Apple · iMac

iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2011)

Released May 2011

A Full HD all-in-one with quad-core Intel processors, dedicated Radeon graphics, Thunderbolt and a built-in DVD drive.

Model history · 12 models, 2003–2011

2003iMac G4 (20-inch, USB 2.0)Compare
2004iMac G5 (20-inch, 2004)Compare
2005iMac G5 (20-inch, Ambient Light Sensor)Compare
2005iMac G5 (20-inch, iSight)Compare
2006iMac (20-inch, Early 2006)Compare
2006iMac (20-inch, Late 2006)Compare
2007iMac (20-inch, Mid 2007)Compare
2008iMac (20-inch, Early 2008)Compare
2009iMac (20-inch, Early 2009)Compare
2009iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009)Compare
2010iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2010)Compare
2011iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2011)

Type: All-in-one
Processor: Intel Core i5 or i7
Memory: 4 GB – 16 GB
Storage: 500 GB – 2 TB
Screen: 21.5″
Weight: 9.3 kg

All-in-one

What reviewers say

Reviewers praised the build quality, display and improved quad-core performance. Macworld considered the base model good value for ordinary workloads, while the higher model offered stronger graphics and more upgrades. Trusted Reviews and Les Numériques criticised reflective glass and the Magic Mouse; both found the screen and general performance capable, but wanted broader connections.

From macworld.com, trustedreviews.com and lesnumeriques.com

Specifications

Report a wrong or missing spec

Performance

Processor: Intel Core i5-2400S, Intel Core i5-2500S or Intel Core i7-2600S
CPU cores: 4
Graphics: AMD Radeon HD 6750M (512 MB GDDR5) or AMD Radeon HD 6770M (512 MB GDDR5)
Memory: 4 GB, 8 GB or 16 GB
Storage: 500 GB to 2 TB
CPU: 2.5 GHz quad-core Core i5-2400S or 2.7 GHz quad-core Core i5-2500S; the higher model offers a 2.8 GHz quad-core Core i7-2600S upgrade. Exact model identities cross-checked with EveryMac; the i5 has 6 MB shared L3 cache. Intel confirms the i7 has eight threads and up to 3.8 GHz Turbo Boost.
GPU: 2.5 GHz model has AMD Radeon HD 6750M with 512 MB GDDR5; 2.7 GHz and optional i7 models have Radeon HD 6770M with 512 MB GDDR5
Memory type: Four SO-DIMM slots, 1333 MHz DDR3; 4 GB standard as two 2 GB modules. Base model offers an 8 GB factory upgrade; higher model offers 8 or 16 GB. Memory is user accessible.
Storage type: Base model has a 500 GB 7200 rpm hard drive. Higher model has a 1 TB 7200 rpm drive, configurable to 2 TB and a 256 GB solid-state second drive. Mixed hard-drive-plus-SSD options are described here rather than labelled Fusion Drive or presented as a single SSD; no standalone 256 GB row is inferred from the support sheet's second-drive wording. Slot-loading 8x SuperDrive with 4x double-layer DVD burning.

Display

Screen size: 21.5″
Resolution: 1920 × 1080
Panel: IPS LCD
Display type: Glossy LED-backlit IPS widescreen display, millions of colours; optional unpublished refresh rate and brightness omitted

Connections

Ports: Thunderbolt, 4 × USB-A, Ethernet, SD card slot, headphone jack
Ethernet: 1 Gb/s
External displays: Up to 1
Wi-Fi: 802.11n
Bluetooth: 2.1 + EDR
Camera: FaceTime HD camera
Back ports: One Thunderbolt port also provides Mini DisplayPort 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 are described here because the main port list has no fields for them; IR receiver built in.
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
Speakers: Stereo speakers with two internal 17 W amplifiers, built-in microphone and support for iPhone headset microphones
Keyboard and mouse: Apple Wireless Keyboard and Magic Mouse, with Magic Trackpad substitution available from the online store

Design and power

Type: All-in-one
Weight: 9.3 kg
Width × depth × height: 528 × 188.5 × 451 mm
Operating system: macOS
Power supply: Maximum continuous power 205 W; 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz single phase
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
In the box: iMac, Apple Wireless Keyboard, Magic Mouse, power cord, install/restore DVDs and documentation. Launch press specifies Mac OS X Snow Leopard and iLife '11; the later support sheet lists OS X Lion, reflecting the software update rather than launch software.

Configurations

Processor	Memory	Storage	Storage type	Graphics
Intel Core i5-2400S	4 GB	500 GB	Hard drive	AMD Radeon HD 6750M (512 MB GDDR5)
Intel Core i5-2400S	8 GB	500 GB	Hard drive	AMD Radeon HD 6750M (512 MB GDDR5)
Intel Core i5-2500S	4 GB	1 TB	Hard drive	AMD Radeon HD 6770M (512 MB GDDR5)
Intel Core i5-2500S	4 GB	2 TB	Hard drive	AMD Radeon HD 6770M (512 MB GDDR5)
Intel Core i5-2500S	8 GB	1 TB	Hard drive	AMD Radeon HD 6770M (512 MB GDDR5)
Intel Core i5-2500S	8 GB	2 TB	Hard drive	AMD Radeon HD 6770M (512 MB GDDR5)
Intel Core i5-2500S	16 GB	1 TB	Hard drive	AMD Radeon HD 6770M (512 MB GDDR5)
Intel Core i5-2500S	16 GB	2 TB	Hard drive	AMD Radeon HD 6770M (512 MB GDDR5)
Intel Core i7-2600S	4 GB	1 TB	Hard drive	AMD Radeon HD 6770M (512 MB GDDR5)
Intel Core i7-2600S	4 GB	2 TB	Hard drive	AMD Radeon HD 6770M (512 MB GDDR5)
Intel Core i7-2600S	8 GB	1 TB	Hard drive	AMD Radeon HD 6770M (512 MB GDDR5)
Intel Core i7-2600S	8 GB	2 TB	Hard drive	AMD Radeon HD 6770M (512 MB GDDR5)
Intel Core i7-2600S	16 GB	1 TB	Hard drive	AMD Radeon HD 6770M (512 MB GDDR5)
Intel Core i7-2600S	16 GB	2 TB	Hard drive	AMD Radeon HD 6770M (512 MB GDDR5)

Pros and cons

Pros

IPS display and FaceTime HD camera built in
Thunderbolt connection for displays and peripherals
User-accessible memory slots

Cons

Glossy screen with no matte option
USB ports are limited to USB 2.0
Base configuration has fewer factory upgrade options

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Processor	Memory	Storage	Screen	Weight	Released
AppleiMac (27-inch, Mid 2011)	All-in-one	Intel Core i5 or i7	4 GB – 16 GB	1 TB – 2 TB	27″	13.8 kg	May 2011
AppleiMac (21.5-inch, Late 2012)	All-in-one	Intel Core i5 or i7	8 GB – 16 GB	1 TB	21.5″	5.68 kg	Nov 2012
AppleiMac (27-inch, Mid 2010)	All-in-one	Intel Core i3, i5 or i7	4 GB – 16 GB	256 GB – 2 TB	27″	13.8 kg	Jul 2010

Previous model: iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2010). Newer model: iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2012).

Sources

Photo: cdsassets.apple.com

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