The best iMac prices can sometimes get you quite a big saving on Apple's sleek all-in-one desktop computer setup. Apple itself doesn't do iMac sales, or any sales really, and its products tend to retain their price over time. But at third-party retailers, iMac prices are often cut – sometimes quite dramatically.
Below, we provide details of the iMacs that are available now with direct links to the best prices depending on where you're located. Apple itself now only sells the April 2021 24in iMac, but other retails are still offering 2020 and 2019 models, sometimes at quite a reduced price. For the full specs of each model, scroll down to the bottom of this guide.
If you're not yet decided on taking advantage of the best iMac prices, Apple has other options to consider too. You could go for one of the best Mac mini deals and pair the compact computer with one of the best monitors for Mac mini. Or if you're looking for something more portable, consider checking out the best MacBook Pro deals.
The latest iMac is this 24in 2021 device which boasts super fast performance thanks to Apple's M1 chip. We were certainly impressed by the computer's speed when we reviewed it, and we love the sleek look and colours too. Some may prefer a larger screen, in which case you might want to consider the 2020 iMac further down.
There are two iterations of this iMac, both coming with a 24-inch 4.5K Retina display, an 8-core CPU and up to 16GB RAM. The base model comes with two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports, and 1TB storage, and will set you back $1,299/£1,249 at retail price. The next model offers two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports and two USB 3 ports and up to 2TB storage, and starts at $1,499/£1,449.
So, in this price context, what would constitute a good iMac deal? Well, we've seen the entry-level M1 iMac price fall as much as $70, to just $1,229. Thatwas in March 2022 over at Amazon. In the UK, the lowest we've seen the price iMac price drop to was £1,129, a saving of £100, also at Amazon. If you see a price much lower than that, it may be a renewed model, but it's worth checking.
CPU: 10th gen i5 – i9 | Graphics: AMD Radeon Pro 5300 - Radeon Pro 5700 XT | RAM: 8GB/16GB/32GB/64GB/128GB | Storage: 256GB SSD/512GB SSD/1TB SSD/2TB SSD/4TB SSD/8TB SSD | Screen: 27-inch, 5120 x 2880 Retina 5K display
Potential powerful upgrading
Up to 8TB SSD!
Beautiful screen
Only two Thunderbolt ports
This 2020 version of the 27-inch iMac remains a bit of a beast. As well as that big 27-inch 5K display, you can get up to 8TB of storage, as well as nice upgrades to the mics and webcams. The design of the 27-inch didn't change from previous iterations, so if cutting edge design is also top of your checklist, you may think the 2021 M1 24-inch iMac looks sleeker. But this is a powerhouse for digital creatives like video editors or graphic designers.
Best of all, since the release of the 2021 M1 iMac, there have been more iMac deals on the 27-inch version. The 27-inch iMac price at launch started at $1,799/£1,799. That's for a six-core, 10th Gen Intel Core i5 with 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD and a Radeon Pro 5300 GPU with 4GB of GDDR6 memory. The mid-range model came with 512GB SSD storage and a Radeon Pro 5300 with 4GB of GDDR6 memory, and sold for $1,999/£1,999.
The highest range model offered an eight-core i7 processor, AMD Radeon Pro 5500 XT, and that was for $2,299/£2,299. How much can you expect to save in the best iMac deals? We've seen up to $200/£200 off each configuration over the last two years, so check the current prices linked above.
With the release of the new M1 24-inch iMac at a starting price of $1,299/£1,249, getting the 21.5-inch iMac, which is basically based on the 2017 model, at a price of $1,099/£1,099, doesn't make a whole lot of sense. This 2019 model is also quite hard to come by new today, but if you do find it at a significantly reduced price you might want to consider it.
This cheaper iMac still has plenty to offer if you don't need the cutting edge technology, and if you're willing to scout around for a great iMac deal. It is certainly a great buy if you're willing to get a guaranteed, refurbished model, which can go for as low as the $700 mark. It's a good, solid iMac, but if you're willing to pay a bit more, the 2021 M1 iMac is staring you right in the eye.
Which iMac should I buy in 2023?
As of 2023, you can buy the latest iMac M1 (2021) directly from Apple's website, as well as on Amazon. However, it's tricky to find this iMac in new condition (and not as Renewed or Renewed Premium – which is Amazon's term for second-hand). You can still find earlier iMac models online from various retailers, often with significant discounts.
For a good iMac deal, or if you want a larger screen, the 2021 27-inch iMac is well worth looking at. iMacs earlier than this are really only worth buying now if you find a very good deal – perhaps on a renewed model.
Which model is the best value for money?
The entry-level iteration of the new M1 iMac has a 24-inch, 4.5K Retina display, and 8-core CPU priced at $1,299/£1,249. The larger 2020 iMac offers a 27-inch 5K Retina display and an (up to) 10-core Intel i9 processor priced starting at $1,799/£1,799. Whereas, the 21.5-inch 2019 iMac doesn't offer 4K, and comes with a 2-core Intel i5 processor, priced at $1,099/£1,099.
Just based on these specs, without mentioning ports, RAM and storage – you can get the entry-level M1 iMac (2021) for only $200/£200 more than the knocking-on-the-door-of out-of-date 21.5-inch model. Of course, if you get a great cheap iMac deal on the 21.5-inch model, it's still a good option as a general desktop / secondary PC.
But if you're willing to spend a little bit more, you can be assured of getting a whole lot back in return if you plump for the new Apple iMac (M1, 2021). As for the 27-inch version, this is squarely aimed at the digital creative professional and is well worth trying to get at a decent price.
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Beren has worked on creative titles at Future Publishing for over 13 years. Cutting his teeth as Staff Writer on the digital art magazine ImagineFX, he moved on to edit several creative titles, and is currently the Ecommerce Editor on the most effective creative website in the world. When he's not testing and reviewing the best ergonomic office chairs, phones, laptops, TVs, monitors and various types of storage, he can be found finding and comparing the best deals on the tech that creatives value the most.
