Catalina
Because I am unable to upgrade to Catalina, is my mid 2011 iMac essentially obsolete?
iMac 21.5", macOS 10.13
You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!
When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.
When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.
Because I am unable to upgrade to Catalina, is my mid 2011 iMac essentially obsolete?
iMac 21.5", macOS 10.13
Your last macOS upgrade will be to High Sierra for that mid-2011 iMac — if you choose, and that means a useful iTunes, and Security/browser updates for another year. Your iMac is on Apple's U.S. Vintage list which means that no Apple Store, or Apple Authorized Service Provider will service it. You may find the lack of service when something goes wrong an untenable issue.
from A²…
Your last macOS upgrade will be to High Sierra for that mid-2011 iMac — if you choose, and that means a useful iTunes, and Security/browser updates for another year. Your iMac is on Apple's U.S. Vintage list which means that no Apple Store, or Apple Authorized Service Provider will service it. You may find the lack of service when something goes wrong an untenable issue.
from A²…
If it runs the apps you need, I'd say it's not yet obsolete.
I would label Catalina an update, not an upgrade. It has some problems, so if I were you, I wouldn't feel bad about not being able to install it.
Catalina