I’ve had my 2019 27-inch iMac (i9-9900k, 64GB RAM, 1TB, Vega48) for sale for a while now since I don’t use it much. Today, someone offered to trade it for a 24-inch iMac M3 (8-core CPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB). The reason the other person wants to trade is because they need Bootcamp.
At first, I thought it was a bad idea, but now I’m not so sure. Spec-wise, my Intel machine seems better, but the M3 seems to perform better in some tasks based on reviews. I like the Apple Silicon devices, and I’d get a more modern-looking iMac with a warranty (though with a slightly smaller screen, which is okay for me).
I’d never trade my 27-inch 2020 for any Silicon iMac. The screen is what matters most since you’re staring at it all day. I doubt you’d even notice a difference in performance. For me, it’s a definite no.
Mikel said: @Harley
Yeah, but remember, soon the Intel ones won’t get updates anymore. That’s going to happen sooner rather than later.
True, but my 2020 still has years of support. Plus, I’ve got a 2015 27-inch running Open Core Legacy and it works just fine. Updates aren’t a big deal for me.
The M3 costs about $1,800 from Apple, while the 2019 is priced all over the place. You might get $1,000 if you search well. You’d lose that amazing 27-inch 5K display though… Tough call, but I’d probably go for it. The M3 will last you longer with updates. Good luck!
@Jordan
Yeah, it’s a hard choice. The M3 blows the i9-9900k out of the water in benchmarks. It costs about €2,100 here, and I’ve been asking a lot for my Intel iMac, but nobody’s biting. The 4.5K Retina display is nice, and the fact that the M3 will last another decade is tempting.
I didn’t know the 2019 came with a Vega48. It sounds solid. I paid $800 for an iMac Pro with 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, and Vega 56, and it performs similarly. The M3 will be faster in some tasks, use less power, and get more support. But if you care about the screen, the 27-inch 5K is hard to give up. I wouldn’t make the trade, but that’s just because I love that display.
@Mal
Yeah, I know what I’m losing: bigger screen, more storage, and lots of RAM. But I have a NAS, and most of my computers get by with 256GB or even 128GB. The 16GB RAM in the M3 is more than enough for me. The 4.5K Retina display is still beautiful, and I’d be getting a more modern machine with support for another decade. It seems like a great trade-off to me.
Make sure the trade is safe for you. I recently sold a device and got an email an hour later saying the buyer’s account was hacked, and they didn’t want to purchase it. Their account was shut down the next day. If you think the deal is good, it’s probably worth it since the M3 will sell faster than the 2019 iMac. But don’t let them convince you to ship yours first!
@Sutton
If we do it, he has to come to my place for the trade in person. I don’t use the iMac much, but this deal seems good (if it’s legit). And yeah, the M3 would sell faster than a 5-year-old Intel iMac.
Sutton said: @Mikel
That’s smart. Make sure you boot the M3 and try logging into the App Store to see if it’s locked. It’s a simple way to spot any issues.
Good idea! I’ll make sure to load my iCloud account on it before they leave.
@Mikel
That’s the same way I do deals. When I buy, I go to their place. When I sell, they come to mine. I make sure we exchange names and addresses to avoid any surprises.
I’ve got an iMac M3 (24GB RAM, 512GB) and it’s awesome. If the one you’re offered has 16GB RAM, I’d go for it. Everyone’s looking for Silicon Macs, and the only people still buying Intel ones either have a tight budget or need to run Windows.
I had a 2017 Intel Mac that died recently, and I replaced it with a 24-inch iMac M3. It’s smooth and quiet, but I couldn’t handle the smaller screen. I ended up returning it after two weeks. I really miss the larger screen.
I have both an older 27-inch iMac (from 2011) and a 24-inch M1 iMac. The 27-inch is mostly used as a TV now. The 24-inch iMac worried me at first because I loved the larger screen, but in practice, the 24-inch is still great. You can split the screen and work comfortably. If you’re worried, go to a store and compare them side by side.