iMac 27" or the new iMac 24 with M1: I need a new computer: either the traditional iMac 27 or the new iMac 24 but I don't know which is better for photo editing (I use Lightroom). One...

FiddleMaker Loc: Merrimac, MA

I need a new computer: either the traditional iMac 27 or the new iMac 24 but I don't know which is better for photo editing (I use Lightroom). One advantage of the newer 24 inch iMac is it weight - less than 9 or 10 lbs whereas the newer version of the traditional iMac 27 inch weighs 20 lbs. My current Dell weighs nearly 39 lbs. and is a beast to move. Also, it has been nothing but trouble since day one.
I am open for suggestions. Thanks.
~ FiddleMaker

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I've been using an iMac for the last 7+ years. I love the 27" screen. About a year ago, I upgraded due to the OS not being compatible with the latest Ps. I chose to stay with the iMac instead of going with the M1. I love the larger screen.

So what if the 27" weighs more. I don't carry my iMac around like a camera. It sits on a desk, and that's it. I don't understand where weight enters into this decision.
--Bob

FiddleMaker wrote:

I need a new computer: either the traditional iMac 27 or the new iMac 24 but I don't know which is better for photo editing (I use Lightroom). One advantage of the newer 24 inch iMac is it weight - less than 9 or 10 lbs whereas the newer version of the traditional iMac 27 inch weighs 20 lbs. My current Dell weighs nearly 39 lbs. and is a beast to move. Also, it has been nothing but trouble since day one.
I am open for suggestions. Thanks.
~ FiddleMaker

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

Personally, I prefer the 27" for editing but I would put the M1 chip as my priority. I plan on a Mac Studio in early summer. Presently I am using an iMac PRO with dual monitors. With desktops, weight is not a consideration for me. Best of luck.

FiddleMaker Loc: Merrimac, MA

rmalarz wrote:

I've been using an iMac for the last 7+ years. I love the 27" screen. About a year ago, I upgraded due to the OS not being compatible with the latest Ps. I chose to stay with the iMac instead of going with the M1. I love the larger screen.

So what if the 27" weighs more. I don't carry my iMac around like a camera. It sits on a desk, and that's it. I don't understand where weight enters into this decision.
--Bob

I had a iMac 27 back in 2010 and I had to keep hauling it back and forth to the Apple store in Salem, NH for various issues. And it was a long walk from the parking garage to the store, even using a "2-wheeler" as an assist. So I really don't want to do that at my age (79).

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

FiddleMaker wrote:

I had a iMac 27 back in 2010 and I had to keep hauling it back and forth to the Apple store in Salem, NH for various issues. And it was a long walk from the parking garage to the store, even using a "2-wheeler" as an assist. So I really don't want to do that at my age (79).

I had trouble with the BigSur update and had to take my 27" iMac to the apple store, I just put it in my folding four wheeled wagon and off we went not big problem!! I'm 82 , if I had not had the wagon I would have used a folding luggage dolly with the Mac in its shipping box.

drmike99 Loc: Fairfield Connecticut

To me the M1 chip trumps the monitor size. I bought a MacBook Air last year and the performance is stupendous.

FiddleMaker Loc: Merrimac, MA

Manglesphoto wrote:

I had trouble with the BigSur update and had to take my 27" iMac to the apple store, I just put it in my folding four wheeled wagon and off we went not big problem!! I'm 82 , if I had not had the wagon I would have used a folding luggage dolly with the Mac in its shipping box.

Back in 2010 I did not have this problem with a bad case of spinal stenosis and sciatica so it was not a problem hauling it around but now I can barely walk. But I am leaning toward the traditional 27" iMac but I wish it had the M1 chip.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

FiddleMaker wrote:

Back in 2010 I did not have this problem with a bad case of spinal stenosis and sciatica so it was a problem hauling it around but now I can barely walk. But I am leaning toward the traditional 27" iMac but I wish it had the M1 chip.

That would be called the Mac Studio!

Jon_Armitage Loc: Holmfirth, West Yorkshire

I faced this issue last year, when it was either buy an Intel 27in. iMac or the Mac Mini with the M1 chip. I couldn't wait, my old Mac Mini was dying.

In the end, I plumped for the iMac (I use Lightroom as well), and I am very happy with it after upgrading the memory to 64GB, and have had no problem so far with upgrades.

The Mac Mini with a decent monitor would have cost about the same, as I recall. This might not be the case on your side of The Pond.

You have more choice now, and there is no doubt that the M series chips are the Apple future: I believe some Mac OS features are already only available on the new machines, but at the end of the day it probably comes down, as ever, to how much you want to spend.

twosummers Loc: Melbourne Australia or Lincolnshire England

I ditched my 5 year old iMac for new 24in M1 iMac with SSD. The older machine was almost unusable for photo editing despite large screen. The M1 (or M2 soon) is the way to go as is the SSD

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

FiddleMaker wrote:

I need a new computer: either the traditional iMac 27 or the new iMac 24 but I don't know which is better for photo editing (I use Lightroom). One advantage of the newer 24 inch iMac is it weight - less than 9 or 10 lbs whereas the newer version of the traditional iMac 27 inch weighs 20 lbs. My current Dell weighs nearly 39 lbs. and is a beast to move. Also, it has been nothing but trouble since day one.
I am open for suggestions. Thanks.
~ FiddleMaker

I recently bought a iMac 27" with the I-9 10 core chips thinking that it would be more capable than the M Chip based computer... I am running 40 gig of RAM... Not so sure that I made the best decision, the M chip represents the future of the Mac platforms and future software will be developed around it. The I-9 chips are definitely an upgrade from my older Mac but I can honestly say that it did not meet my expectations.

ecobin Loc: Paoli, PA

The M chip is superb for photo editing. There's a rumor that Apple will announce an M chip 27" iMac in June - if you can wait - otherwise, I'd go with the iMac 24" and get as much ram as you can.

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

ecobin wrote:

The M chip is superb for photo editing. There's a rumor that Apple will announce an M chip 27" iMac in June - if you can wait - otherwise, I'd go with the iMac 24" and get as much ram as you can.

The RAM was a big reason that I stayed with intel, the new Macs with the M chip set last I looked will only take 16 gig of RAM, but that is kind of a misnomer as the new architecture uses available resources differently and RAM is not as important as it was in previous versions. I still think that I made the wrong decision in purchasing the Intel based computer.

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

FiddleMaker wrote:

I need a new computer: either the traditional iMac 27 or the new iMac 24 but I don't know which is better for photo editing (I use Lightroom). One advantage of the newer 24 inch iMac is it weight - less than 9 or 10 lbs whereas the newer version of the traditional iMac 27 inch weighs 20 lbs. My current Dell weighs nearly 39 lbs. and is a beast to move. Also, it has been nothing but trouble since day one.
I am open for suggestions. Thanks.
~ FiddleMaker

The 27" iMac is going away except for the Pro version. Consider the new Mac Studio. These should perform well and you can choose your own monitor (get one that can be calibrated). I am waiting for my new Mac Studio.

FiddleMaker Loc: Merrimac, MA

Blurryeyed wrote:

The RAM was a big reason that I stayed with intel, the new Macs with the M chip set last I looked will only take 16 gig of RAM, but that is kind of a misnomer as the new architecture uses available resources differently and RAM is not as important as it was in previous versions. I still think that I made the wrong decision in purchasing the Intel based computer.

My concern with the new 24" iMacs running the M1 chip is that 16 GB is the max amount of RAM you can have and will this be enough to run Lightroom/Photoshop ?? At least with a 27" iMac, I can use 32 or even 64 GB of RAM and feel safe that Lr won't bog down. I have 16 GB of RAM on this POS Dell all-in-one desktop and it runs slow.