How the iMac became iconic

A year after Steve Jobs’ comeback as Apple CEO, the first bulbous iMac G3 with a chunky 15-inch display—think of the old, big-box TVs—ships on August 15, 1998. In a bold move, the design skips a standard feature of the times: the 3.5-inch floppy disk tray. This is the start of Apple getting users into the habit of buying extra cables and adapters by being the first to offer USB ports.

The first iMac G3, in a bondi blue color, is a stark departure from the beige PCs of the time. With sheer panels that expose the tech inside, it resembles no other computer on the market. “The back of this thing looks better than the front of the other guys,” Jobs jokes during the product launch. “It looks like it’s from another planet—a good planet. A planet with better designers.”

The machine sells nearly 280,000 units in the six weeks after its launch, helping Apple return to profitability. A year later, it’s made available in several colors with fruit flavor names: tangerine, grape, lime, strawberry, and blueberry.

The iMac’s design undergoes a drastic change, ending up with a one-inch-thin, flat-panel, LCD display that appears to float above a dome base, which holds all of its components. Mounted on a swivel arm, it’s playfully referred to as the “lamp” because, well, that’s what it looks like.

Mirroring the esthetic of the iPod—first released in 2001—the polycarbonate white iMac G5 is unveiled at the Apple Expo in Paris.

In January 2006, Apple launches the iMac G5 with Intel chips, forging “a historic partnership between the world’s leading chip innovator and the world’s most innovative computer company.” It’s not drastically different from the other variant.

Apple and Intel go through a messy corporate breakup 15 years later, in 2021.

In a major esthetic overhaul, the redesigned iMac melds glass and aluminum for a more contemporary look that sticks as a placeholder for its successors. Apple also includes its redesigned keyboard, Mighty Mouse, and Apple Remote.

In October 2009, the Aluminum Unibody releases. It’s the first edge-to-edge glass design and has a 16:9 high-definition display.

Three years later, in November 2012, the Slim Aluminum Unibody version appears. With a 5-millimeter screen edge, it takes up as much as 40% less volume than the previous generation. This time, the entire computer is integrated into the flat-panel display, giving it a sleek look. This iMac also features a new Fusion Drive—combining a high-capacity hard drive with high-performance flash storage—and consumes 50% less energy than previous models while idling with its display on.

Fast-forward to 2015, and the entire iMac range gets a makeover. Apple launches its first iMac with a Retina display, which has four times the pixels of its HD predecessor. The company also introduces a new lineup of wireless accessories, including the Magic Keyboard, and second-generation designs for the Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad, which feature rechargeable batteries.

Apple announces the iMac Pro, which is more powerful and professional than its predecessors. A brighter and more pixelated, color-accurate display is meant to be a boon for creative professionals. The device comes in a new color—Apple’s now-famous space gray—with matching accessories.

But it doesn’t find many takers,  nor does Apple pay it much attention. After receiving hardly any hardware updates in its lifetime, the iMac Pro is discontinued in March 2021. That decision comes to light when the Apple website’s item page carries the warning “while supplies last.”

The latest iMac variation, called the iMac 24 because of its 24-inch screen, is the slimmest yet, at 11.5 millimeters, and weighs under 10 pounds. This revamped desktop with 4K definition is brighter, with better colors, enhanced stereo speakers, and a redesigned thermal architecture for 75% more airflow.

Right now may not be the best time to buy it, though. MacRumors recommends waiting for the refreshed product line and purchasing the newest model.