Transitioning from 27” to 24” iMac

[butterwm]

Currently own an Intel 27” iMac. Previous iMac before this was also a 27” iMac. Looking at pulling the trigger on a new one in a few months when the M4 chips come out.

Curious for those who went from the 27” to the 24” screens how that transition was? Are you missing the extra screen space or does the 24” screen feel fine? I feel like doing a mini or studio with the studio display is such a bid leap in price considering that just the studio display is pretty much the cost of an iMac.

 

[mreg376]

Apple has given us few if any good choices, unless you want to spend $4,000. I'm hanging on to my 2017 27" iMac for now, as it still works great for what I need (I upgraded to 64GB years ago). And the new 24" M3 iMacs are excellent machines -- my son has one, an upgrade from a 2017 21" iMac, and he loves it. But I am afraid of letting the 27" go, and then having buyer's remorse when Apple releases a bigger iMac, maybe with Pro chips, in a couple of years.

 

[butterwm]

Apple has given us few if any good choices, unless you want to spend $4,000. I'm hanging on to my 2017 27" iMac for now, as it still works great for what I need (I upgraded to 64GB years ago). And the new 24" M3 iMacs are excellent machines -- my son has one, an upgrade from a 2017 21" iMac, and he loves it. But I am afraid of letting the 27" go, and then having buyer's remorse when Apple releases a bigger iMac, maybe with Pro chips, in a couple of years.

Apple has given us few if any good choices, unless you want to spend $4,000. I'm hanging on to my 2017 27" iMac for now, as it still works great for what I need (I upgraded to 64GB years ago). And the new 24" M3 iMacs are excellent machines -- my son has one, an upgrade from a 2017 21" iMac, and he loves it. But I am afraid of letting the 27" go, and then having buyer's remorse when Apple releases a bigger iMac, maybe with Pro chips, in a couple of years.

I agree on the choices. Started having issues with our 27” iMac about 18 months ago. I was hoping to hang on until a new 27” model was released. Following all the posts and talk on this makes it sound like that won’t be happening in the immediate future. Fast forward to today and our current iMac is done and not operating anymore. I was going to just go out and get the M3 but figured with the M4 being out in a couple months I will just wait so I don’t start off a year behind the latest technology. Glad to hear your son likes his machine and it gives me hope then. Ironically we own pretty much every Apple product out there and the iMacs seems to have the shortest life span of any of their other products.

 

[ger19]

I went from a 27” screen (not a Mac) to the 24” Mac. I don’t really notice any difference. My usage is almost always just looking at one window open at a time. Most of my viewing I move the window into the center of the screen and size it for comfort. Basically, the difference, for me, is less “boarder” around my open window. If I was one to have a few open windows on the screen at the same time, I would likely feel different. So, I think it’s a matter of how you actually use the 27” screen. To have one window open full screen, 27 or more inches is basically too big. Especially for doing something like reading a document. Not so much for something like a picture.

 

[gilby101]

Apple has given us few if any good choices, unless you want to spend $4,000

I don't agree. If you want to keep the 27" and expect the same quality screen there is the obvious choice: Mac Mini plus a 5K 27" screen from Apple, Samsung or LG. Or even a 4K 27" if you can compromise on visual quality. Cost will depend on Mac Mini spec and which screen you choose. I would do that way ahead of getting a 24" iMac to replace my 27" iMac.

 

[wilberforce]

The so-called 24" is actually 23.5", exacerbating the shrinkage

 

[Significant1]

I went from a 27” screen (not a Mac) to the 24” Mac. I don’t really notice any difference. My usage is almost always just looking at one window open at a time. Most of my viewing I move the window into the center of the screen and size it for comfort. Basically, the difference, for me, is less “boarder” around my open window. If I was one to have a few open windows on the screen at the same time, I would likely feel different. So, I think it’s a matter of how you actually use the 27” screen. To have one window open full screen, 27 or more inches is basically too big. Especially for doing something like reading a document. Not so much for something like a picture.

I often work with two apps side by side in fullscreen, so kind of virtual dual monitor monitor mode.

 

[ger19]

I often work with two apps side by side in fullscreen, so kind of virtual dual monitor monitor mode.

Exactly. You’re going to notice a change from 27 to 24 more so than I did. If someone takes one of those apps and move it to the center, they might size it a little bigger, but I doubt they’d go full screen with it. How you use the screen matters.

 

[SalisburySam]

I know this thread is about screen size, and the area difference between the 23.5” and 27” is over 30%, a huge and meaningful difference to me. That’s a lot of real estate to give up.

But another issue, and a key one for me, is the loss of ports. My 2017 iMac has 4 USB-A ports, 2 Thunderbolt/USB-C ports, Ethernet port, an headphone jack, and an SD card slot. I use every one of them but the headphone jack. I know that with any change to a 23.5” iMac will requires giving up 2 of the USB-A ports, the headphone jack, and the SD card slot. And going with the Mac mini solution still takes away the SD card slot and necessitates a separate monitor albeit not necessarily Apple’s, and adds in the requisite HDMI port.

I recognize the SD card support is gone with the dodo bird, Edsel car, dinosaurs, and 5¼” floppy disk drives, heavy sigh. Currently that’s how I import photos from my Nikon DSLR and it just works, to turn a phrase.

Yeah, I’m still postponing any kind of “upgrade” at this time, longing for but really not expecting a 27” iMac (see my Post #4 here). Under the category of Coulda-Woulda-Shoulda I regret not getting a 2020 17” iMac out of the refurb’d store when they were available. For an every-3-to-4-years upgrader, 7 years is just wow, smh.

 

[Fishrrman]

I can only speak for myself, but I would be disappointed in "transitioning" from a larger-sized display to a smaller one.

I believe that most folks, when asked, will relate the same sentiments.

Think long and hard before you do this.

 

[butterwm]

I know this thread is about screen size, and the area difference between the 23.5” and 27” is over 30%, a huge and meaningful difference to me. That’s a lot of real estate to give up.

But another issue, and a key one for me, is the loss of ports. My 2017 iMac has 4 USB-A ports, 2 Thunderbolt/USB-C ports, Ethernet port, an headphone jack, and an SD card slot. I use every one of them but the headphone jack. I know that with any change to a 23.5” iMac will requires giving up 2 of the USB-A ports, the headphone jack, and the SD card slot. And going with the Mac mini solution still takes away the SD card slot and necessitates a separate monitor albeit not necessarily Apple’s, and adds in the requisite HDMI port.

I recognize the SD card support is gone with the dodo bird, Edsel car, dinosaurs, and 5¼” floppy disk drives, heavy sigh. Currently that’s how I import photos from my Nikon DSLR and it just works, to turn a phrase.

Yeah, I’m still postponing any kind of “upgrade” at this time, longing for but really not expecting a 27” iMac (see my Post #4 here). Under the category of Coulda-Woulda-Shoulda I regret not getting a 2020 17” iMac out of the refurb’d store when they were available. For an every-3-to-4-years upgrader, 7 years is just wow, smh.

I don’t use as many of the ports as you do. I plan on getting the higher end iMac which will give me a few more ports than the basic model. I am also going to upgrade the SSD to make sure I have all the storage I need for down the line so won’t be planning external storage. I like the cleanness of an all in one machine and minimized on the cables so the iMac appeals to me there. I am not expecting many differences in new iMac versus the current except adding the new M4 chip. I am hoping they may address the keyboard and mouse issue this time around and make them USB-C.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Make sure you go try one

When compared next to the 27" Studio Display (or what you're used to on your 27" iMac), the 24" can feel like quite a constraining downgrade on size IMO

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

OP, there are PLENTY of (screen) fish in the sea... Apple is but a minor player. The only reason you have to transition to 24" is by locking yourself in on buying the only screen available in a new iMac. That's a simple choice you completely control. "Think different."

Embrace separates and you can choose ANY size screen. Bonus: when the Mac tech guts start fading and/or Apple arbitrarily decides to vintage them... you can replace only those guts instead of facing the "throw baby out with the bathwater" problem as you are having to do right now.

If you can only bear to buy Apple things, ASD 27" seems to be in the regular "deals" cycle lately. However, in your worry about going from 27" to 24", you also have the easy flexibility to go the OTHER way... such as EXPANDING to 30" or 32" or even bigger by considering options beyond the one and only.

I was a long-term iMac 27" user and opted for the Dell 40" 5K2K ultra wide. To my perfectly-fine eyes, resolution looks just as good as it did on the former iMac... but now I have much more screen width for apps & windows... like taking your iMac 27" screen and adding a bunch more screen to the left & right.

It also comes with a substantial hub built in instead of only a few thunderbolt/USB-C ports. The hub has a good variety of connections to fit with what is readily available and in play in 2024 instead of begging for hubs & adapters to convert (still) scarcely-used ports into common-use ports...

If you might also need access to some Windows apps, you are about to say goodbye to Bootcamp. Yes, there's ARM Windows emulation available but ARM Windows is not full Windows. With a monitor like that one, you get 3 more inputs. A great way to have 100% Windows (too) is buying a Mac Mini-like PC to plug into one of the other ports. With the lone Apple choice, you have to switch cables and then hope.

I know that sometimes the mentality is just plug in an iMac and start computing. Separates mean you plug in 2+ things and connect a cable or two. However, you do that ONCE and then it's essentially the SAME as "just plug in and compute."

Again, I was a long-term iMac 27" form factor fan... but iMac is mostly a great proposition going in. As soon as any part conks, the whole thing is basically junk. Embrace separates and isolate the part more likely to conk or age out... and- optionally- enjoy much greater flexibility like one gets with that built-in hub.

 

[GimmeDatApple]

My 2017 5K iMac is starting to die on me and is showing signs of needing to be Ol' Yeller'd, even after I upgraded the heck out of it with 40 GB of RAM and 5 TB of SSD - two things you can't get in the current iMac lineup. The secondary fan bearing is going out, the display flashes black randomly, Bluetooth devices randomly disconnect, frequent hangups on shutdown, and one of the USB ports destroyed my backup hard drive with too much current.

I hate this. I've been using Apple products for 30+ years and I'm starting to question where the Mac for 'me' is. I'm not a grandmother surfing the web, but I'm also not a digital creator, 3d animator or software dev needing afterburner cards and sixteen expansion bays. There is a hole in the lineup for prosumers that want an all in one.

I would have to spend more than $5,000 to get this much screen, RAM and SSD from Apple now.

 

[butterwm]

My 2017 5K iMac is starting to die on me and is showing signs of needing to be Ol' Yeller'd, even after I upgraded the heck out of it with 40 GB of RAM and 5 TB of SSD - two things you can't get in the current iMac lineup. The secondary fan bearing is going out, the display flashes black randomly, Bluetooth devices randomly disconnect, frequent hangups on shutdown, and one of the USB ports destroyed my backup hard drive with too much current.

I hate this. I've been using Apple products for 30+ years and I'm starting to question where the Mac for 'me' is. I'm not a grandmother surfing the web, but I'm also not a digital creator, 3d animator or software dev needing afterburner cards and sixteen expansion bays. There is a hole in the lineup for prosumers that want an all in one.

I would have to spend more than $5,000 to get this much screen, RAM and SSD from Apple now.

Ours started with running excessively slow which ended up being the Fusion Drive which is a known problem. It has progressed into Bluetooth devices randomly disconnecting and locking up after several minutes of use. It seems the lifespan on the iMacs are about half of what we get on the MacBooks. I’m starting to wonder if it’s a heat issue over time. Hoping maybe the silicon Macs will run cooler and not be as much of an issue. Also the new iMac only has SSD now so that eliminates the Fusion Drive issue too. Will probably go with the higher model, upgrade the ram to 24 GB and the SSD to 2 TB. Should be around $2,500 all-in so we’ll see how it goes this time around.

 

[wilberforce]

Ours started with running excessively slow which ended up being the Fusion Drive which is a known problem. It has progressed into Bluetooth devices randomly disconnecting and locking up after several minutes of use. It seems the lifespan on the iMacs are about half of what we get on the MacBooks. I’m starting to wonder if it’s a heat issue over time. Hoping maybe the silicon Macs will run cooler and not be as much of an issue. Also the new iMac only has SSD now so that eliminates the Fusion Drive issue too. Will probably go with the higher model, upgrade the ram to 24 GB and the SSD to 2 TB. Should be around $2,500 all-in so we’ll see how it goes this time around.

Fusion drives were not used in any MacBooks afaik, nor in any Apple Silicon Macs. The problem is not heat, it is the Fusion drive. I have had two iMacs with SSDs only, and no problems. I believe my experience is consistent with that of many others. Some iMacs have had screen and/or GPU issues, but that is another problem, also not unique to iMacs.
Heat can degrade performance on any Intel Mac if the cooling vents/fan get clogged, which can be difficult to clean on a sealed device like most of the later iMacs

 

[butterwm]

Fusion drives were not used in any MacBooks afaik, nor in any Apple Silicon Macs. The problem is not heat, it is the Fusion drive. I have had two iMacs with SSDs only, and no problems. I believe my experience is consistent with that of many others. Some iMacs have had screen and/or GPU issues, but that is another problem, also not unique to iMacs.
Heat can degrade performance on any Intel Mac if the cooling vents/fan get clogged, which can be difficult to clean on a sealed device like most of the later iMacs

What is your feeling on the silicon IMac’s as far as longevity. Do you think they stand a chance of a significantly longer life than the intel ones?

 

[Chuckeee]

I know that with any change to a 23.5” iMac will requires giving up 2 of the USB-A ports, the headphone jack, and the SD card slot.

Minor point:

The 24 iMac still have the 3.5 headphone jack port. It has been relocated to the side of the machine.

 

[Surfsalot]

Did it exactly 3 years ago no issues, 2015 27" to 24" M1.

 

[butterwm]

Did it exactly 3 years ago no issues, 2015 27" to 24" M1.

Miss the screen size or once you got used to it no issues?

 

[Surfsalot]

Miss the screen size or once you got used to it no issues?

Not at all. Was good from day 1.

 

[Chuckeee]

Fusion drives were not used in any MacBooks afaik, nor in any Apple Silicon Macs. The problem is not heat, it is the Fusion drive. I have had two iMacs with SSDs only, and no problems. I believe my experience is consistent with that of many others. Some iMacs have had screen and/or GPU issues, but that is another problem, also not unique to iMacs.
Heat can degrade performance on any Intel Mac if the cooling vents/fan get clogged, which can be difficult to clean on a sealed device like most of the later iMacs

When my late 2012 iMac finally died it was the result of a PSU failure. This has happened with other intel iMac. Although the new SoC iMac use a power brick instead of an internal PSU. Not sure if that would make them more reliable but it will make replacement of a bad PSU super simple.

 

[butterwm]

When my late 2012 iMac finally died it was the result of a PSU failure. This has happened with other intel iMac. Although the new SoC iMac use a power brick instead of an internal PSU. Not sure if that would make them more reliable but it will make replacement of a bad PSU super simple.

Our first iMac was a PSU failure as well and had to be replaced. The second one is a Fusion Drive failure followed by Bluetooth failure and constant lockups. Both of those iMacs only lasted about 5 years each. In contrast we have two original MacBook Air’s that are still running (slow but running) after 12+ years. Also many versions of iPhones and iPads that were upgraded but still work.

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

I am switching on daily basis between a 23" display at work, and a 48" display at home.
It's just a matter of sitting near or far from the screen.
When you get used to it, no big deal.

So my advice would be:
If money is not a matter to you, buy the new iMac, and another display of choice, you can place them side by side and start using them rather than thinking about which size to choose.

If money is a matter to you, then just buy an external SSD and transfer your Mac OS and files to the external device.
You still can work fine on the 27" iMac, while awaiting newer iMac generations, or until your 27" is no longer be supported by new Mac OS.

 

[Absrnd]

Why not turn the 27" iMac into a stand alone display, and buy a Mac Mini ?