iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2020) vs iMac (24-inch, 2024, Four ports)

macOS is the software that runs the Mac: the desktop, Finder, the built-in apps, the settings and the security protection. Apple releases a new version every autumn.

A Mac on the newest macOS gets new features and regular security fixes. A Mac stuck on an older version keeps working, but over time apps start requiring a newer macOS, and security fixes stop. Apple has said macOS Tahoe 26 is the last version for Macs with Intel processors.

Matters most if: You use work, school or banking apps that need a recent macOS.

Apple Intelligence is Apple's set of AI features: writing help that rewrites or proofreads your text, summaries of long emails and notifications, Clean Up in Photos, and the new Siri AI.

On Mac it needs Apple silicon, the M1 chip or later. Macs with Intel processors cannot get it. Which features you see also depends on your country and language.

The price Apple charged in the US on launch day for the lowest configuration, before tax.

This is not what the Mac costs today. More memory, storage or a faster chip cost extra. Older models drop in price over time, so check the used and refurbished links for current prices.

The chip is the Mac's brain. Since late 2020 Apple uses its own chips (Apple silicon: M1, M2 and later). Before that, MacBooks used Intel processors.

Apple silicon Macs run cooler and much longer on battery than Intel MacBooks, and can run many iPhone and iPad apps. Intel Macs can run Windows directly with Boot Camp; Apple silicon Macs cannot.

Matters most if: You need Windows, or you want the longest battery life.

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The CPU is the part of the chip that runs your apps. More cores means it can work on more things at the same time.

More cores help most when exporting video, compiling code or running many apps at once. For browsing and email, the difference is small. Cores are only comparable within the same family: one Apple silicon core and one Intel core do not do the same amount of work.

The GPU handles graphics: what you see on screen, games, and video and photo effects. Apple lists GPU cores for its own chips.

More GPU cores make games, 3D work and video editing smoother. "Not published by Apple" means the Mac uses Intel or AMD graphics, which Apple does not describe in cores.

The Neural Engine is a part of Apple silicon built for machine learning tasks, such as recognizing faces and text in photos.

It speeds up features like Live Text, photo search, voice dictation and Apple Intelligence, while using little battery. Intel Macs do not have one.

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Memory (RAM) is the working space for open apps and files. Apple silicon uses unified memory: one pool shared by the CPU, GPU and Neural Engine. Intel Macs list a memory type such as DDR4.

Unified memory is part of the chip, so it cannot be added later. Apple's spec pages list user-accessible memory slots only for the 27-inch Intel iMac and the 2019 Mac Pro.

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How much memory (RAM) the cheapest configuration comes with, in gigabytes (GB).

More memory lets you keep more apps and browser tabs open without slowing down. 8 GB is enough for browsing and documents; 16 GB or more helps with photo editing, video and many apps at once. On Apple silicon Macs memory cannot be added later.

Matters most if: You keep many apps or tabs open, or edit photos and video.

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The most memory you could order from Apple for this model.

Only matters if you plan to buy a high-end configuration, for example for large video projects or software development.

The most storage you could order from Apple for this model.

Only matters if you need to keep very large files on the Mac itself rather than on an external drive.

Screen size measured corner to corner, in inches. One inch is 2.54 cm. Only iMac has a built-in screen; Mac mini, Mac Studio and Mac Pro use a separate display. Apple lists the 24-inch iMac's actual diagonal as 23.5 inches.

A bigger screen fits more windows side by side, and on an iMac it also sets how much room it takes on your desk.

How many dots (pixels) make up the screen, across by down.

More pixels on the same size of screen make text and photos look sharper. macOS scales everything so text stays a comfortable size.

Apple's name for the screen. Retina means sharp enough that you cannot see the dots at a normal distance. Liquid Retina is Apple's name for its newer LCD screens with rounded corners. Liquid Retina XDR uses mini-LED lighting for much higher brightness and contrast.

XDR screens show HDR video and photos far brighter and with deeper blacks than Retina and Liquid Retina screens.

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The camera above the screen used for video calls. 480p, 720p and 1080p describe video sharpness (more lines of detail is sharper). 12MP Center Stage is a higher-resolution wide camera.

A 1080p camera makes you look noticeably sharper in calls than a 720p one. The 12MP Center Stage camera can also follow you as you move and show your desk with Desk View.

Matters most if: You make a lot of video calls.

Center Stage uses the wide camera to keep you in frame during video calls.

If you lean back or shift in your seat, the picture follows you. When someone joins you, it widens to fit both of you.

Touch ID reads your fingerprint from a key on the keyboard. Without it, you type your password.

With Touch ID you unlock the Mac, approve Apple Pay and fill in passwords with one touch instead of typing.

The sockets on the Mac, front and back together. Each row shows one port gained or lost. Ethernet has its own row.

Built-in HDMI and an SD card slot mean fewer adapters when you connect a TV or projector or copy photos from a camera. With fewer ports you rely more on USB-C hubs and adapters.

Matters most if: You connect displays, cameras or many accessories.

Thunderbolt is a fast connection that uses the USB-C plug (Thunderbolt 2 used an older, smaller plug). Gb/s is gigabits per second. Thunderbolt 2 goes up to 20 Gb/s, Thunderbolt 3 and 4 up to 40 Gb/s, and Thunderbolt 5 up to 120 Gb/s.

Faster Thunderbolt matters for external SSDs, docks and high-resolution displays. For charging, keyboards and mice, every version works the same.

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Ethernet is a wired network connection: a cable from the Mac to your router. Gigabit Ethernet carries up to 1 Gb/s (gigabit per second), 2.5Gb Ethernet up to 2.5 Gb/s and 10Gb Ethernet up to 10 Gb/s. "10Gb option" means Apple sold a 10Gb port as an option when you ordered; "optional" means Ethernet itself was an option.

A cable is steadier than Wi-Fi for video calls and large downloads. The faster speeds only help if your router, switch or network drive is just as fast.

Matters most if: You copy large files to and from a network drive or other computers.

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Wi-Fi generations. Each new one handles more devices at once and higher speeds: Wi-Fi 5 (2014), Wi-Fi 6 (2019), Wi-Fi 6E adds a new, less crowded radio band, Wi-Fi 7 is the newest.

You only get the extra speed if your router supports the same generation. With an older router, the difference is small.

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Bluetooth connects wireless headphones, mice, keyboards and game controllers. Newer versions have more range and use less power.

Most accessories work with any of these versions. Newer versions mainly help with range and connection stability.

Weight in kilograms. 1 kg is about 2.2 pounds.

For a desktop Mac, weight matters when you move it or take it between places.

How Apple describes the Mac's speakers on its spec page. Apple's wording varies between models. We show it exactly as Apple lists it.

Apple lists a single built-in speaker for Mac mini, Mac Studio and Mac Pro, so for music and films you will want speakers or headphones. Systems with force-cancelling woofers give fuller sound with more bass.