iMac: Definitive ranking from worst to best generation 🔥💻

iMac: Discover the top-rated generation! 🥇✨

The iMac has been around for over a quarter of a century. The first version of the iMac arrived in 1998 and was a huge success, rescuing Apple in a difficult time. Just like Doctor WhoThe iMac has undergone significant changes over time, with each generation offering something different from the previous one. 🎉

This begs the question: which is the best iMac of all? We could easily say it's the M4 iMac, as it's the most powerful model to date, but did it really have the same impact as the iconic G3 iMac? You can't rank iMac generations without considering each design and the influence each had. 🤔

This is how I think they should be classified, omitting the iMac Pro because, if you're Space Gray, then you're not a real iMac at all. 😏

1. Slimline Unibody iMac

I feel sorry for the Slimline Unibody iMac, but it had to be last on this list for a generation. Unfortunately, this model fell victim to Apple's ongoing desire to make every device it produces as thin as humanly possible. It's a slightly odd choice, though, for an all-in-one computer that's predominantly used head-on, meaning you can't see how thick it is at all when you're using it. 📏

Whether necessary or not, the Slimline Unibody iMac certainly met its goal of being thin, measuring just 5 mm in some places. However, this came at a cost. The internal SuperDrive was eliminated, so if you wanted to use optical drives, you had to spend money on an external USB SuperDrive.

Another big issue was that, on the 21.5-inch models, there was no way to upgrade the RAM. While it was physically possible, you had to detach the display and remove the logic board to do so, something most iMac owners wouldn't want to attempt. See, Apple? Thinner doesn't always mean better. 🙄

2. Polycarbonate Intel iMac

The Polycarbonate Intel iMac marked the first time an iMac came with an Intel processor, replacing the PowerPC processors found in previous models. Apple stuck with Intel processors for the iMac until 2021, when the first iMac with Apple silicon was released. 🍏💻

The new processors gave the Polycarbonate Intel iMac better performance than the iMac G5, but the design was essentially identical. There was no visual clue for visitors to indicate that your new iMac had Intel inside, and if you have to explain why your new computer is great, it probably isn't.

Another issue is that white polycarbonate tends to yellow over time. While you can buy an Apple silicon iMac in yellow, it's probably not a hue you want on a computer that's designed to be white. 🟡

3. iMac G5

In recent years, Apple has had a fixation on trying to make its operating systems look the same across all of its devices. For a while, macOS and iOS have been slowly merging, and there are rumors of a major redesign for iOS 19 that could align the iPhone's interface with the vision OS of the future. Apple Vision Pro. Because, of course, a lot of people have asked why the UI on our iPhones doesn't match that of the $3,500 augmented reality headset that almost all of us own. 📱

With the Polycarbonate Intel iMac, Apple pulled a similar trick by making the iMac look a bit like its most popular product at the time: the iPod. The iMac G5 was released in 2004, when most iPods were still made with a white polycarbonate casing, and there's definitely a resemblance.

The G5 arguably set the standard for the iMac, as while the color and materials have changed, it remains fairly similar in design to the current models, something that can't be said of the G3 or G4 iMacs. All of the components are hidden behind the display, which is supported by a curved aluminum base that has remained the same across multiple generations and was clearly the inspiration for the more angular base of the current iMacs. 🔄

4. Aluminum iMac

At first glance, the Aluminum iMac looks like the design iMacs would continue to use for over a decade. However, it hadn't yet evolved into its final form. While the front of the Aluminum iMac was made of, uh, aluminum, the back was black plastic. 🖤

While the back of your iMac may not always be visible, the black plastic looked far less premium than the sleek aluminum on the front. Unlike a DeLorean, the Aluminum iMac didn't look any better from behind. This model also had some overheating issues, which could lead to annoying problems like hard drive failures. So close, yet so far away. 🔥

5. Apple Silicon iMac

After years of iMacs using Intel processors, Apple finally started using its own chips. The M1 iMac was released in 2021, and there was a lot to like about it. Apple's M1 chip offered significant performance improvements compared to previous Intel chips and also improved energy efficiency. 💡

The M1 iMac was also the first model to come in a range of colors since the original G3 iMac, which is somewhat surprising considering how iconic the colorful G3 iMac was. Thankfully, you can now buy a purple iMac once again, though Apple decided not to call it Grape. 🍇

The new iMacs aren't bad computers, and the latest M4 model is a solid all-in-one. My biggest issue with the Apple silicon iMacs is that there's no 27-inch 5K option available. If you've used a 27-inch Retina 5K iMac, going back to a 24-inch 4.5K display feels very much like a downgrade. Still, you only need to spend £1,600 more to get a Studio Display, right? 😅

6. Retina iMac

For me, this was the pinnacle of Unibody iMac design, taking everything great about the Unibody iMac and adding a beautiful 27-inch 5K display. I've been holding onto my Late 2014 Retina 5K iMac because, despite its age, it's still stunning to look at. Unfortunately, it's reached the end of its life, and there's no current iMac that can match it. 🌟

You could buy the 2020 27-inch Retina 5K iMac at launch for just $1,800, which means that for just $200 more than the current price of the Studio Display, you got a beautiful 27-inch 5K display, and a real computer included. I will forever mourn its passing. 😭

The only reason this iMac isn't higher on the list is because, while the stunning display further improved an already excellent iMac, it's still essentially a Unibody iMac. In terms of design, there's nothing really new.

7. iMac G4

I'm not sure how to feel about the iMac G4. Objectively, it's an incredible piece of design. Instead of integrating the hardware into a CRT monitor like the iMac G3 did, the iMac G4 introduced a flat-panel display.

Since there wasn't room for the hardware on the display, it was placed on the base of the iMac G4. Just as it did with the Dynamic Island, Apple embraced this solution and made the adjustable base and display a core feature. 🔄

My problem is that I just don't love the way it looks. I can't help but imagine it jumping over the Pixar logo, and very few people would describe an articulating lamp as beautiful. It's a better computer than the iMac G3, with an infinitely better mouse, but it just doesn't have the same stunning appearance that the first iMac had.

That said, the flat-panel display was the first clue as to what the modern iMac would look like, and you could never describe the design as boring. Being able to rotate the display and adjust it however you like is also genuinely useful. It deserves its place on the podium, despite my reservations about its looks. 🏆

8. Unibody iMac

You know you've got your design right when it doesn't really change for long periods of time; just ask the paper clip. The first Unibody iMac appeared in 2009, and Apple was still producing iMacs with essentially the same design in 2020. It wasn't until the first Apple silicon iMac in 2021 that Apple finally said goodbye to the classic look.

While it wasn't exact for some models, many Unibody iMacs had a user-accessible RAM compartment, making it easy to upgrade the RAM yourself. This is no longer possible with the unified memory of modern iMacs, where the memory is integrated into the system-on-a-chip (SoC). You should think carefully about how much RAM you'll need today because whatever RAM you choose in your modern iMac, you'll be stuck with it. 💭

It's unlikely any future iMac design will stand the test of time the way the Unibody iMac did. I'm pretty sure that on my deathbed, if you ask me to imagine an iMac (as you almost certainly will, right?), it'll be a Unibody iMac I'll see in my mind's eye. 🕰️

9. iMac G3

If the Unibody iMac was so good, why isn't it in first place? Well, as good as it was, it simply never had the same impact as the iMac G3. For starters, without the iMac G3, we might never have had the iPod or iPhone. 📱💡

Apple was really struggling before the release of the iMac G3, but its commercial success effectively saved the company from possible bankruptcy. And, of course, Apple never looked back, becoming one of the most valuable companies in the world.

The iMac G3 also completely broke the mold of what a computer could look like. In a world of boxy PCs that came in any color, as long as it was beige, the iMac G3 was a true breath of fresh air. Not only was it colorful, but it was genuinely beautiful, putting the uninspiring designs of its competitors to shame. 🌈

The iMac G3 wasn't the first all-in-one computer, but by fitting the hardware inside a sleek CRT monitor, Apple managed to make its competitors' beige boxes look obsolete, working like magic without the need for a separate box in sight. It made all-in-ones appealing at a time when PCs weren't.

The iMac G3 was also the first consumer computer to feature only USB ports. It wouldn't be the last time people were forced to use adapters to connect their accessories to Apple products, but the decision helped drive the adoption of USB as the industry standard for peripherals.

The G3 iMac was far from perfect; the plastic components could become brittle over time, there were issues with the transformer that powered the display, and it's best not to mention the mouse. However, its stunning appearance, enormous influence, and status as a cultural icon mean the G3 iMac tops this list. 🥇