View source for IMac

{{Short description|Line of all-in-one desktop computers by Apple Inc.}}
{{Distinguish|eMac|IMAX}}
{{Other uses|IMAC (disambiguation){{!}}IMAC}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{lowercase title}}
{{Infobox information appliance
| name = iMac
| logo = [[File:iMac (logo).svg|150px|class=skin-invert]]
| image = [[File:IMac M4 2024 2 (cropped).jpg|300px]]
| caption = Front face of blue iMac (24-inch, M4, 2024)
| developer = [[Apple Inc.]]
| family = [[Macintosh]]
| os = [[macOS]] (see {{slink||Supported operating systems}} for previous)
| related = [[Mac Mini]], [[Mac Pro]]
| website = {{URL|https://apple.com/imac}}
| releasedate = {{Start date and age|1998|8|15}} ([[iMac G3|G3]])
}}

The '''iMac''' is a series of [[all-in-one computer]]s from [[Apple Inc.]], sold as part of the company's [[Mac (computer)|Mac]] family of computers. First introduced in 1998, it has remained a primary part of Apple's consumer desktop offerings since and evolved through seven distinct forms. The iMac natively runs the [[macOS]] operating system.

In its original form, the [[iMac G3]] had a [[gumdrop]], [[ADM-3A#ADM-3|ADM-3]] or [[Oval#Egg shape|egg-shaped]] look, with a [[Cathode ray tube|CRT]] monitor, mainly enclosed by a colored, [[Transparency and translucency|translucent]] plastic case. The computer was, at the time, an inexpensive, consumer-oriented computer that would easily connect to the [[Internet]]. The second major revision, the [[iMac G4]], moved a design with a hemispherical base containing all the main components and an [[Liquid crystal display|LCD]] monitor on a freely moving arm attached to it. The third and fourth revisions, the [[iMac G5]] and the [[iMac (Intel-based)|Intel iMac]], placed all the components immediately behind the display in a plastic casing, creating a slim unified design that tilts only up and down on a simple metal base. The fifth, sixth and seventh revisions swapped the plastic enclosure for metal and became progressively thinner over each revision.

The design of the iMac has been seen as both controversial and trendsetting. From its introduction, the computer has eschewed many entrenched legacy technologies, notably becoming an early adopter of the [[USB port]], and removing [[floppy disk]] and later [[optical disc]] drives. The most recent revision, the [[IMac (Apple silicon)|Apple Silicon iMac]], uses Apple's own processors (silicon) and is {{Convert|11.5|mm|sp=us}} thick. Between 2017 and 2021, Apple also sold a workstation-class version of the computer called the [[iMac Pro]].

== History ==
[[File:Timeline of the product Apple iMac.svg|thumb|600x600px|The timeline of iMac from 1998 to 2021, showing the change in the physical characteristics of the product.]]
Apple was facing bankruptcy in the mid-1990s, with its market share cannibalized by Windows-based PCs and Macintosh clones. The company had tried and failed to ship a modern operating system for its hardware. Looking instead for an outside product to acquire, Apple announced its purchase of [[NeXT|NexT, Inc.]] in 1996. Alongside Next's products and software came [[Steve Jobs]], Apple's co-founder who had been ousted from the company years earlier. Jobs initially was brought on at Apple as an adviser, but Jobs replaced [[Gil Amelio]] as interim CEO in 1997 and began a reorganization of the company. He reduced Apple's multitude of confusing computer options to just four: one laptop and one desktop model for consumers, and another laptop and desktop model for professionals. What became the iMac began as Apple's effort to develop the consumer desktop to fill that product gap.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

Apple's head of design [[Jony Ive]] and the rest of the design team developed sketches for a distinctive, [[all-in-one computer]] that was to be a [[legacy-free PC]] focused on ease of use and internet connectivity. The design team made the new computer colorful and translucent, built around a cathode-ray tube display wrapped in a curved plastic case. Ad agency director [[Ken Segall]] suggested the "iMac" name: it was short, had "Mac" in it, and the "i" prefix suggested the internet. Jobs initially hated it, but the name ultimately stuck.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Segall |first=Ken |title=Insanely simple: the obsession that drives Apple's success |publisher=The Penguin Group |date=2013 |isbn=978-1-5918-4621-5 |edition=2nd}}</ref>{{rp|109–110}} Apple later [[Internet-related prefixes#"i-"|adopted the 'i' prefix]] across its consumer hardware and software lines, such as [[iPod]], [[iBook]] (later MacBook), [[iPhone]], [[iPad]] and various pieces of software such as the [[iLife]], [[iCloud]] suite and [[iWork]] and the company's media player/store, [[iTunes]].{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}
[[File:IMac M4 2024.jpg|thumb|Three of the seven iMac colors available in 2024—blue, green and pink—with corresponding Magic Keyboards]]
Despite mixed reviews from the tech press, the iMac was a major commercial success at a time when Apple desperately needed a hit product.<ref name="sixcolors_2020_12_28">{{Cite web |last=Snell |first=Jason |date=December 28, 2020 |title=20 Macs for 2020: #1 – iMac G3|url=https://sixcolors.com/post/2020/12/20-macs-for-2020-1-imac-g3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112065737/https://sixcolors.com/post/2020/12/20-macs-for-2020-1-imac-g3 |archive-date=January 12, 2023 |access-date=November 21, 2022 |website=Six Colors}}</ref> The iMac ultimately sold more than six million units, being revised multiple times and appearing in 13 different colors and patterns.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}} The iMac was "designed to make it easy for home users to connect to the Internet."<ref>{{Cite book |last1=McIntosh |first1=Jane |title=History of the World in 1,000 Objects |last2=Chrisp |first2=Peter |last3=Parker |first3=Philip |last4=Gibson |first4=Carrie |last5=Grant |first5=R. G. |last6=Regan |first6=Sally |date=October 2014 |publisher=[[DK (publisher)|DK]] and the [[Smithsonian]]|isbn=978-1-4654-2289-7|location=New York|page=382|author-link1=Jane McIntosh|author-link2=Peter Chrisp}}</ref> A commercial, dubbed "Simplicity Shootout", pitted seven-year-old Johann Thomas and his [[border collie]] Brodie, with an iMac, against Adam Taggart, a [[Stanford University]] [[MBA]] student, with an [[Hewlett-Packard|HP]] Pavilion 8250, in a race to set up their computers. Johann and Brodie finished in 8 minutes and 15 seconds,<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 13, 1998 |title=iMac Review: It's a Mac |url=http://www.wap.org/journal/imac/default.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720182952/http://www.wap.org/journal/imac/default.html |archive-date=July 20, 2011 |access-date=July 6, 2011 |publisher=Washington Apple Pi}}</ref> whereas Adam was still working on it by the end of the commercial.

As the prices of flat screen [[liquid-crystal display]]s (LCDs) began to fall, Apple conceived of an update to the iMac. Inspired by a sunflower, the [[iMac G4]] put the computer in a semi-hemispherical base, with the display sitting above it on a stainless steel arm. The arm allowed the display to be easily tilted, rotated, and raised and lowered by a touch. The exuberant colors of the old iMac were replaced by stark white.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

Ever-increasing screen sizes led Apple to make the [[iMac G5]] a more conservative design, with the components of the computer attached to the back of the display and raised above the resting surface with an aluminum foot.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

By 2005, it had become more and more apparent that IBM's development for the desktop implementation of PowerPC was grinding to a halt. Apple announced at the [[Worldwide Developers Conference]] that it would be [[Mac transition to Intel processors|switching the Macintosh to the x86 architecture]] and Intel's line of Core processors. The first Intel-equipped Macs were unveiled on January 10, 2006: the MacBook Pro and a new iMac, which outwardly looked identical to the iMac G5. Within nine months, Apple had smoothly transitioned the entire Macintosh line to Intel. The Intel-based iMac was redesigned in 2007 with an aluminum enclosure, which was gradually refined and slimmed down in the following years. In 2014, the iMac added high-resolution "[[Retina display|Retina]]" 4K and 5K displays, and a more powerful, professional-oriented model, the [[iMac Pro]], was introduced in 2017.

Apple announced a shift [[Mac transition to Apple silicon|from Intel processors to its own Apple silicon]] in June 2020, and redesigned iMacs with the [[Apple M1]] chip were announced in April 2021. These new models harkened back to the iMac G3, coming in seven colors, and marked the return to a single display size for the first time since 2002.<ref>{{cite news |last=Seifert |first=Dan |date=Nov 6, 2023 |title=Apple has no plans to make a 27-inch iMac with Apple Silicon |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/6/23947196/apple-no-27-inch-apple-silicon-imac |publisher=The Verge |access-date=Jan 26, 2025}}</ref> The iMac has since been updated to use later M-series chips.<ref name="2023-10-31_V">[https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/30/23938867/apple-m3-imac-macbook-pro-biggest-announcements-m3 Apple ‘Scary Fast’ Mac launch event: the 4 biggest announcements], Emma Roth, [[The Verge]], October 31, 2023</ref>

== Influence ==

The [[iMac G3|original iMac]] was the first [[legacy-free PC]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Spooner |first=John G. |date=December 16, 1999 |title=Compaq Hopes to Follow the iMac |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/compaq-hopes-to-follow-the-imac/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140703171130/http://www.zdnet.com/news/compaq-hopes-to-follow-the-imac/104658 |archive-date=July 3, 2014 |access-date=September 19, 2014 |website=[[ZDNet]]}}</ref> It was the first Macintosh computer to have a [[USB]] port but no [[floppy disk drive]]. Subsequently, all Macs have included USB. Via the USB port, hardware makers could make products compatible with both x86 PCs and Macs. Previously, Macintosh users had to seek out certain hardware, such as keyboards and mice specifically tailored for the "old world" Mac's unique [[Apple Desktop Bus|ADB]] interface and printers and modems with [[Mini-DIN connector#8-pin|MiniDIN-8]] serial ports. Only a limited number of models from certain manufacturers were made with these interfaces and often came at a premium price. USB, being cross-platform, has allowed Macintosh users to select from a large selection of devices marketed for the [[Wintel]] PC platform, such as [[USB hub|hubs]], [[image scanner|scanners]], [[data storage device|storage devices]], [[USB flash drives]], and [[Mouse (computing)|mice]]. After the iMac, Apple continued to remove older peripheral interfaces and floppy drives from the rest of its product line.

Borrowing from the 1997 [[Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh]], the various LCD-based iMac designs continued the [[All-in-one PC|all-in-one]] concept first envisioned in Apple's original Macintosh computer. The successful iMac allowed Apple to continue targeting the [[Power Macintosh]] line at the high-end of the market. This foreshadowed a similar strategy in the notebook market when the iMac-like [[iBook]] was released in 1999. Since then, the company has continued this strategy of differentiating the consumer versus professional product lines. Apple's focus on design has allowed each of its subsequent products to create a distinctive identity. Apple avoided using the beige colors that were then common in the PC industry. The company would later drift from the multicolored designs of the late 1990s and early 2000s. The latter part of the decade saw Apple using [[Anodizing|anodized]] aluminum; glass; and white, black, and clear [[polycarbonate]] plastics among its build materials. Today many PCs are more design-conscious than before the iMac's introduction, with multi-shaded design schemes being common, and some desktops and laptops available in colorful, decorative patterns.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 15, 2008 |title=Eight ways the iMac changed computing |url=http://www.macworld.com/article/135017/2008/08/imacanniversary.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111222091746/http://www.macworld.com/article/135017/2008/08/imacanniversary.html |archive-date=December 22, 2011 |access-date=August 27, 2008 |website=[[Macworld]]}}</ref>

Apple's use of translucent, candy-colored plastics inspired similar [[industrial design]]s in other consumer products.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Edwards |first=Benj |date=September 15, 2008 |title=10 Years of Cuddly, Friendly iMacs |url=https://www.wired.com/2008/09/gallery-imac-anniversary/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220092946/https://www.wired.com/2008/09/gallery-imac-anniversary/ |archive-date=December 20, 2016 |access-date=December 10, 2016 |magazine=Wired}}</ref> Apple's later introduction of the iPod, iBook G3 (Dual USB), and iMac G4 (all featuring snowy-white plastic), inspired similar designs in other companies' consumer electronics products. The color rollout also featured two distinctive ads: one called 'Life Savers' featured the [[Rolling Stones]] song, "[[She's a Rainbow]]" and an advertisement for the white version had the introduction of [[Cream (band)|Cream]]'s "[[White Room]]" as its backing track{{Citation needed|date=October 2017}}.

The iMac won several design competitions and awards, including Gold at the 1999 [[Design and Art Direction|D&AD Design Awards]] in the UK,<ref>{{cite book|last1=Press|first1=Mike|last2=Cooper|first2=Rachel|date=2017|title=The Design Experience: The Role of Design and Designers in the Twenty-First Century|publisher=Routledge|page=29|isbn=978-1138273153}}</ref> and "Object of the Year" by ''[[The Face (magazine)|The Face]]''.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wanders |first=Marcel |title=The International Design Yearbook 2005|publisher=Laurence King Publishing |date=2005 |isbn=978-1-8566-9435-3 |page=232}}</ref> Various iMac models are held in the collections of museums including the [[The Henry Ford|Henry Ford]], the [[Victoria and Albert Museum]], the [[Powerhouse Museum]], and the [[Museum of Modern Art]].<ref>The iMac G3 is found in collections including the Henry Ford, Victoria and Albert, Powerhouse, and MoMA. Cited to:
*{{Cite object |author-link=Jony Ive| first=Jony |last=Ive |title=iMac G3 |date=c. 1999 |museum= [[The Henry Ford]] |medium=artifact |dimensions=14in × 14.75in × 16.25in |url=https://www.thehenryford.org/collections-and-research/digital-collections/artifact/293147 |id=99.162.1 |access-date=December 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209071504/https://www.thehenryford.org/collections-and-research/digital-collections/artifact/293147|archive-date=December 9, 2022 |ref=none}}
*{{Cite object |author-link=Jony Ive| first=Jony |last=Ive |title=iMac G3 |date=c. 1999 |museum=[[Victoria and Albert Museum]] |medium=artifact |dimensions=38 cm × 37.5&nbsp;cm × 44 cm |url=https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O158296 |id=158296 |access-date=December 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106005343/https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O158296/imac-g3-personal-computer-ive-jonathan |archive-date=January 6, 2024 |ref=none}}
*{{Cite object |author-link=Jony Ive| first=Jony |last=Ive |title=iMac G3 'ruby red' computer |date=c. 1999 |museum=[[Powerhouse Museum]] |medium=artifact |dimensions=14 in × 14.75 in × 16.25 in |url=https://collection.maas.museum/object/646301 |id=2021/100/1 |access-date=December 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240105133609/https://collection.powerhouse.com.au/object/646301|archive-date=January 5, 2024 |ref=none}} 
*{{Cite object |author=Apple Industrial Design Group |title=iMac desktop computer |date=c. 1998 |museum=[[Museum of Modern Art]] |medium=artifact |dimensions= 15 in × 15 in × 17 in |url=https://www.moma.org/collection/works/82133 |id=
1396.2001 |access-date=December 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601062215/https://www.moma.org/collection/works/82133|archive-date=June 1, 2019 |ref=none}}; {{Harvnb|Atkinson|2020|pp=147–149 |ref=none}}.
The iMac G4 is found in collections including MoMA, HomeComputerMuseum, Museums Victoria, and Science Museum Group. Cited to:
* {{cite web|url=https://www.moma.org/collection/works/88065?classifications=any&date_begin=Pre-1850&date_end=2024&q=imac&utf8=%E2%9C%93&with_images=1|title=Jonathan Ive, Apple Industrial Design Group; iMac G4 Desktop Computer c. 2001|publisher=[[Museum of Modern Art]]|access-date=June 26, 2024|archive-date=June 26, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240626170344/https://www.moma.org/collection/works/88065?classifications=any&date_begin=Pre-1850&date_end=2024&q=imac&utf8=%E2%9C%93&with_images=1|url-status=live}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.homecomputermuseum.nl/en/collectie/apple/apple-imac/|title=Collection: Apple iMac G4|publisher=[[HomeComputerMuseum]]|access-date=June 26, 2024|archive-date=February 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208235215/https://www.homecomputermuseum.nl/en/collectie/apple/apple-imac/|url-status=live}}
* {{cite web|url=https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/1484690|title=Item HT 23813; Personal Computer – Apple, iMac G4, Sunflower, 2002|publisher=[[Museums Victoria]]|access-date=June 26, 2024|archive-date=June 30, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240630145020/https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/1484690|url-status=live}}
* {{cite web|url=https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co8361867/imac-g4-computer-with-keyboard-computer|title=iMac G4 computer with keyboard|publisher=[[Science Museum Group]]|access-date=June 26, 2024|archive-date=June 26, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240626170341/https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co8361867/imac-g4-computer-with-keyboard-computer|url-status=live}}
The iMac G5 is found in collections including HomeComputerMuseum:
* {{cite web|url=https://www.homecomputermuseum.nl/en/collectie/apple/apple-imac-g5/|title=Collection: Apple iMac G5|publisher=[[HomeComputerMuseum]]|access-date=June 26, 2024}}
</ref>

== Reception ==

iMac has received considerable critical acclaim, including praise from technology columnist [[Walt Mossberg]] as the "Gold Standard of desktop computing";<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Walt Mossberg |author-link1=Walter Mossberg |last2=Katherine Boehret |author-link2=Katherine Boehret |date=November 30, 2005 |title=A New Gold Standard for PCs |url=https://allthingsd.com/20051130/gold-standard-for-pcs/ |access-date=July 27, 2023 |publisher=All Things Digital}}</ref> ''[[Forbes]]'' magazine described the original candy-colored line of iMac computers as being an "industry-altering success".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jon Swartz |date=April 14, 2000 |title=Resurgence Of An American Icon |url=https://www.forbes.com/2000/04/14/feat.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014213653/http://www.forbes.com/2000/04/14/feat.html |archive-date=October 14, 2007 |access-date=November 24, 2006 |website=Forbes}}</ref> The first 24" [[Core 2 Duo]] iMac received [[CNET]]'s "Must-have desktop" in its 2006 ''Top 10 Holiday Gift Picks''.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=http://www.cnettv.com/9710-1_53-24930.html |title=Must-have desktop: Apple iMac Core 2 Duo (24-inch, 2.16&nbsp;GHz) |date=November 22, 2006 |type=Internet |access-date=January 16, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070819012526/http://www.cnettv.com/9710-1_53-24930.html |archive-date=August 19, 2007 |url-status=dead |people=Rich DeMuro |work=CNET}}</ref>

Apple faced a class-action lawsuit filed in 2008 for allegedly deceiving the public by promising millions of colors from the LCD screens of all Mac models while its 20-inch model only held 262,144 colors.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 31, 2008 |title=Apple hit with another "millions of colors" lawsuit |url=http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/03/31/apple_hit_with_another_millions_of_colors_lawsuit.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080406025816/http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/03/31/apple_hit_with_another_millions_of_colors_lawsuit.html |archive-date=April 6, 2008 |access-date=April 6, 2008 |website=[[AppleInsider]]}}</ref> This issue arose due to the use of 6-bit per pixel [[Liquid crystal display#Twisted nematic (TN)|Twisted nematic LCD]] screens. The case was dismissed on January 21, 2009.<ref>{{cite court|url=http://www.leagle.com/xmlResult.aspx?page=1&xmldoc=20091650672cjfsupp2d978_11563.xml |litigants=Sanders v. Apple Inc. |date=January 21, 2009 |court=[[United States District Court for the Northern District of California|N.D. Cal.]] |vol=672 |reporter=F.Supp.2d |opinion=978}}</ref>

While not a criticism of iMac ''per se'', the integrated design has some inherent tradeoffs that have garnered criticism. In ''The Mythical Midrange Mac Minitower'', Dan Frakes of ''Macworld'' suggests that with the iMac occupying the midrange of Apple's product line, Apple has little to offer consumers who want some ability to expand or upgrade their computers, but do not need (or cannot afford) the [[Mac Pro]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Frakes |first=Dan |title=The Mythical Midrange Mac Minitower |url=http://www.macworld.com/article/58562/2007/06/midrangemac.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100911201909/http://www.macworld.com/article/58562/2007/06/midrangemac.html |archive-date=September 11, 2010 |access-date=July 6, 2011 |website=Macworld}}</ref> For example, iMac's integration of monitor and computer, while convenient, commits the owner to replace both at the same time. For a time before the [[Mac mini]]'s introduction, there were rumors of a "headless iMac"<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bangeman |first=Eric |date=December 29, 2004 |title=Apple supposedly prepping cheap "headless iMac" |url=https://arstechnica.com/old/content/2004/12/4488.ars |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100210061608/http://arstechnica.com/old/content/2004/12/4488.ars |archive-date=February 10, 2010 |access-date=July 6, 2011 |publisher=ARStechnica}}</ref> but the G4 Mac mini as introduced had lower performance compared to the iMac, which at the time featured a G5 processor.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Berger |first=Jennifer |date=January 26, 2005 |title=Mac mini: Perfect Bookshelf Box for Mac Minimalists |url=https://www.macworld.com/article/1042363/macminireview.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402193107/http://www.macworld.com/article/1042363/macminireview.html |archive-date=April 2, 2012 |access-date=March 24, 2012 |website=[[Macworld]]}}</ref>  Some third party suppliers such as [[Other World Computing]] provide upgrade kits that include specialized tools for working on iMacs.

Similarly, though the graphics chipset in some Intel models is on a removable [[Mobile PCI Express Module|MXM]], neither Apple nor third parties have offered retail iMac [[Graphics processing unit|GPU]] upgrades, with the exception of those for the original iMac G3's "mezzanine" PCI slot. Models after iMac G5 made it difficult for the end-user to replace the hard disk or optical drive, and Apple's warranty explicitly forbids upgrading the socketed CPU. While conceding the possibility of a [[mini-tower]] cannibalizing sales from the Mac Pro, Frakes argues there is enough frustration with iMac's limitations to make such a proposition worthwhile. This disparity has become more pronounced after the G4 era since the bottom-end Power Mac G5 (with one brief exception) and Mac Pro models have all been priced in the US$1999–$2499 range, while base model Power Macs G4s and earlier were US$1299–1799. It is possible to upgrade the 2010 edition of the iMac quite easily.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rawlins |first=Stephen |date=April 15, 2012 |title=Upgrade iMac Intel Core i3 CPU to Core i7 |url=http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Upgrade+iMac+Intel+Core+i3+CPU+to+Core+i7/8670/1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012020131/http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Upgrade+iMac+Intel+Core+i3+CPU+to+Core+i7/8670/1 |archive-date=October 12, 2012 |access-date=October 8, 2012 |website=EnglandGreen}}</ref>

== Timeline==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:100%"
|-
! [[Generation]]
! Form factor
! [[Display device|Display]]
! [[Central processing unit|Processor]]
! Included [[Hard drive|storage]]
! Included [[Mac OS]] version<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 21, 2010 |title=Mac OS X versions (builds) included with Intel-based Macs |url=http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1159 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100401165729/http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1159 |archive-date=April 1, 2010 |access-date=May 16, 2010 |publisher=[[Apple Inc.|Apple]]}}</ref>
! Released
! Discontinued

|-
| '''[[iMac G3]]'''
| [[File:IMac G3 Bondi Blue, three-quarters view.png|140px|Slot loading iMac G3.]]
| 15″ [[Cathode ray tube|CRT]]
| [[PowerPC G3]]
| 4&nbsp;GB to 60&nbsp;GB<ref>{{Cite web |title=iMac G3 |url=https://apple-history.com/compare/imac/imac_summer2001}}</ref> [[Hard disk drive|HDD]]
| [[Mac OS 8.1|8.1]], [[Mac OS 8#Mac OS 8.5|8.5]], [[Mac OS 8.6|8.6]], [[Mac OS 9|9.0]], 9.1, [[Mac OS X v10.0|10.0]], [[Mac OS X 10.1|10.1]], [[Mac OS X Jaguar|10.2]]
| August 15, 1998
| March 2003

|-
| '''[[iMac G4]]'''
| [[File:IMac G4 sunflower7.png|120px|iMac G4 Sunflower.]]
| 15″, 17″, or 20″ [[LCD]]
| [[PowerPC G4]]
| 40&nbsp;GB to 160 GB HDD
| 9.2, [[Mac OS X v10.1|10.1]], [[Mac OS X v10.2|10.2]], [[Mac OS X Panther|10.3]]
| January 2002
| July 2004

|-
| '''[[iMac G5]]'''
| [[File:IMac G5 - Frontal view.png|140px|iMac G5 Rev A.]]
| 17″ or 20″ LCD
| [[PowerPC G5]]
| 40&nbsp;GB to 500 GB HDD
| [[Mac OS X Panther|10.3]], [[Mac OS X Tiger|10.4]]
| August 2004
| March 2006

|-
| '''[[iMac (Intel-based)#1st generation: Polycarbonate iMac|Polycarbonate Intel iMac]]'''
| [[File:IMac transparency.png|140px|Polycarbonate iMac.]]
| 17″, 20″, or 24″ LCD
| [[Intel Core]] Duo/[[Intel Core 2|Core 2]] Duo
| 80&nbsp;GB to 750 GB HDD
| [[Mac OS X Tiger|10.4]]
| January 2006
| August 2007

|-
| '''[[iMac (Intel-based)#2nd generation: Aluminum iMac|Aluminum iMac]]'''
| [[File:IMac aluminium.png|150px|Aluminium iMac.]]
| 20″ or 24″ LCD
| [[Intel Core 2]] Duo
| 250&nbsp;GB to 1 TB HDD
| [[Mac OS X Tiger|10.4]], [[Mac OS X Leopard|10.5]], [[Mac OS X Snow Leopard|10.6]]
| August 2007
| August 2011

|-
| '''[[iMac (Intel-based)#3rd generation: Unibody iMac|Unibody iMac]]'''
| [[File:Imac 16-9.png|180px|Unibody iMac.]]
| rowspan=3 | 21.5" or 27" LCD
| [[Intel Core 2]] Duo/[[Intel Core i3|i3]]/[[Intel Core i5|i5]]/[[Intel Core i7|i7]]
| 256&nbsp;GB [[Solid-state drive|SSD]] to 2&nbsp;TB HDD
| [[Mac OS X Snow Leopard|10.6]], [[Mac OS X Lion|10.7]], [[OS X Mountain Lion|10.8]]
| October 2009
| March 2013

|-
| '''[[IMac (Intel-based)#4th generation: Slim Unibody iMac|Slim Unibody iMac]]'''
| [[File:IMac vector.svg|160px|Slim edge unibody iMac.]]
| [[List of Intel Core i3 processors|Intel Core i3]]/[[List of Intel Core i5 processors|i5]]/[[Intel Core i7|i7]]
| 256&nbsp;GB SSD to 3&nbsp;TB HDD
| [[OS X Mountain Lion|10.8]], [[OS X Mavericks|10.9]], [[OS X Yosemite|10.10]], [[OS X El Capitan|10.11]], [[MacOS Sierra|10.12]], [[MacOS High Sierra|10.13]], [[MacOS Mojave|10.14]], [[MacOS Catalina|10.15]], [[MacOS Big Sur|11]]
| November 2012
| October 2021

|-
| '''[[iMac (Intel-based)#5th generation: Retina iMac|Retina iMac]]'''
| [[File:IMac vector.svg|160px|Retina iMac.]]
| [[Intel Core i3]]/[[List of Intel Core i5 microprocessors|i5]]/[[Intel Core i7|i7]]/[[Intel Core i9|i9]]
| 256&nbsp;GB SSD to 3&nbsp;TB HDD
| [[OS X Yosemite|10.10]], [[OS X El Capitan|10.11]], [[MacOS Sierra|10.12]], [[MacOS High Sierra|10.13]], [[MacOS Mojave|10.14]], [[MacOS Catalina|10.15]], [[MacOS Big Sur|11]], [[MacOS Monterey|12]]
| October 2014
| March 2022

|-
| '''[[iMac (Apple silicon)]]'''
| [[File:M1 iMac vector.svg|170px|]]
| 24" LCD
| [[Apple silicon#M series|Apple M series]]
| 256&nbsp;GB to 2&nbsp;TB SSD
| [[MacOS Big Sur|11]], [[MacOS Monterey|12]], [[MacOS Ventura|13]], [[MacOS Sonoma|14]], [[MacOS Sequoia|15]]
| April 2021
| {{N/A}}

|}

{{Timeline of iMac models|headerextension=}}
{{For-text|more detailed timelines|the articles for each individual generation}}

== Supported operating systems ==
=== Supported Apple operating system releases ===

[[macOS Sequoia]] is the current release of macOS, being compatible with 2019 or later iMacs. Most unsupported Intel iMac computers can run macOS Sequoia via the use of a compatible utility.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Supported Models {{!}} OpenCore Legacy Patcher |url=https://dortania.github.io/OpenCore-Legacy-Patcher/MODELS.html#imac |access-date=June 14, 2021 |website=dortania.github.io |archive-date=February 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220201094731/https://dortania.github.io/OpenCore-Legacy-Patcher/MODELS.html#macbook-air |url-status=live }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible style=" style="font-size: 80%"
|+ Supported macOS releases on iMac
|-
! rowspan="3" |OS release
! colspan="13" |PowerPC-based
! colspan="21" |Intel-based
! colspan="3" |Apple silicon
|-
! colspan="2" |G3&nbsp;(Tray&nbsp;Loading)
! colspan="4" |G3&nbsp;(Slot&nbsp;Loading)
! colspan="4" |G4
! colspan="3" |G5
! colspan="3" |Polycarbonate
! colspan="4" |Aluminum
! colspan="4" |Unibody
! colspan="4" |Slim Unibody
! colspan="6" |Retina
! colspan="3" |Colors
|-
!Original (1998)
!Early 1999
!Late 1999
!Mid 2000
!Early 2001
!Mid 2001
!Early 2002 15"
!Mid 2002 17"
!Early 2003
!Late 2003
!Mid 2004
!Mid 2005
!Late 2005
!Early 2006
!Mid 2006
!Late 2006
!Mid 2007
!Early 2008
!Early 2009
!Mid 2009
!Late 2009
!Mid 2010
!Mid 2011
!Late 2011
!Late 2012
!Early 2013
!Late 2013
!Mid 2014
!Late 2014
!Mid 2015
!Late 2015{{r|group=M|NonRetina1517}}
!2017{{r|group=M|NonRetina1517}}
!2019
!2020
!M1, 2021
!M3, 2023
!M4, 2024
|-
![[Mac OS 8]]
|{{Ya|text=8.1{{r|group=M|iMacRevA}}<br/>8.5{{r|group=M|iMacRevB}}}}
|{{Ya|text=8.5.1}}
|{{Ya|text=8.6}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|-
![[Mac OS 9]]
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya|text=9.0.4}}
|colspan="2"{{Ya|text=9.1}}
|colspan="2"{{Ya|text=9.2.2}}
|colspan="5"{{Free|Emulation only}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|-
![[Mac OS X 10.0|10.0 Cheetah]]
|colspan="5" rowspan="4"{{Ya|text=With 128&nbsp;MB RAM}}
|{{Ya|text=10.0.4}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|-
![[Mac OS X 10.1|10.1 Puma]]
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya|text=10.1.2}}
|{{Ya|text=10.1.5}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|-
![[Mac OS X Jaguar|10.2 Jaguar]]
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya|text=10.2.3}}
|{{Ya|text=10.2.7{{r|group=M|PowerMac6,x}}}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|-
![[Mac OS X Panther|10.3 Panther]]
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}{{r|group=M|PowerMac6,3}}
|{{Ya|text=10.3.5}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|-
![[Mac OS X Tiger|10.4 Tiger]]
|colspan="2"{{Partial|Patch,<br />With 256&nbsp;MB RAM}}
|colspan="6"{{Ya|text=With 256&nbsp;MB RAM}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya|text=10.4.2}}
|{{Ya|text=10.4.4}}
|{{Ya|text=10.4.6}}
|{{Ya|text=10.4.7}}
|{{Ya|text=10.4.10}}
|{{Free|Partial}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|-
![[Mac OS X Leopard|10.5 Leopard]]
|colspan="6"{{Nonfree|Patch,<br />With G4 processor upgrade<br />and 384&nbsp;MB{{r|group=M|iMacRevA}} or 512&nbsp;MB RAM}}
|colspan="2"{{Partial|Patch,<br />With 512&nbsp;MB RAM}}
|{{Free|Patch{{r|group=M|PowerMac4,2}}<br />With 512&nbsp;MB RAM}}
|colspan="3"{{Ya|text=With 512&nbsp;MB RAM}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya|text=10.5.2}}
|colspan="2"{{Ya|text=10.5.6}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|-
![[Mac OS X Snow Leopard|10.6 Snow Leopard]]
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|colspan="3"{{Ya|text=With 1&nbsp;GB RAM}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya|text=10.6.1}}
|{{Ya|text=10.6.3}}
|{{Ya|text=10.6.6}}
|{{Free|Unofficial}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|-
![[Mac OS X Lion|10.7 Lion]]
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|colspan="2"{{Partial|Patch,<br />With 2&nbsp;GB RAM{{r|group=M|iMac4,x}}}}
|colspan="5"{{Ya|text=With 2&nbsp;GB RAM}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|-
![[OS X Mountain Lion|10.8 Mountain Lion]]
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|colspan="2"{{Partial|Patch,<br />With 2&nbsp;GB RAM{{r|group=M|ReqMeromProcUpd}}}}
|{{Partial|Patch,<br />With 2&nbsp;GB RAM}}
|colspan="4" rowspan="4"{{Ya|text=With 2&nbsp;GB RAM}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|colspan="2"{{Ya|text=10.8.2}}
|{{Ya|text=10.8.4}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|-
![[OS X Mavericks|10.9 Mavericks]]
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{Partial|Patch,<br />With 2&nbsp;GB RAM{{r|group=M|ReqMeromProcUpd}}}}
|{{Partial|Patch,<br />With 2&nbsp;GB RAM{{r|group=M|ReqMeromProcUpd}}{{r|group=M|GMA950}}}}
|{{Partial|Patch,<br />With 2&nbsp;GB RAM{{r|group=M|GeForce7}}}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya|text=10.9.3}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|-
![[OS X Yosemite|10.10 Yosemite]]
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|rowspan="2"{{Partial|Patch,<br />With 2&nbsp;GB RAM{{r|group=M|ReqMeromProcUpd}}{{r|group=M|RadeonX1600}}}}
|rowspan="2" {{Partial|Patch,<br />With 2&nbsp;GB RAM{{r|group=M|ReqMeromProcUpd}}{{r|group=M|GMA950}}}}
|rowspan="2" {{Partial|Patch,<br />With 2&nbsp;GB RAM{{r|group=M|RadeonX1600}}{{r|group=M|GeForce7}}}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya|text=10.10.2}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|-
![[OS X El Capitan|10.11 El Capitan]]
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|-
![[MacOS Sierra|10.12 Sierra]]
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|rowspan="3"{{Partial|Patch,<br />With 2&nbsp;GB RAM{{r|group=M|ReqSSE4ProcUpd}}}}
|colspan="3" rowspan="3"{{Partial|Patch,<br />With 2&nbsp;GB RAM}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya|text=10.12.4}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|-
![[MacOS High Sierra|10.13 High Sierra]]
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|-
![[MacOS Mojave|10.14 Mojave]]
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|colspan="4"{{Partial|Patch}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya|text=10.14.4}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|-
![[MacOS Catalina|10.15 Catalina]]
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|rowspan="6"{{Partial|Patch,<br />With 4&nbsp;GB RAM{{r|group=M|ReqSSE4ProcUpd}}{{r|group=M|NoBluetooth}}}}<ref name="OpenCore-Patcher">{{cite web |title=OpenCore Legacy Patcher Supported Models |url=https://dortania.github.io/OpenCore-Legacy-Patcher/MODELS.html |website=OpenCore Legacy Patcher |publisher=Dortania |access-date=March 17, 2023}}</ref>
|colspan="3" rowspan="6"{{Partial|Patch,<br />With 4&nbsp;GB RAM}}
|colspan="3"{{Partial|Patch}}
|rowspan="6"{{Partial|Patch,<br />With 4&nbsp;GB RAM}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya|text=10.15.6}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|-
![[macOS Big Sur|11 Big Sur]]
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|colspan="3"{{Partial|Patch}}
|colspan="3"{{Partial|Patch}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya|text=11.3}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|-
![[macOS Monterey|12 Monterey]]
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|colspan="3"{{Partial|Patch}}
|colspan="6"{{Partial|Patch}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|-
![[macOS Ventura|13 Ventura]]
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|colspan="3"{{Partial|Patch}}<ref name="OpenCore-Patcher"/>
|colspan="7"{{Partial|Patch}}<ref name="OpenCore-Patcher"/>
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya|text=13.5}}
|{{n/a}}
|-
![[macOS Sonoma|14 Sonoma]]
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|colspan="3"{{Partial|Patch}}<ref name="OpenCore-Patcher"/>
|colspan="8"{{Partial|Patch}}<ref name="OpenCore-Patcher"/>
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{n/a}}
|-
![[macOS Sequoia|15 Sequoia]]
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|{{na}}
|colspan="3"{{Partial|Patch}}<ref name="OpenCore-Patcher"/>
|colspan="8"{{Partial|Patch}}<ref name="OpenCore-Patcher"/>
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|-
![[macOS Tahoe|26 Tahoe]]
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|}
{{Reflist|group=M|refs=
<ref name=NonRetina1517>Includes 21.5" non-Retina models released in the same date.</ref>
<ref name=iMacRevA>Revision A model.</ref>
<ref name=iMacRevB>Revision B model.</ref>
<ref name=PowerMac6,x>15-inch and 17-inch models. 20-inch model can still run Mac OS X Jaguar.</ref>
<ref name=PowerMac6,3>20-inch model.</ref>
<ref name=PowerMac4,2>15-inch model requires patches.</ref>
<ref name=iMac4,x>Up to 10.7.3 with patches or 10.7.5 with no Wi-Fi.</ref>
<ref name=ReqMeromProcUpd>Requires a Merom processor upgrade.</ref>
<ref name=GMA950> There are no graphics drivers available for the GMA 950 after OS X Mountain Lion.</ref>
<ref name=GeForce7> There are no graphics drivers available for the NVIDIA GeForce 7 Series after OS X Mountain Lion.</ref>
<ref name=RadeonX1600> There are no graphics drivers available for the ATI Radeon X1600 after OS X Mavericks.</ref>
<ref name=ReqSSE4ProcUpd>Requires a Penryn processor upgrade with SSE4 support.</ref>
<ref name=NoBluetooth>No Bluetooth on macOS Big Sur and later.</ref>
}}

=== Supported Windows versions ===
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible style="font-size: 80%"
|+ Supported Windows versions
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width:12em;" |OS release
! colspan="2" |Polycarbonate
!Aluminum
! colspan="3" |Unibody
!Slim Unibody
! colspan="3" |Retina
|-
! colspan="1" |Early 2006
! colspan="2" |Mid 2006-Early 2009
! colspan="1" |Late 2009
! colspan="1" |Mid 2010
! colspan="1" |Mid 2011
! colspan="2" |Late 2012-Mid 2015
! colspan="1" |Late 2015
! 2017–2020
|-
! [[Windows XP]]<br />32-bit{{r|group=W|XP}}<ref name="XP-8">{{cite web |url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204048 |title=System requirements to install Windows on your Mac via Boot Camp |date=March 10, 2015 |access-date=August 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150312172800/https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204048 |archive-date=March 12, 2015 |url-status=deviated}}</ref><ref name="Keizer">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9218794/OS_X_Lion_requires_Windows_7_for_Boot_Camp|title=OS X Lion requires Windows 7 for Boot Camp|last=Keizer|first=Gregg|magazine=[[Computerworld]]|access-date=August 2, 2011|date=August 2, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103034713/http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9218794/OS_X_Lion_requires_Windows_7_for_Boot_Camp|archive-date=November 3, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{partial}}{{r|group=W|XP}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|-
! [[Windows Vista]]<br />32-bit{{r|group=W|Vista}}<ref name="XP-8" /><ref name="Keizer" />
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{partial}}{{r|group=W|Vista}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|-
! [[Windows Vista]]<br />64-bit{{r|group=W|Vista}}<ref name="XP-8" />
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{partial}}{{r|group=W|Vista}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|-
! [[Windows 7]]<br />32-bit{{r|group=W|Win732-bit}}<ref name="XP-8" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nextofwindows.com/apple-released-boot-camp-with-windows-10-support|title=Apple Released Boot Camp 6.1 with Windows 10 Support|last=Hu|first=Jonathan|website=nextofwindows|date=August 12, 2015|access-date=August 21, 2020|archive-date=August 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809114931/https://www.nextofwindows.com/apple-released-boot-camp-with-windows-10-support|url-status=live}}</ref>
|{{Na}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|-
! [[Windows 7]]<br />64-bit{{r|group=W|Win764-bit}}<ref name="XP-8" /><ref name="7 and later">{{cite web|url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204048|title=System requirements to install Windows using Boot Camp for macOS|website=Apple Support|date=December 6, 2018|access-date=August 21, 2020|archive-date=March 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150312172800/https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204048|url-status=live}}</ref>
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|-
! [[Windows 8]]<br />{{r|group=W|8.0}}{{r|group=W|Win8+}}<ref name="XP-8" />
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{partial|Partial, Patch}}{{r|group=W|m10}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Na}}
|-
! [[Windows 8.1]]<br />{{r|group=W|8.1}}{{r|group=W|Win8+}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201457 |title=Use Windows 8.1 on your Mac with Boot Camp |date=September 24, 2018 |website=Apple Support |access-date=August 21, 2020 |archive-date=September 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906054051/https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201457 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="7 and later" />
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{partial|Partial, Patch}}{{r|group=W|m10}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Na}}
|-
! [[Windows 10]]<br />{{r|group=W|Win10}}{{r|group=W|Win8+}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201468 |title=Install Windows 10 on your Mac with Boot Camp Assistant |date=June 16, 2020 |website=Apple Support |access-date=August 21, 2020 |archive-date=August 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200821065212/https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201468 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="7 and later" />
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{partial|Patch}}
|{{partial|Patch}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|-
![[Windows 11]]<br />{{r|group=W|Win11}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Na}}
|-
|}
{{Reflist|group=W|refs=
<ref name=XP>Windows XP can only be installed on Macs built up until late 2009 with [[Boot Camp (software)|Boot Camp]] 3 or earlier, excluding the late 2009 high-end 27-inch model. This includes Mac OS X 10.6 or earlier and copies of Mac OS X 10.7 that have not been updated to Boot Camp 4.</ref>
<ref name=Vista>Windows Vista can only be installed on Macs built up until late 2009 with Boot Camp 3 or earlier, excluding the late 2009 high-end 27-inch model. This includes Mac OS X 10.6 or earlier and copies of Mac OS X 10.7 that have not been updated to Boot Camp 4.</ref>
<ref name=Win732-bit>The 32-bit version of Windows 7 can only be installed on Macs with Boot Camp 3.1 to 6.0. This includes OS X 10.11 and earlier.</ref>
<ref name=Win764-bit>The 64-bit version of Windows 7 can only be installed on Macs with Boot Camp 3.1 or later, running macOS High Sierra or earlier. Later versions of macOS no longer support Windows 7.</ref>
<ref name=8.0>Windows 8 can only be installed on Macs with Boot Camp 5.0 to 6.0. This includes OS X 10.11 and earlier.</ref>
<ref name=Win8+>Only 64-bit versions of Windows are supported for Windows 8 and later.</ref>
<ref name=m10>Only the 27-inch model of the Mid-2010 iMac supports Windows 8 and 8.1. The 21.5-inch model is not supported.</ref>
<ref name=8.1>Windows 8.1 can only be installed on Macs with Boot Camp 5.1 or later, running macOS High Sierra or earlier. Later versions of macOS no longer support Windows 8.1.</ref>
<ref name=Win10>Windows 10 can only be installed on Macs with Boot Camp 6.0 or later. It is the only supported version of Windows on macOS Mojave and later.</ref>
<ref name=Win11>Windows 11 is not officially supported for use via BootCamp by either Apple or Microsoft.</ref>
}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
<!-- https://www.macworld.com/article/231351/the-imacs-lasting-legacy.html -->
== External links ==
{{Commons category|IMac|lcfirst=yes}}
*{{Official website|www.apple.com/imac|iMac}} – official site
*[http://support.apple.com/specs/imac/ Apple – Support – Specifications]
*[https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201634 Apple – Support – How to identify your iMac]
*[https://developer.apple.com/documentation/Hardware/hardware2.html Apple Developer Connection – Comprehensive technical details] ([https://developer.apple.com/documentation/HardwareDrivers/AppleHardware-date.html Latest developer notes])

{{Apple hardware since 1998}}
{{Apple hardware}}
{{Apple}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:IMac family| ]]
[[Category:Macintosh all-in-ones]]
[[Category:Computer-related introductions in 1998]]