavy demand is placed on them. And of course, Apple made higher CPU upgrade options available at time of order. The models I list are the base models.
OS listed is the range of Mac OS X (macOS) releases which that model can run.
There may be other specs which are also or more significant to you, as perhaps max RAM, size and kind of HDD/SSD storage or plug/ports available on the back of the iMac.

iMac (27-inch, Late 2013) <--{your model}
9/2013 to 10/2015
Ci5 4570 Haswell 3.2 GHz (4 cores)
OS X 10.8.4 Mountain Lion up to 10.15.7 Catalina (the last Mac OS for your model)
"Vintage" status

iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2014) -{no point really, very similar}
10/2014 to 10/2015
Ci5-4690 Haswell 3.5 GHz (4 cores)
OS X 10.10 Yosemite up to macOS 11 Big Sur
"Vintage" status

iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Mid 2015) -{also, a little too similar}
5/2015 to 10/2015
Ci5-4590 Haswell 3.3 GHz (4 cores)
OS X 10.10 Yosemite up to macOS 11 Big Sur
"Vintage" status

iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015) -{first later model with some staying power, but in "vintage" status}
10/2015 to 6/2017
Ci5-6500 Skylake 3.2 GHz (4 cores)
OS X 10.11 El Capitan up to macOS 12 Monterey
"Vintage" status

iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2017) -{first later model still in 'supported' status}
6/2017 to 3/2019
Ci5-7500 Kaby Lake 3.4 GHz (4 cores)
macOS 10.12 Sierra up to macOS 13 Ventura (highest macOS)
"Supported" status

iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2019) -{}
3/2019 to 8/2020
Ci5-8500 3.0 GHz Coffee Lake (6 cores)
macOS 10.14 Mojave up to macOS 13 Ventura (*current OS release)
"Supported" status

iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2020) -{the final 27" iMac (as of now...}
8/2020 to 3/2022
Ci5-10500 3.1 GHz Comet Lake (6 cores, hyper-threaded, 12 cpu activity threads)
macOS 10.15 Catalina up to macOS 13 Ventura (*current OS release)
"Supported" status

For help with deciding who is a reputable Refurbisher, see the MacRumors article:
Apple Refurbished Products: Should You Buy Them? Published May 9, 2022
https://www.macrumors.com/guide/apple-refurbished/
And the Refurbished Tracker site, RefurbMe
https://refurb-tracker.com/en/

Hardware Spec References:
EveryMac <https://everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/index-imac.html>
MacTracker <https://mactracker.ca/>

 

[theorist9]

Depends on your needs. An M1 Mini + ASD might work well, UNLESS you need >16 GB RAM, or you want to run three displays, in which case you'd need an MBP + ASD or Studio+ASD, and that gets pricey. If the Mini doesn't work, and you don't want to spring for the big boys, you might want to consider either a used 2019 or 2020 iMac. If you need a lot of storage, a used 2019 will probably be cheaper, b/c you can get one with a Fusion Drive and have an authorized Apple dealer open it up and install an aftermarket SSD (only the RAM is upgradeable on the 2020). The advantage of the 2020 is that it's HDCP-compliant, if that's important to you (you can watch Netflix at 4k ). I'd recommend buying used locally; in the US, Craig's List works well.

Alternatively, you could wait until spring 2023 and see if Apple releases an M2 Pro Mini.

If the need to upgrade isn't pressing, you might want to hang on until spring 2023 anyways. Then you should be able to get either the M2's, or buy the M1's at a good discount.

 

[gilby101]

iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2014) -{no point really, very similar}

I do agree with your conclusion, but the displays are very dissimilar. The 2013 was the last non-Retina display. The look of anything newer than 2013 is dramatically different.

 

[gilby101]

Any suggestions from the forum crowd?

If it can go for another 5 months or so, I would wait for an M2 Mac Mini (March is best estimate) and whatever 27" screen meets your budget and requirements. My reading of the tea leaves is that there won't be another 27" iMac - the 24" is fine for consumers and the Studio plus screen(s) for pros, with the Mini sitting somewhere in between and a potential bigger Mac for those that really need it.