The WORST iMac to buy

The video centers on evaluating the 2020 27-inch iMac, highlighting why Linus from Linus Tech Tips considers it the worst iMac to buy. It begins by acknowledging that Apple’s shift to Apple Silicon is still coming, while the 2020 model still uses Intel, and it explains how this creates a kind of “dead on arrival” experience once Apple fully transitions. The host points out concrete technical details, noting the iMac ships with eight gigs of DDR4 memory by default, upgradable storage up to eight terabytes, and optional upgrades like 10 gigabit ethernet for faster network backups, all of which are meant to improve performance but still leave questions about future compatibility. He emphasizes the impact of upcoming software changes, such as Rosetta 2 and Universal Binary 2, which will affect how well Intel-based apps run on Apple Silicon and how developers will approach cross-architecture compatibility, potentially leaving Intel users with uneven support over time. The discussion then shifts to thermals and design, noting the iMac’s 14-nanometer processors, aggressive turbo behavior, and the way sustained workloads can push temperatures high before throttling back, which tilts the calculus toward waiting for Apple Silicon machines. Finally, the video rounds out with the notion that the iMac might look different in the future, predicting a transition to a design more in line with the MacBook and Pro Display XDR lineage, and it acknowledges that the current model can still be a reasonable choice only for very specific, time-limited needs, while stressing that most buyers should probably wait. Throughout, the host weaves in a candid critique of the perceived value, including the high price of upgrades and the overall experience of buying a Mac that may be obsolete sooner than later, and he contrasts this with the anticipated long-term support and software compatibility that Apple will need to secure with Apple Silicon. The sponsorship segment with Ridge Wallet is integrated as a light aside, but the primary focus remains on evaluating whether the 2020 iMac is worth purchasing today given the broader strategic shifts at Apple.

Topics · technology · consumer-electronics · hardware · apple · product-reviews