Apple iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2010) vs Apple iMac (27-inch, Mid 2010)

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

Only show differences

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Share comparison

iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2010) compared with iMac (27-inch, Mid 2010)

	AppleiMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2010)	AppleiMac (27-inch, Mid 2010)
Overview
Released
Released	July 2010	July 2010
Performance
Processor
Processor	Intel Core i3-540, Intel Core i3-550 or Intel Core i5-680	Intel Core i3-550, Intel Core i5-680, Intel Core i5-760 or Intel Core i7-870
CPU cores
CPU cores	2	2 or 4
CPU threads
CPU threads	4	–
Graphics
Graphics	ATI Radeon HD 4670 (256 MB GDDR3) or ATI Radeon HD 5670 (512 MB GDDR3)	ATI Radeon HD 5670 (512 MB GDDR3) or ATI Radeon HD 5750 (1 GB GDDR5)
Memory
Memory	4 GB or 8 GB	4 GB, 8 GB or 16 GB (better)
Storage
Storage	500 GB to 2 TB	256 GB to 2 TB
CPU
CPU	3.06 GHz dual-core Core i3-540 or 3.2 GHz dual-core Core i3-550, both with Hyper-Threading and 4 MB L3 cache; the higher model offers a 3.6 GHz dual-core Core i5-680 with Hyper-Threading and Turbo Boost. Exact processor identities cross-checked with EveryMac; unpublished optional boost figures omitted.	3.2 GHz dual-core Core i3-550 or optional 3.6 GHz dual-core Core i5-680, both with Hyper-Threading and 4 MB L3 cache; higher model has a 2.8 GHz quad-core Core i5-760 or optional 2.93 GHz quad-core Core i7-870 with Hyper-Threading, both with 8 MB L3 cache. Exact identities cross-checked with EveryMac; optional unpublished boost figures omitted.
GPU
GPU	3.06 GHz model has ATI Radeon HD 4670 with 256 MB GDDR3; 3.2 GHz and optional i5 models have ATI Radeon HD 5670 with 512 MB GDDR3	Dual-core models have ATI Radeon HD 5670 with 512 MB GDDR3; quad-core models have ATI Radeon HD 5750 with 1 GB GDDR5
Memory type
Memory type	4 GB standard as two 2 GB modules, with factory upgrade to 8 GB in the UK launch release. Four user-accessible SO-DIMM slots support up to 16 GB of 1333 MHz DDR3; the user maximum is distinct from the published factory options.	4 GB standard as two 2 GB modules; four user-accessible SO-DIMM slots support up to 16 GB of 1333 MHz DDR3. UK launch release offers factory upgrades to 8 or 16 GB for both models.
Storage type
Storage type	Base model has a 500 GB 7200 rpm hard drive; higher model has 1 TB, configurable to 2 TB. Slot-loading 8x SuperDrive with double-layer DVD burning.	1 TB 7200 rpm hard drive standard, configurable to 2 TB. UK launch release explicitly offers a 256 GB SSD as a primary or secondary drive. Separate hard-drive-plus-SSD options are described here rather than labelled Fusion Drive or combined into a single SSD capacity. Slot-loading 8x SuperDrive with double-layer DVD burning.
Display
Screen size
Screen size	21.5″	27″
Resolution
Resolution	1920 × 1080	2560 × 1440 (better)
Panel
Panel	IPS LCD	IPS LCD
Brightness
Brightness	330 nits	375 nits (better)
Display type
Display type	Glossy LED-backlit IPS widescreen display, 1920 × 1080 pixels; maker typical brightness 330 cd/m². Refresh rate unpublished and omitted.	Glossy LED-backlit IPS widescreen display, 2560 × 1440 pixels and maker typical brightness 375 cd/m²; refresh rate unpublished and omitted
Connections
Ports
Ports	DisplayPort, 4 × USB-A, Ethernet, SD card slot, headphone jack	DisplayPort, 4 × USB-A, Ethernet, SD card slot, headphone jack
Ethernet
Ethernet	1 Gb/s	1 Gb/s
External displays
External displays	Up to 1	Up to 1
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	802.11n	802.11n
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	2.1 + EDR	2.1 + EDR
Camera
Camera	iSight camera	iSight camera
Back ports
Back ports	Mini DisplayPort audio/video output, four USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 800 at 7 W, Gigabit Ethernet, SDXC slot, headphone/optical digital output and line-in/optical digital input. FireWire and audio input appear here because the main port list has no fields for them.	Mini DisplayPort audio/video input and output, four USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 800 at 7 W, Gigabit Ethernet, SDXC slot, headphone/optical digital output and line-in/optical digital input. FireWire and audio input are described here because the main port list has no fields for them.
External displays
External displays	Full built-in resolution and one external display up to 2560 × 1600 simultaneously; extended desktop and mirroring, optional DVI/VGA/dual-link DVI adapters	Full built-in resolution and one external display up to 2560 × 1600 simultaneously; Mini DisplayPort input can display an external DisplayPort source. Extended desktop and mirroring, with optional DVI/VGA/dual-link DVI output adapters.
Speakers
Speakers	Built-in stereo speakers with two internal 17 W amplifiers, microphone and support for iPhone headset microphones	Built-in stereo speakers with two internal 17 W amplifiers, microphone and support for iPhone headset microphones
Keyboard and mouse
Keyboard and mouse	Apple Wireless Keyboard and Magic Mouse; Magic Trackpad available separately	Apple Wireless Keyboard and Magic Mouse; Magic Trackpad available separately
Design and power
Type
Type	All-in-one	All-in-one
Weight
Weight	9.3 kg (better)	13.8 kg
Width × depth × height
Width × depth × height	528 × 188.5 × 451 mm	650 × 207 × 517 mm
Operating system
Operating system	macOS	macOS
Power supply
Power supply	Maximum continuous power 241 W; 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz single phase	Maximum continuous power 365 W; 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz single phase
Materials
Materials	Aluminium and glass enclosure, arsenic-free display glass and mercury-free LED backlight; BFR-free and PVC-free components, with PVC-free AC cord availability limited to named regions	Aluminium and glass enclosure, arsenic-free display glass and mercury-free LED backlight; BFR-free and PVC-free components, with PVC-free AC cord availability limited to named regions
In the box
In the box	iMac, Apple Wireless Keyboard, Magic Mouse, cleaning cloth, power cord, install/restore DVDs and documentation; Mac OS X Snow Leopard and iLife at launch	iMac, Apple Wireless Keyboard, Magic Mouse, cleaning cloth, power cord, install/restore DVDs and documentation; Mac OS X Snow Leopard and iLife at launch