The iMac is a series of all-in-one desktop computers designed, manufactured, and sold by Apple Inc. Between 2006 and 2022, the iMac series used chipsets based on Intel architecture. While sold, it was one of three desktop computers in the Mac lineup, serving as an all-in-one alternative to the Mac Mini, and sat below the performance range Mac Pro. It was sold alongside a higher-end, Xeon-based iMac Pro from 2017 to 2021.

The earliest Intel iMacs reused the same white polycarbonate enclosure as the iMac G5. Later models shifted to aluminum and plastic, and then a unibody aluminum case. The iMacs released after October 2012 also featured a much thinner display, with the edge measuring just 5 mm. This design would persist until the line was discontinued.

As part of the Mac transition to Apple's own processors, the Intel-based iMac was succeeded by the Apple silicon iMac beginning in 2021. Apple discontinued the -inch Intel iMac the same year, with the model discontinued in March 2022, following the announcement of the Mac Studio and Apple Studio Display.

Overview The iMac is an all-in-one personal computer. The machine has an integrated Liquid-crystal display (LCD), with the computer components integrated either behind the screen or below it in a "chin". An L-shaped aluminum foot allows the screen to be tilted but does not offer height adjustment. Ports for connecting peripherals are located on the bottom edge of the computer; an optical drive is located along the right edge of certain models. If wireless peripherals are used, the iMac's only cable is the power cord routed through the back.

On June 22, 2020, Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference keynote included the announcement that future Macintosh computers would transition yet again to Apple's own ARM-based system-on-chips; in April 2021, Apple unveiled a redesigned iMac based on its M1 system-on-chip.

Models White (2006)

At the Macworld Conference and Expo on January 10, 2006, Steve Jobs announced that the new iMac would be the first Macintosh to use Intel processors. The introduction of the new iMac alongside the MacBook Pro was the start of the Mac transition to Intel processors, six months earlier than the timetable Apple established. It retained the look and features of the preceding iMac G5, with a white plastic enclosure less than at its thinnest edge. It also shipped at the same price points. The first Intel iMac featured an Intel Core Duo processor and PCI Express graphics processing units (GPUs). Like the iSight revision of the iMac G5, the machine was not designed to be user-serviced, and almost all components are difficult to access; the exception are the random-access memory slots, which are found on the bottom of the machine. One update from the iMac G5 was the addition of a Mini-DVI port that allowed for extending the computer contents to a second monitor versus mirroring the image.

In early February 2006, Apple confirmed reports of video display problems on the new Intel-based iMacs. When playing video on Apple's Front Row media browser, some 20-inch iMacs (those built-to-order with upgraded video cards) showed random horizontal lines, ghosting, video tearing and other problems. The problem was fixed with a software update.

An education-only model of the iMac shipped in July 2006 that replaced the eMac in Apple's lineup. This model came with a lower starting price, but had a smaller hard drive, integrated graphics processor, and a combo optical drive rather than the SuperDrives on other iMacs. The entire iMac lineup was refreshed with a Core 2 Duo chip and a lower price in September 2006. Apple added a new 24-inch model with an IPS panel display and a resolution of 1920 × 1200 (WUXGA), making it the first iMac to be able to display 1080p content in its full resolution, and a VESA Flat Display Mounting Interface.

These early iMacs were generally praised, with Walt Mossberg writing that the Intel-based iMac remained the best desktop personal computer available. Performance depended on the software; PCMag and others found that software unoptimized for Intel processors ran slowly, especially games that were already poorly optimized for the Mac. Macworld recommended potential buyers hold off until there was more software for Intel machines. Other criticisms included the low amount of starting memory, lack of user-serviceability, and the chin, which Anand Lal Shimpi called "bottom-heavy".

Specifications of White iMacs Model Early 2006 Mid 2006 Late 2006 Release date January 10, 2006 July 5, 2006 September 6, 2006 Display 17-inch 1440 × 900 20-inch 1680 × 1050 17-inch 1440 × 900 20-inch, 1680 × 1050 24-inch 1920 × 1200 IPS Processor 1.83 GHz Intel Core Duo 2.0 GHz Intel Core Duo 1.83 GHz Intel Core Duo 1.83 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Cache2 MB L2 cache4 MB L2 cache System bus 667 MHz front-side bus Memory 512 MB single SO-DIMM, one slot free 512 MB (2× 256 MB) or 1 GB (2× 512 MB) Video card ATI Radeon X1600 with 128 MB GDDR3 SDRAM Intel GMA 950 with 64 MB shared memory ATI Radeon X1600 with 128 MB GDDR3 SDRAM Nvidia GeForce 7300 GT with 128 MB GDDR3 SDRAM Hard drive 160 GB 250 GB 80 GB 160 GB 160 GB 250 GB Serial ATA 7200 rpm Optical drive Slot-loading 8× SuperDrive with 2.4× DL recording (DVD+R DL, DVD±RW, CD-RW) 24× combo drive (DVD-ROM, CD-RW) SuperDrive Network Internal AirPort Extreme 802.11a/b/gGigabit EthernetApple Remote infrared receiverBluetooth 2.0 + EDR Internal Airport Extreme 802.11a/b/g (draft-n disabled by default)Gigabit EthernetApple Remote infrared receiverBluetooth 2.0 + EDR Peripherals 3× USB 2.02× FireWire 400Headphone/digital audio outputAudio line-in 3× USB 2.02× FireWire 400Headphone/digital audio outputAudio line-in/digital audio input 3× USB 2.01× FireWire 4001× FireWire 800Headphone/digital audio outputAudio line-in/digital audio inputWeight15.5 lbs (7 kg)22 lbs (10 kg)15.5 lbs (7 kg)22 lbs (10 kg)24.7 lbs (11.2 kg) Original operating system Mac OS X 10.4 "Tiger"

Aluminum (2007–2009)

In August 2007, Apple introduced a complete redesign of the iMac, featuring an aluminum, glass and plastic enclosure. It has a black, plastic backplate that is not user-removable. The 17-inch model was completely removed from the lineup, and it was available only in 20-inch and 24-inch models. The 24-inch model's display has better contrast and color conformity over a wide range of viewing angles. There is only one visible screw on the entire computer, located at the base of the iMac for accessing the memory slots. A plastic model from the previous generation remained as an option for education buyers.

In March 2009, Apple released a minor refresh of the iMac line. Changes included a fourth USB port, replacement of two FireWire 400 ports with one FireWire 800 port, replacement of mini-DVI with Mini DisplayPort, and a slightly redesigned base which is vertically thinner. Otherwise, the exterior design is almost identical to the 2007 and 2008 models. The models were one 20-inch configuration and three 24-inch configurations (instead of two at each screen size as before).

Apple doubled the default RAM and hard-disk size on all models, moving the RAM to the DDR3 specification. This revision also introduced a new, smaller, and more compact Apple Keyboard that excluded the numeric keypad and forward delete key in favor of the fn + Delete keyboard shortcut by default. Users could, however, replace this version with a more traditional, full-size model with a numeric keypad by requesting Apple to build their machine to order through its online store.

Specifications of Aluminum iMacs

Model Mid 2007 Early 2008 Early 2009 Mid 2009 (education only) Released August 7, 2007 April 28, 2008 March 3, 2009 April 7, 2009 March 4, 2010 May 3, 2011 Discontinued April 28, 2008 March 3, 2009 October 20, 2009 March 4, 2010 May 3, 2011 March 7, 2012 Model identifier iMac7,1 iMac8,1 iMac9,1 Display 20-inch 1680 × 1050 24-inch 1920 × 1200 IPS 20-inch 1680 × 1050 24-inch 1920 × 1200 IPS 20-inch 1680 × 1050 24-inch 1920 × 1200 IPS 20-inch 1680 × 1050 Processor 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo4 MB L2 cache 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo6 MB L2 cache 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 2.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo6 MB L2 cache 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo6 MB L2 cache 2.66 GHz or 2.93 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo6 MB L2 cache 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo3 MB L2 cache 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo3 MB L2 cache Front-side bus 800 MHz 1066 MHz Memory 1 GB (2× 512 MB) or 2 GB (2× 1 GB) 1 GB (2× 512 MB) 2 GB (2× 1 GB) 2 GB (2× 1 GB) or 4 GB (2× 2 GB) 1 GB (1× 1 GB) 2 GB (2× 1 GB) SO-DIMM DDR2 SDRAM-667 MHz SO-DIMM DDR2 SDRAM-800 MHz SO-DIMM DDR3 SDRAM-1066 MHz Video card ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT with 128 MB GDDR3 SDRAM ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO with 256 MB GDDR3 SDRAM ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT with 128 MB GDDR3 SDRAM ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO with 256 MB GDDR3 SDRAM Nvidia GeForce 8800 GS with 512 MB GDDR3 SDRAM Nvidia GeForce 9400M with 256 MB shared memory Nvidia GeForce 9400M with 256 MB shared memory or Nvidia GeForce GT 120 with 256 MB GDDR3 SDRAM Nvidia GeForce 9400M with 256 MB shared memory colspan=3 colspan=2 colspan=3 Storage / Hard drive 250 GB 320 GB 250 GB 320 GB 500 GB 320 GB 640 GB 160 GB Serial ATA 7200 rpm Optical drive 8× double-layer SuperDrive (DVD±R DL, DVD±RW, CD-RW) Connectivity Internal AirPort Extreme 802.11a/b/g/n (draft-n enabled)Gigabit EthernetApple Remote infrared receiverBluetooth 2.0 + EDR Internal AirPort Extreme (802.11n) 802.11a/b/g/n (draft-n enabled)Gigabit EthernetApple Remote infrared receiverBluetooth 2.1 + EDR Internal AirPort Extreme (802.11n) 802.11a/b/g/n (draft-n enabled)Gigabit Ethernet Video out Mini-DVI Mini DisplayPort Peripherals 3× USB 2.01× FireWire 4001× FireWire 800Headphone/digital audio outputAudio line-in/digital audio input 4× USB 2.01× FireWire 800Headphone/digital audio outputAudio line-in/digital audio inputWeight20 lb (9.1 kg) 25.4 lb (11.5 kg)20 lb (9.1 kg) 25.4 lb (11.5 kg)20 lb (9.1 kg)25.4 lb (11.5 kg)20 lb (9.1 kg) Minimum operating system Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard Maximum operating system OS X 10.11 El Capitan if 2 GB RAM installed, otherwise Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard OS X 10.11 El Capitan OS X 10.11 El Capitan if 2 GB RAM installed, otherwise Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard OS X 10.11 El Capitan Unofficially, macOS 15 Sequoia can be installed with OpenCore Legacy Patcher (OCLP); CPU upgrade required. Unofficially, macOS 15 Sequoia can be installed with OpenCore Legacy Patcher (OCLP).

Unibody (2009–2011)

In October 2009, a 16:9 aspect ratio screen was introduced in 21.5" and 27" models, replacing the 20" and 24" 16:10 aspect ratio screens of the previous aluminum models (a 24" iMac was brought back in 2021, albeit with a different aspect ratio). The back is made of aluminum instead of plastic, and is a continuation of the aluminum body from the front and sides. Video card options entirely switched to AMD, except for the standard onboard Nvidia card in the base smaller model. The iMac's processor selection saw a significant increase.

The Intel i-series chips are introduced to Mac for the first time on the higher-spec 27-inch models.

Default RAM has also been increased across the iMac range. With the advent of the larger screens, Apple doubled the number of memory slots from two to four. Consequently, the maximum memory capacity was also doubled (to 16 GB),1 GB = 1024 B and for Intel Core i-series (27-inch), quadrupled, to 32 GB.

The 27-inch models of the line became the first to offer Target Display Mode, allowing the iMac to be used as an external display for another Mac computer when connected via Mini DisplayPort, a feature that was extended to the 21.5-inch models onwards with the introduction of Thunderbolt.