The best iMac prices can sometimes get you quite a big saving on Apple's sleek all-in-one desktop computer setup. Apple itself doesn't do iMac sales, or any sales really, and its products tend to retain their price over time. But at third-party retailers, iMac prices are often cut – sometimes quite dramatically.
Below, we provide details of the iMacs that are available now with direct links to the best prices depending on where you're located. Apple itself now only sells the April 2021 24in iMac, but other retails are still offering 2020 and 2019 models, sometimes at quite a reduced price. For the full specs of each model, scroll down to the bottom of this guide.
If you're not yet decided on taking advantage of the best iMac prices, Apple has other options to consider too. You could go for one of the best Mac mini deals and pair the compact computer with one of the best monitors for Mac mini. Or if you're looking for something more portable, consider checking out the best MacBook Pro deals.
The best iMac prices available now
iMac 24-inch (M1, 2021)
The latest iMac is this 24in 2021 device which boasts super fast performance thanks to Apple's M1 chip. We were certainly impressed by the computer's speed when we reviewed it, and we love the sleek look and colours too. Some may prefer a larger screen, in which case you might want to consider the 2020 iMac further down.
There are two iterations of this iMac, both coming with a 24-inch 4.5K Retina display, an 8-core CPU and up to 16GB RAM. The base model comes with two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports, and 1TB storage, and will set you back $1,299/£1,249 at retail price. The next model offers two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports and two USB 3 ports and up to 2TB storage, and starts at $1,499/£1,449.
So, in this price context, what would constitute a good iMac deal? Well, we've seen the entry-level M1 iMac price fall as much as $70, to just $1,229. That was in March 2022 over at Amazon. In the UK, the lowest we've seen the price iMac price drop to was £1,129, a saving of £100, also at Amazon. If you see a price much lower than that, it may be a renewed model, but it's worth checking.
iMac 27-inch (2020)
This 2020 version of the 27-inch iMac remains a bit of a beast. As well as that big 27-inch 5K display, you can get up to 8TB of storage, as well as nice upgrades to the mics and webcams. The design of the 27-inch didn't change from previous iterations, so if cutting edge design is also top of your checklist, you may think the 2021 M1 24-inch iMac looks sleeker. But this is a powerhouse for digital creatives like video editors or graphic designers.
Best of all, since the release of the 2021 M1 iMac, there have been more iMac deals on the 27-inch version. The 27-inch iMac price at launch started at $1,799/£1,799. That's for a six-core, 10th Gen Intel Core i5 with 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD and a Radeon Pro 5300 GPU with 4GB of GDDR6 memory. The mid-range model came with 512GB SSD storage and a Radeon Pro 5300 with 4GB of GDDR6 memory, and sold for $1,999/£1,999.
The highest range model offered an eight-core i7 processor, AMD Radeon Pro 5500 XT, and that was for $2,299/£2,299. How much can you expect to save in the best iMac deals? We've seen up to $200/£200 off each configuration over the last two years, so check the current prices linked above.
iMac 21.5-inch (2019)
With the release of the new M1 24-inch iMac at a starting price of $1,299/£1,249, getting the 21.5-inch iMac, which is basically based on the 2017 model, at a price of $1,099/£1,099, doesn't make a whole lot of sense. This 2019 model is also quite hard to come by new today, but if you do find it at a significantly reduced price you might want to consider it.
This cheaper iMac still has plenty to offer if you don't need the cutting edge technology, and if you're willing to scout around for a great iMac deal. It is certainly a great buy if you're willing to get a guaranteed, refurbished model, which can go for as low as the $700 mark. It's a good, solid iMac, but if you're willing to pay a bit more, the 2021 M1 iMac is staring you right in the eye.
Which iMac should I get in 2022?
As of 2022, you can only buy the latest iMac M1 (2021) direct from Apple's website. However, you can still find earlier iMac models from other retailers online, and often with significant discounts.
For the latest specs, and the performance of Apple's own M1 chip, you'll want to look for the best iMac prices on the 2021 M1 device. But for a good iMac deal, or if you want a larger screen, the 2021 27in iMac is well worth looking at. iMacs earlier than that area really only worth buying now if you find a very good deal – perhaps on a renewed model from a reliable seller.
The entry level iteration of the new M1 iMac has a 24-inch, 4.5K Retina display, and 8-core at $1,299/£1,249. The larger 2020 iMac offers a 27-inch 5K Retina display and (up to) 10-core Intel i9 processor at $1,799/£1,799.
Finally, the 21.5-inch 2019 iMac doesn't even offer 4K. It comes with a 2-core Intel i5 processor, at $1,099/£1,099.
Just looking at these base specs, and not mentioning ports, RAM and storage, you can get the new entry-level M1 iMac (2021) for only $200/£200 more than the knocking-on-the-door-of out of date 21.5-inch model. Of course, if you get a great cheap iMac deal on the 21.5-inch model, it's still a good option as a general desktop / secondary PC. But if you're willing to spend a little bit more, you can be assured to get a whole lot back in return if you plump for the new Apple iMac (M1, 2021).
As for the 27-inch version, as you can see from the following detailed specs, this is squarely aimed at the digital creative professional, and is well worth trying to get at a decent price.
The 24-inch iMac (M1, 2021) specs
- $1,299/£1,249: 8-core CPU with 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores; 7-core GPU; 8GB RAM (up to 16GB); 256GB SSD (up to 1TB); 4.5K Retina display; 500 nits brightness; 1080p FaceTime HD camera with M1 image signal processor; two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports; Magic Keyboard.
- $1,499/£1,449: 8-core CPU with 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores; 7-core GPU; 8GB RAM (up to 16GB); 256GB SSD (up to 2TB); 4.5K Retina display; 500 nits brightness; 1080p FaceTime HD camera with M1 image signal processor; two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports and Two USB 3 ports; Magic Keyboard.
The 27-inch iMac (2020) specs
$1,799/£1,799: 3.1GHz six-core 10th-gen i5 (up to i9), 8GB RAM (up to 128GB); 256GB SSD (up to 8TB); AMD Radeon Pro 5300 (up to 5700 XT); 5K Retina display; 500 nits brightness; 1080p FaceTime HD camera; Two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports and Four USB-A ports; Magic Keyboard.
The 21.5-inch iMac (2020) specs
$1,099/£1,099: 2.3GHz dual-core 7th-gen i5; 8GB RAM (up to 16GB); 256GB SSD (up to 1TB Fusion Drive); Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640; Widescreen display; 320 nits brightness; FaceTime HD camera; Two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports and Four USB-A ports; Magic Keyboard.
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