What is the oldest iMac I should buy?

When shopping for a used iMac, it's important to buy one that is not more than 5 years old, and newer is typically better. Any Apple model five years old or older is considered “vintage” by Apple and doesn't qualify for service repairs from the company.
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What's the oldest iMac I should buy?

It's a good idea to not invest in a used Mac that is more than three years old, because Apple tends to support its computers for about six years. Also, keep in mind that Apple is moving away from Intel processors.
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Is a 2017 iMac outdated?

A high-end iMac that was released in 2017 and is now outdated and discontinued by Apple.
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Which is the best iMac model?

The best iMacs for photo editing in 2022
  1. Apple iMac (27-inch, 2020) The best iMac for photo and video editing overall. Specifications. ...
  2. Apple iMac M1 (24-inch, 2021) The second-best iMac for photo and video editing. Specifications. ...
  3. Apple iMac (27-inch, 2019) An older iMac that's still a great choice. Specifications.
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Which year used iMac should I buy?

If you are set on buying a used iMac, look for a 2017-2019 model. They should be a bit lower in price than a brand-new iMac, but they come with many of the same specs.
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A used iMac is the best Mac you can buy: Here's why



Is a 2013 iMac outdated?

Apple has added the Early 2013 21.5-inch iMac to its vintage and obsolete products list. The model of ‌iMac‌ is now classified by the company as vintage in the United States and Turkey, and obsolete in the rest of the world.
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Is a 2009 iMac worth buying?

Apple considers 2009 iMacs as “Obsolete” and so should you. Many newer applications won't even load or run on an 11 year old computer. This would include modern web browsers and that would make your computer and personal data at risk. You online meeting and university software may not work either.
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Can an iMac last 10 years?

The OS released in 2029 would receive support from Apple until 2032, and most third-party tools that worked on the final version of the OS would be supported until at least 2035. This means that in general, you can expect at least 10 solid years of life from a Mac, barring any unforeseen hardware issues.
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Are older iMacs worth anything?

As of this writing (2011), on average I'd say most old Macs are worth about $100. Many less than that. An original 128k Mac, truly rare items and prototypes can command hundreds to thousands of dollars. For most systems, sentimental values tend to be higher than resale prices.
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Is an iMac 2013 worth buying?

The 2013 iMac is a good machine and can be upgrade for memory. Anything else like swapping out the drive is difficult but can be done. Of course the newer machine you buy, the longer usage you can get out of it. I personally do not recommend the 21" iMacs because of their lack of upgradeability.
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What is the difference between iMac 2015 and 2017?

One of the most major internal differences is that the 21.5-Inch "Late 2015" models have soldered RAM that cannot be upgraded at all after purchase whereas the 21.5-Inch "Mid-2017" models are a substantial improvement with RAM that can be upgraded, even if it is more difficult than it should be.
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Are older Macs still good?

Although you should be fine (depending on what kind of work you need to do) with a MacBook even several years old, try to get something as close to new as possible. That way, you should have access to software updates for at least a few years, and of course, a newer Mac will last for a longer period.
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Are old Macs worth it?

Do Old MacBooks Still Perform? If you're concerned that your older MacBook won't perform as well as a new model, this is perfectly reasonable. A 2018 MacBook Pro is always going to lose ground to a 2020 model – that's just the way things work. Newer is better and faster and more powerful.
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Can a Mac be too old to update?

Apple considers Mac "vintage" if they were released between 5 and 7 years ago, and obsolete if older than 7 years. Obsolete Macs no longer qualify for service and support. Security updates are no longer available.
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Is my 2011 iMac obsolete?

Apple considers the 2011 iMac a vintage product in the United States and Turkey, and obsolete in the rest of the world. Vintage products are not eligible for hardware-based services, though other types of support may be available. Obsolete products no longer are eligible for any type of hardware repair or support.
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Should I upgrade my 2012 iMac?

You should upgrade your internal storage to a larger/faster SSD, or offload more of what is on the internal SSD off. That should improve your performance. As for the RAM, 16 GB should be plenty for what you're using it for. Just focus on the SSD.
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How long will a 2014 iMac last?

iMac 3-8 years

iMacs are also a bit more upgradable. Adding memory or faster and larger hard drives may make your iMac last longer. iMacs typically last between 3 to 8 years depending on how they are configured. Most iMacs will come with larger hard drives as a standard configuration.
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How much is a 2009 iMac worth today?

According to www.everymac.com the estimated value is $700 to $900. Similar to selling a car, it will very according to location, condition and extras.
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Can I upgrade a late 2009 iMac?

A late 2009 iMac cannot be upgraded beyond High Sierra 10.13. 6.
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Can I run Mojave on a 2009 iMac?

I am running two iMacs, early 2009 and late 2009 (20" & 27") with dosdude1 Mojave. Both are at the latest updates, both are running SSD's with max memory. They run exceptionally well, no issues.
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Is the 2014 iMac obsolete?

It will be obsolete soon as far as Apple is concerned, but depending on configuration it could easily be better than a 2020 entry level iMac.
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Do Macs last longer than PCs?

Lifespan and configuration

According to a 2018 Microsoft study, the optimal age of PCs is no more than four years old. Macs meanwhile average between 5 and 7 years of service, with some lasting longer.
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Can I update my 2013 iMac?

Answer: A: Okay your iMac from 2013 can upgrade as far as macOS Catalina 10.15.
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