The desktop isn't dead. Honestly, if you walked into a high-end design studio or a chaotic home office today, you’d probably see the same silhouette we’ve been staring at for twenty years: the apple all in one. It’s the iMac. It’s that slab of glass and aluminum that somehow manages to house a world-class computer behind a screen thinner than most pizza boxes.
But something weird happened lately.
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The tech world got obsessed with "modular." Everyone wants to build their own PC, or hook a laptop to three different monitors, or buy a Mac Mini and pray they find a screen that doesn't look like trash next to it. Yet, the iMac persists. It’s the survivor. Why? Because most people don't actually want to be IT technicians in their spare time. They just want to plug in one cord and have everything—the camera, the speakers, the mic, and that gorgeous 4.5K display—just work.
The M4 Shift and Why Silicon Changed Everything
Apple used to be in a tight spot. Back when they were using Intel chips, the apple all in one had a serious heat problem. You can't put a power-hungry, fire-breathing processor inside a thin display without making the fans sound like a jet engine taking off. It was annoying.
Then came Apple Silicon.
When the M1, and eventually the M3 and M4 chips arrived, the thermal physics of the iMac changed completely. Suddenly, the "computer" part of the machine became so small and efficient that the design team could focus entirely on the "display" part. The current 24-inch iMac is basically a giant iPad on a stick, but with the guts of a professional workstation. If you're looking at the latest refreshes, you’ll notice they finally bumped the base RAM to 16GB. It took them long enough. For years, 8GB was the "Apple Tax" everyone complained about, and rightfully so. In 2026, 8GB is basically a paperweight if you're trying to edit 4K video or run heavy AI workflows locally.
The Display is the Real Product
Most people buy an iMac for the screen. Let’s be real. If you tried to buy a standalone 4.5K Retina display with 500 nits of brightness and P3 wide color gamut, you’d be spending $700 to $1,000 just for the monitor.
Apple knows this.
They’ve essentially bundled a high-end monitor with a "free" computer attached to the back. It’s a genius pricing strategy that keeps people in the ecosystem. You get the 1080p FaceTime camera—which uses computational photography to make you look less like a zombie on Zoom—and a six-speaker system that actually has decent bass. Try getting that from a Dell or an HP all-in-one. You usually end up with tinny speakers that sound like they're underwater.
Is the 27-inch iMac Ever Coming Back?
This is the question that haunts every Mac forum on the internet.
When Apple killed the 27-inch Intel iMac, a lot of pro users felt betrayed. They were told to buy a Mac Studio and a Studio Display. Total cost? Somewhere north of $3,500 once you add the peripherals. That’s a huge jump from the $1,799 people used to pay for the big apple all in one.
Right now, the 24-inch model is the only game in town for the "all-in-one" category. Rumors about an "iMac Pro" or a 32-inch version have been circulating for years, but Apple seems content to keep the iMac as the "lifestyle" machine. It’s for the kitchen counter, the dorm room, or the front desk of a boutique hotel. It isn't trying to be a rendering farm. It’s trying to be the most beautiful thing in your room that also happens to run Photoshop like a dream.
The "One Cable" Philosophy
Cables are the enemy of focus. If you’ve ever looked under a traditional PC desk, you know the "rat's nest" is a real thing. Power cables, HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-B, audio jacks—it's a mess.
The iMac solves this with a single, color-matched braided cable. It even attaches magnetically. On the higher-end models, the power brick actually has an Ethernet port built into it. Think about that for a second. Instead of running a clunky internet cable up to your desk, it stays on the floor, hidden away. It’s these small, obsessive design choices that make the apple all in one feel like a premium product rather than just another piece of office equipment.
- Color-matched everything: The keyboard, the mouse, the trackpad, and the cable all match the chassis.
- Touch ID on the keyboard: It sounds like a gimmick until you realize you never have to type your password to buy something or log in again.
- Zero setup: You take it out of the box, and you're online in three minutes.
Where Apple Misses the Mark (The Honest Truth)
It’s not all sunshine and brushed aluminum. There are some things about the modern iMac that are genuinely frustrating.
First, the "Magic Mouse." It’s still a ergonomic nightmare for some, and the charging port is still on the bottom. You can’t use it while it’s charging. It’s one of the most baffling design decisions in tech history, yet Apple refuses to budge.
Then there's the height adjustment. Or rather, the lack of it. Unless you pay extra for a VESA mount adapter, you are stuck with the height Apple gave you. If you’re tall, you’re going to be propping your $1,300 computer up on a stack of books just to save your neck from strain. It’s a silly limitation for a device that is supposed to be the pinnacle of design.
Also, let's talk about the "Chins." The colored bar at the bottom of the screen. Some people hate it. They want an all-screen front like the Pro Display XDR. But Apple uses that space to house the logic board and the speakers, keeping the rest of the body impossibly thin. It's a trade-off.
Who should actually buy an Apple All In One?
If you are a hardcore gamer, stay away. macOS has made strides with the Game Porting Toolkit, and titles like Death Stranding or Resident Evil run surprisingly well on M-series chips, but you're still in a walled garden. You can’t upgrade the GPU. You can't swap the RAM. What you buy on day one is what you have until the day you recycle it.
However, for a specific group of people, this is the perfect machine:
- Students: Especially those in creative fields like film, graphic design, or music. The screen accuracy is unmatched at this price point.
- Remote Workers: If your desk is in your living room, you don't want a black plastic tower and a tangle of wires. You want something that looks like furniture.
- Small Business Owners: It's reliable. It doesn't get viruses like Windows machines do (mostly), and the resale value is insane. An iMac from five years ago still sells for hundreds of dollars. Try doing that with a five-year-old Acer.
Practical Steps for Choosing the Right Model
If you're ready to pull the trigger on an apple all in one, don't just buy the base model without thinking.
Don't skimp on the Ports. The entry-level iMac only has two Thunderbolt ports. That’s it. If you want more connectivity—or the Ethernet port in the power brick—you have to step up to the 4-port model. It’s worth the extra couple hundred bucks just to avoid living the "dongle life."
Upgrade the RAM, not the Storage. You can always plug in a fast external SSD for more space, but you can never add more memory. If you plan on keeping the machine for five years, get at least 16GB (or 24GB if you’re doing heavy multitasking).
Pick the right color for the long haul. The "Pink" (which is basically red) and "Yellow" (which is basically gold) are bold. They look great in photos. But will you still like them in 2029? The Silver and Blue are the safest bets for longevity.
The iMac isn't just a computer; it's a statement that the desktop experience doesn't have to be ugly or complicated. It’s the ultimate "set it and forget it" machine. In a world of endless customization and modular confusion, there is something deeply refreshing about a device that just wants to be one thing, and does it better than anyone else.
Check your desk depth. Because the iMac is so light, it can wobble if your desk isn't sturdy. Make sure you have a solid surface.
Verify software compatibility. If you use niche industry software, ensure it's optimized for Apple Silicon (ARM architecture). Most things are now, but it's worth a five-minute Google search before you spend two grand.
Invest in a screen cleaner. That 4.5K glass is a fingerprint magnet. Get a high-quality microfiber cloth; don't use Windex or harsh chemicals on the coating.
Explore the VESA option. If you have a specific ergonomic setup, buy the VESA mount version from the start. You cannot add the stand back later, and you cannot add a VESA mount to a stand-model later. You have to choose at checkout.