Apple iMac (20-inch, Mid 2009) vs Apple iMac (21.5-inch, Early 2013)

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Only show differences

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Share comparison

iMac (20-inch, Mid 2009) compared with iMac (21.5-inch, Early 2013)

	AppleiMac (20-inch, Mid 2009)	AppleiMac (21.5-inch, Early 2013)
Overview
Released
Released	April 2009	March 2013
Performance
Processor
Processor	Intel Core 2 Duo 2 GHz (iMac Mid 2009) or Intel Core 2 Duo 2.26 GHz (iMac Mid 2009)	Intel Core i3 3.3 GHz (iMac Early 2013)
CPU cores
CPU cores	2	2
Graphics
Graphics	NVIDIA GeForce 9400M (256 MB shared DDR3)	Intel HD Graphics 4000
Memory
Memory	1 GB, 2 GB or 4 GB	4 GB
Storage
Storage	160 GB to 320 GB	500 GB (better)
CPU
CPU	2.0 or 2.26 GHz Core 2 Duo with 3 MB shared L2 cache and 1066 MHz frontside bus. The retained configuration table says 2.6 GHz, but its processor description and Apple's July 2011 education price list confirm 2.26 GHz; exact Intel SKU not established.	3.3 GHz dual-core Core i3 confirmed by the US maker education price list and contemporary Apple-store coverage. A conflicting New York state price-list row says 3.1 GHz; the corroborated US maker row is used. Exact secondary EveryMac identifies i3-3225, but the chip record retains the maker clock name.
GPU
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce 9400M with 256 MB shared DDR3 according to the retained maker specification; contemporary EveryMac coverage describes 128 MB at launch, so the retained maker value is used.	Intel HD Graphics 4000, sharing system memory; maker price list confirms the graphics model.
Memory type
Memory type	Two SO-DIMM slots for 1066 MHz DDR3; configurations A/B have 1 GB standard and C has 2 GB. Factory options are 2 or 4 GB; the retained specification supports up to 8 GB, which is not listed as a factory configuration.	4 GB in two 2 GB modules confirmed by the maker price list; 1600 MHz DDR3 and internal-only memory access according to EveryMac. Secondary reports of higher memory options are not expanded into an unverified factory matrix.
Storage type
Storage type	160 or 320 GB 7200 rpm Serial ATA hard drive; slot-loading 8x SuperDrive with 4x double-layer DVD burning.	500 GB hard drive confirmed by the maker price list; EveryMac specifies 5400 rpm Serial ATA. No built-in optical drive. Unspecified alternative storage capacities are omitted.
Display
Screen size
Screen size	20″	21.5″
Resolution
Resolution	1680 × 1050	1920 × 1080 (better)
Panel
Panel	–	IPS LCD
Brightness
Brightness	290 nits	–
Display type
Display type	Glossy TFT active-matrix LCD with millions of colours; typical contrast 800:1 and 160-degree horizontal and vertical viewing angles. Panel technology and refresh rate unpublished.	EveryMac specifies an IPS LED-backlit display with laminated cover glass and antireflective coating. No retained exact maker technical sheet was found; panel technology comes from this named exact-model secondary source. Brightness and refresh rate are unpublished.
Connections
Ports
Ports	4 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack	4 × USB-A, 2 × Thunderbolt, Ethernet, SD card slot, headphone jack
Ethernet
Ethernet	1 Gb/s	1 Gb/s
External displays
External displays	Up to 1	–
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	802.11n draft	802.11n (EveryMac)
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	–	4.0 (EveryMac)
Camera
Camera	iSight camera	FaceTime HD camera (EveryMac)
Back ports
Back ports	Four USB 2.0 ports on the computer, plus two on the keyboard; FireWire 800 at 7 W, Mini DisplayPort, Gigabit Ethernet, headphone/optical digital output and line-in/optical digital input. Bluetooth is not published in this exact model specification.	According to EveryMac: four USB 3 ports, two first-generation Thunderbolt ports, SDXC card slot, Gigabit Ethernet and headphone/optical digital output with iPhone headset microphone support.
External displays
External displays	Built-in display and one external display up to 2560 × 1600 simultaneously; extended desktop or mirroring, with optional DVI, VGA or dual-link DVI adapters.	–
Speakers
Speakers	Built-in stereo speakers and microphone; internal 24 W digital amplifier and support for Apple Stereo Headset microphones.	Built-in stereo speakers and dual microphones, according to EveryMac.
Keyboard and mouse
Keyboard and mouse	Apple Keyboard and Mighty Mouse.	Wired Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad and traditional Apple Mouse, according to EveryMac.
Design and power
Type
Type	All-in-one	All-in-one
Weight
Weight	9.1 kg	–
Width × depth × height
Width × depth × height	485 × 189 × 469 mm	–
Operating system
Operating system	macOS	macOS
Size and weight detail
Size and weight detail	Maker reference weight; actual weight varies with configuration and manufacturing process.	–
Power supply
Power supply	Maximum continuous power 200 W; 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz.	–
In the box
In the box	Education institution model. Contemporary EveryMac coverage records April 2009 release; a maker-confirmed first delivery day is unavailable. Launch configuration A includes Leopard and iLife ’09; later B/C specifications list Snow Leopard and iLife ’11, with their introduction dates unestablished.	Education-only model confirmed by Apple documentation. Maker price list confirms the stock 3.3 GHz/4 GB/500 GB configuration; other detailed figures come from the named exact-model EveryMac source. March 2013 month precision follows contemporary Apple-store coverage and maker pricing; initial orders quoted 5–7 business days, not confirmed delivery on 5 March.