iMac (2020): technical sheet and comparison of the different models

In August 2020, Apple formalized itsnew generation of iMac. While many were hoping for a redesign, the brand ultimately relied on the same case released eight years earlier and whose worldwide success is indisputable. But that doesn't mean the 2020 iMacs should be left aside: they are indeed particularly fast, high-quality desktop computers. With now a multitude of different configurations available, understanding the challenges of each edition is however complicated.

Buy the iMac 2020

In thistechnical sheet, we will therefore compare the different models of iMac 2020 and try to discover which one is the most interesting according to your needs. We will address both the question of components and that of the software aspect, which should make it possible to cover all the possibilities offered by this consumer machine. So, is there a 2020 iMac that's right for you? Follow the guide to find out everything.

Design :ipouriconic

First of all, you should know that no matter which iMac (2020) you choose, all editions currently on the market have the same exterior appearance. And the least we can say… It’s worth its weight in gold. Whether you are familiar with new technologies or not, it is very likely that you have already seen an iMac somewhere: its unique format, which integratesthe central unit in one and the same box with the screen, is emblematic. Which perhaps explains why Apple chose not to change it with the new 2020 version.

The iMac 2020 is therefore a large screen mounted on a stand, in a shell made ofaluminiumrecyclable. Its rounded depth makes it very discreet and demonstrates historic know-how in design, already depicted in several bestsellers. Two sizes are available at the moment. The smallest already measures 45 cm high, 52.8 wide and 17.5 cm thick: yes it isimposingand you won't be able to carry it easily, but it's not a laptop anyway. The other model, with a larger screen (we'll come back to this below), is 51.6 cm high, 65 cm wide and more than 20 cm deep.

With such a size, as you can imagine, the weight is significant. Count like thisbetween 5 and 9 kgdepending on which iMac 2020 you choose! At the front of the beast, the borders around the panel are black and rather wide, without integrating Face ID face recognition technology. We also find the apple-shaped logo, black in color, which recalls the manufacturer behind the machine. On the back, the foot of the iMac 2020 is pierced to allow cables to pass through without disturbing the device. Everything is delivered in a finishedmetallic graysober and refined which fits with most interior decors, but remains recognizable without hesitation thanks to the history and reputation of the product.

The iMac 2020 screen is excellent

Let's now move on to what will be your daily interface with the iMac 2020: its screen. There are two families. The first offers a21.5 inch panel, available in two different variations. One is an LED-backlit screen with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels with support for millions of colors, which remains quite disappointing at a time when 2K is becoming the norm on much smaller devices. what are smartphones. Suffice to say that you will see the pixels with the naked eye easily. Otherwise, you can opt for a 21.5″ iMac (2020) with Retina display4Kfeaturing a resolution of 4096 x 2304 pixels and supporting a billion colors. Its luminance reaches 500 nits.

Buy the iMac 2020

The second family of iMac (2020) - which is the one which underwent the most changes when it was made official - is for its part equipped with a large display5K(5120 x 2880 pixels) with a diagonal of27 inchesand a billion colors supported. For an additional cost, this one is even available with nano-textured glass like the Pro Display XDR does. As you can imagine, the 27-inch iMac 2020 is therefore the most qualitative in terms of broadcast image, with results similar tothose of its iMac Pro counterpart, and will be perfect forgraphic designersdemanding or for a movie session on Netflix.

The iMac (2020) runs macOS Big Sur

Like other Apple computers, the 2020 iMac is powered by softwaremacOS 11. Also called Big Sur by its publisher, it is only available on its products and is recognized for itsfluidityfor more than ten years now. Many users even consider this program to be superior to Windows, due to its ease of use and responsiveness. And this is what is true on a daily basis: we generally encounter fewer bugs and slowdowns on the iMac 2020 than on an equivalent PC with another operating system.

The iMac (2020) also comes with several dozen free applications that cannot be found on other computer brands. Most are dedicated to multimedia, such as the Photos library of photos which also synchronizes with images captured with your iPhone, the consumer editing software iMovie or the video on demand platform.Apple TV+billed at 4.99 euros per month… Unless you purchase a new Apple device, including the iMac 2020 (you are then entitled totwelve months free, time to view the entire catalog).

Buy the iMac 2020

But this service is not the only one accessible for a monthly subscription: in the iMac 2020, there are also sixty million titles fromApple Music(9.99 euros per month), world number one in its sector just behind the Swedish Spotify. We also think of Apple Arcade and its online video games for 4.99 euros per month, or even iCloud storage. Apple even marketsassurancesto protect the iMac 2020 for two years for 219 euros.

With theMac App Store, you can also enjoy many other apps created by third-party developers. For example, Twitter, WhatsApp, Slack and even Trello offer their own client compatible with the iMac 2020. Also note that when purchasing it, Apple also offers you the choice of its ownsoftwareprofessional publishing, again for a few hundred euros more. To clarify, it is 229.99 euros for Logic Pro X (MAO) and 329.99 euros for Final Cut Pro X (video editing).

Performance: what is the iMac 2020 worth?

The 2020 iMac is beautiful, but that's not everything. And it just so happens that he also has some in his stomach! The device comes with a processorIntel Core, to choose from several chips ranging from the simple dual-core Intel Core i5 at 2.3 GHz (Turbo Boost up to 3.6 GHz)... To its elder, the 10-core Intel Core i9tenth generationat 3.6 GHz (Turbo Boost up to 5 GHz) for the 2020 27-inch iMac. This is one of the major differences with the models released earlier: the arrival of the most recent CPUs from Intel, known for their stability and foolproof endurance. And you can feel it: even withintense demands, the iMac (2020) does not flinch.

As for RAM, you can choose with the iMac 2020 between 8 GB of DDR4 RAM at 2133 MHz, double or quadruple (32 GB). But these numbers only apply to the 21.5-inch iMac (2020). Indeed, its 27-inch big brother can be configured with – hold on – 64 GB or128 GB of RAM! Plus, the strips are removable, which means (think about it) you can save some serious money by purchasing this component separately.

Buy the iMac 2020

And what about storage? With the 2020 iMac, Apple highlights theSSD, which are much more powerful than HDDs, especially when it comes to running very energy-intensive programs like Adobe Premiere Pro. The options for the 21.5-inch iMac (2020) are as follows: 256 GB, 512 GB or 1 TB. For the 27-inch iMac (2020), however, it is 4 and even8 Towhich can be achieved in maximum configuration. But here too, the wisest thing is to select 256 GB only and then buy an SSD from another brand.

Connectivity

Whether it's the 21.5-inch iMac (2020) or the 27-inch iMac (2020), both offer the same sockets on the back of their aluminum casing. These are:

• four USB-A 3.0 ports
• two USB-C plugs/ Thunderbolt 3 (40 Gbit per second maximum)
• an Ethernet portcapable of reaching a throughput of 10 GBit per second
• an SDXC card reader, which will be very useful to photographers and drone pilots
• a 3.5 mm jack for connecting headphones or external wired and stereo speakers

The iMac 2020, obviously, is also compatible with wireless networks. It can therefore connect to Wi-Fi standards 802.11ac/a/b/g/n andBluetooth 5.0(Low Energy). In this way, the boxes of all general public operators as well as true wireless accessories such asSony WF-1000XM3 headphones or AirPods Pro from the same manufacturerare fully compatible with the 2020 iMac.

Note also that the 2020 iMac offers the functionalityAirDrop, which uses your local hotspot to easily transfer files between different Apple devices. Finally, thanks to AirPlay, it is very easy to share content from your iPhone to your Mac or your Apple TV in the blink of an eye, for example if you invite friends over and want to share your photos of vacation. A bit like a Chromecast, but without having to invest in additional hardware: that's the strength of theecosystemApple products. They are synchronized, interconnected and benefit from the same functionalities.

iMac (2020) pricing and availability

The 2020 iMac costs1 299 euros minimums. For this price, however, you will only be entitled to a 21.5-inch iMac in minimum configuration. But if you are ready to invest more, the iMac (2020) and its large 27-inch 5K screen are available to you!Base price: 2,099 euros. Maximum price… More than 11,000 euros! So you see it; 2020 iMacs are not accessible to all budgets. But the most affordable model is already cheaper than the best iPhone, and you won't regret your order thanks to theexcellent handling of macOS.

By choosing the best components, the iMac version 2020 can even prove to be the best ally ofprofessionalsand support intensive use without latency. But it also has the advantage of being accessible at a lower cost, to enjoy the Apple experience at home for the wholefamilyor just asfreelance. The iMac (2020) is therefore very versatile, and is suitable for all types of profiles thanks to its on-demand design. So of course, it will be better to turn to a portable model if you are used to traveling, but for sedentary use the iMac 2020 is by far the best quality/price ratio offered by Apple. We confirm 100%, without a doubt.

Buy the iMac 2020