REGRET RADAR

Apple iMac 24 (M1): is it worth it long term?

Apple's 2021 redesigned all-in-one with the M1 chip, a 24-inch-class 4.5K display, an 11.5mm-thin chassis in seven colours, six speakers and a 1080p webcam. Owners love the screen, sound, camera and design years later, but the fixed-height stand, limited ports and lean base memory and storage are lasting caveats.

Regret score30/100Low regret
Would buy again77%of owners
Long-term satisfaction8.0/10after a year or more
VerdictBUYMedium confidence
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This entry is written from the 5 sources listed at the bottom of the page. The numbers are our editorial estimates drawn from that material, not measurements, and no statistical sample sits behind them.

Is the Apple iMac 24 (M1) worth it long term?

On the evidence gathered here, yes. 77% of owners say they would buy it again, and satisfaction is still 7.6 out of 10 two years in. M1 still handles daily work smoothly after a year.

What goes wrong with the Apple iMac 24 (M1) after six months?

Owners still enjoy the display, colours, speakers and webcam, and a year-in owner says the M1 only stutters with very large (2-3GB) image files. He advises buying at least 512GB of storage, and potentially 16GB of memory, rather than the lean base configuration.

What are the common long-term problems with the Apple iMac 24 (M1)?

Owners wish for a larger screen and Target Display Mode. Repair forum posts cover display lines, random shutdowns and power faults. Some owners feel the value lags comparable PCs.

Does the Apple iMac 24 (M1) hold up?

M1 still handles daily work smoothly after a year. Sentiment across the ownership period stays close to flat, which is rare: it reads 8.6 out of 10 in the first week and 7.6 two years later.

Who should buy the Apple iMac 24 (M1)?

Worth it for: Home and family desktops; Video calls; Design-conscious buyers. Think twice if: Users needing many legacy ports; Demanding creative pros; Buyers wanting a larger screen.

How owners feel about the Apple iMac 24 (M1) over time

Our reading of how sentiment moves across an ownership period, drawn from the sources below. It is an editorial estimate, not tracked longitudinal data.

Estimated satisfaction by stage of ownership
At purchase8.7 / 10
First week8.6 / 10
One month8.4 / 10
Six months8.2 / 10
One year8.0 / 10
Two years or more7.6 / 10

What owners still praise

What owners complain about

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Sources

Every complaint and every piece of praise above traces back to these. The summaries are ours; nothing is quoted, and no link, quote or username anywhere on this site is invented.

  1. Apple iMac 24-inch (M1) review Digital Trends

    Lists a $1,299 MSRP and calls it near-perfect for most people, praising the 4.5K screen, speakers, webcam and M1 speed while faulting limited ports and the Magic Mouse.

  2. M1 iMac Reviews: Impressively Fast With Long-Awaited Redesign MacRumors

    A review roundup praising the redesign, colours and single-core speed, with the fixed-height stand and the lack of USB-A and SD as the main criticisms.

  3. iMac: One Year Later Basic Apple Guy

    After a year the owner still loves the colour, display, speakers and webcam and finds M1 fast, but suggests buying at least 512GB storage and 16GB memory.

  4. Apple announced the 24-inch iMac three years ago today MacRumors Forums

    Three years on, owners praise the mics, webcam and AirPlay, while others criticise the value, port placement and lack of a larger model or Target Display Mode.

  5. iMac 24" (M1, 2021) Repair Forum iFixit Answers

    Owner repair questions cluster around display lines and cracked glass, random shutdowns, a unit that died after a loud pop and a failing magnetic power connector, though frequency is not established.