I had high hopes for the new iMac 2021. Even before Apple's keynote started, I was convinced that the iMac would be the first big tech product of the year. Unfortunately, the iMac 2021 failed to win my heart. Sure, it has Apple's amazing M1 chip, but it just seems like a beautified and more expensive version of the Mac mini.

More importantly, as an owner of a 27" iMac 5K, the iMac 2021 feels like a downgrade to me. Don't get me wrong--I'm sure the new iMac can run circles around my Core i5-based Skylake iMac, but I was really hoping for a new 5K iMac.

Earlier this year, Apple announced the new M1-based MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini at the same keynote. So I expected a major overhaul of the iMac at the Apple Spring Loaded event. Instead, a new pastel-colored iMac was unveiled and Apple completely ignored the 27-inch iMac.

After Apple's event, I considered buying an iMac 2021. After all, the company's M1 chip is the one I most want to try. But after comparing the M1-based iMac to the Mac mini, I couldn't justify spending $1,299 for a machine with essentially the same horsepower as the $699 Mac mini. One could argue that the Mac mini is more powerful, since the base iMac has only a 7-core GPU, while the base Mac mini has an 8-core GPU. (Also, the Mac mini is a better value, and Apple's deals often offer $50 to $100 off the base configuration.) [The next reason to upgrade to a new iMac is the 24" 4.5K screen. But it still feels like a downgrade from my 27" 5K screen. Coupled with the limited base RAM, paltry SSD, and lack of user upgrades, the new iMac just didn't make sense to me.

I bought my first iMac in 2006 when Apple introduced its first Intel-based Mac. In my opinion, it was a great machine that blew away all Windows desktops. (By the way, this machine still runs Mac OS X Snow Leopard, albeit an older version.)

In 2015 (after 9 years with the iMac) I pulled the trigger and bought a 27" iMac 5K. My current iMac still runs like a dream. I've upgraded the RAM from 8GB to 16GB over the past 6 years, and so far I'm using macOS 11.3 Big Sur with flying colors. However, since the pandemic started, I work exclusively from home and would be fine with a faster iMac. Besides, a review of the MacBook Air M1 by my colleague Henny Casey piqued my interest in Apple's new silicon.

A more powerful 27-inch iMac with the powerful M2 chip may be on the horizon. Leaked information points to the possibility of 12 cores, four more than the current M1 chip. In addition, the GPU may also be upgraded from 8 to 16 cores. This sounds like a beast for gaming, of course, but especially for photo and video editing.

Certainly, the new iMac 2021 24-inch has other features that I would recommend, such as a sharper 1080p webcam, improved audio, and a Touch ID-enabled keyboard, but these upgrades are not enough for me.

My current concern is that Apple will replace the 5K iMac line with a new iMac Pro. If you recall, the now-defunct iMac Pro started at $4,999. So we can only wait for the next keynote in hopes that Apple's 5K iMac will be changed to a 30-inch screen and that the $1,799 price point will be maintained.