Walk into any high-end design studio or a well-funded startup office, and you’ll likely see the ghost of Apple's past. I’m talking about that sleek, silver slab with the massive chin and the gorgeous 5K screen: the Intel-based apple 27 inch imac. It was the gold standard for a decade. But if you try to buy one today, you'll find a giant, gaping hole in Apple's lineup that hasn't been filled since 2022.
Honestly, it’s kinda weird. Apple transitioned almost every other Mac to their blazing-fast M-series chips, yet the 27-inch all-in-one just... vanished. We got a colorful 24-inch model that looks like a giant iPad on a stick, but for the pros who need real estate? Silence. If you’re hunting for one in 2026, you’re basically stuck between scouring the used market or piecing together a "Franken-iMac" with separate parts.
The Day the Apple 27 inch iMac Died (Officially)
It wasn't a slow fade. In March 2022, right after the "Peek Performance" event, Apple just yanked the 27-inch model from the store. One minute it was there, the next, it was gone. They didn't even give it a proper eulogy. John Ternus, Apple’s hardware chief, basically pointed at the new Mac Studio and Studio Display and said, "There you go, that's your replacement."
But is it really?
For many, the magic of the apple 27 inch imac was the simplicity. You plugged in one power cable, and you had a workstation. No cable mess. No hunting for a third-party monitor that didn't look like cheap plastic next to your Mac. When Apple officially confirmed to The Verge in late 2023 that they had "no plans" to make a 27-inch version of the Apple Silicon iMac, it felt like a betrayal to the creative community. They want you to spend $1,599 on the Studio Display and then buy a $1,999 Mac Studio. That’s a far cry from the $1,799 starting price we used to see for the all-in-one.
Why the 5K Panel Still Matters
People didn't just buy this machine for the CPU. They bought it for the glass.
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- 14.7 million pixels: That 5K resolution (5120 x 2880) is the "Retina" sweet spot for macOS.
- Integer Scaling: At 27 inches, macOS looks perfectly crisp because it scales exactly 2x.
- Color Accuracy: P3 wide color and 500 nits of brightness meant you could color-grade a film without a $5,000 reference monitor.
Most 4K monitors at 27 inches actually make macOS look a bit blurry or "off" because the pixel density doesn't match Apple's software design. That’s why the old Intel iMacs still hold their resale value like crazy.
The 2026 Reality: Rumors of a 32-Inch Revival
So, where does that leave us now? If you've been following the supply chain leaks from folks like Ross Young or Mark Gurman, there’s a flicker of hope. But it’s not exactly the apple 27 inch imac you remember.
The latest buzz suggests Apple is leapfrogging the 27-inch size entirely for a high-end "iMac Pro" with a 32-inch mini-LED display. Rumor has it this machine will pack the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, finally giving the desktop the "Pro" treatment it’s been missing. We’re talking 120Hz ProMotion and black bezels. It’s basically a Studio Display with a computer shoved inside.
But here’s the kicker: it’s going to be expensive. Probably $2,499 at a minimum.
If you're waiting for a "cheap" 27-inch iMac with an M4 or M5 chip, you might be waiting forever. Apple seems content letting the 24-inch model handle the "consumer" side while forcing everyone else into the modular ecosystem.
The Problem With the 24-Inch "Alternative"
I've used the M4 24-inch iMac. It's fast. Like, shockingly fast. But going from a 27-inch screen to a 24-inch one feels like moving from a master bedroom into a dorm room. You lose about 25% of your screen real estate. For video editors or programmers who need multiple windows open side-by-side, it’s just not enough. Plus, the 24-inch model is limited in ports and maxes out on RAM much earlier than the old Intel 27-inch workhorses did.
How to Build Your Own 27-inch "iMac" Today
Since Apple won't sell you the integrated machine, you have to get creative. Most pros I know have moved to one of these three setups to replicate the experience:
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- The Purist Setup: An Apple Studio Display + Mac Mini. This is the closest you’ll get to the old iMac feel. The Studio Display even has the same 5K panel and high-end speakers. Total cost? Around $2,200 if you go with the base M4 Mini.
- The Budget Pro: A 27-inch 4K Dell UltraSharp or BenQ DesignVue + Mac Mini. You save about $1,000, but you lose that retina-perfect scaling. It’s "good enough" for most, but purists will hate the slight fuzziness of the text.
- The Used Market Gambit: Buying a 2020 Intel 27-inch iMac. You can find these for under $800 now. The screen is still world-class, but the Intel chips are loud, hot, and won't support the newest macOS features much longer. Honestly, it's a risky buy in 2026.
Is the 27-inch iMac Actually "Dead"?
Technically, yes. The specific brand of "all-in-one 27-inch iMac" is a legacy product. Apple’s strategy has shifted. They realized they can make more money selling you a display that lasts 10 years and a computer you replace every 4 years.
It’s a bummer for those of us who loved the "one cord" lifestyle. But from a sustainability standpoint, it actually makes sense. Why throw away a perfect 5K screen just because the processor is slow? By separating them, Apple is actually giving the screen a longer life, even if it costs us more upfront.
If you absolutely need that 27-inch form factor right now, stop waiting for a keynote that might never happen. Grab a Mac Mini and a high-quality 5K display. It’s the closest we’re going to get to the apple 27 inch imac for the foreseeable future.
Actionable Next Steps for Buyers
If you’re currently deciding on a desktop Mac, follow these rules based on your specific needs:
- Prioritize Budget: Get the M4 Mac Mini and a 27-inch 4K monitor from LG or Dell. You'll spend under $1,100 and have a very capable machine.
- Prioritize Visuals: Don't settle for 4K. Buy the Apple Studio Display. It is the only way to get the exact 218 PPI (pixels per inch) that macOS is designed for. Pair it with an M4 Pro Mac Mini for a powerhouse setup.
- Wait for the 32-inch: If you have $3,000+ to burn and can wait until late 2026, keep your eyes on the rumored iMac Pro. Just be prepared for it to be a "Pro" price tag, not a "consumer" one.
- Avoid the 24-inch iMac: Unless you are strictly doing light office work or web browsing, the screen size reduction is a massive hurdle for productivity that most people regret after a month.