Newest compatible operating system for iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Mid 2015)?

Question

Newest compatible operating system for iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Mid 2015)?

This iMac model is virtually identical to the late 2014 iMac with Retina 5K display, whose maximum OS is macOS Big Sur (version 11). Both models have the same identifier as iMac15,1. Somehow, Identify your iMac model - Apple Support claims newest compatible OS for this iMac model is macOS Monterey (version 12), yet it is not even listed at macOS Monterey is compatible with these computers. I am very certain the oldest iMac models to run Monterey officially are those that were introduced in late 2015.

Earlier Mac models

Posted on Nov 11, 2023 3:04 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

DD&amp;amp;amp;amp;D_Ministry

Level 1

9 points

Feb 7, 2024 7:32 AM in response to Servant of Cats

The iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015) it's fully compatible with macOS Monterey.

I know this for a fact , as I have one of those iMacs running on the macOS Monterey.

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Answer 2

Rudegar

Level 10

173,598 points

Nov 11, 2023 3:15 PM in response to ET_Wobbles_Bay

the list you post claim

iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015)
iMac (Retina 4K, 21.5-inch, Late 2015)
iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2015)

which would indicate that your mac would support monterey

though ventura would not be supported

macOS Ventura is compatible with these computers - Apple Support

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Answer 3

Nov 11, 2023 4:19 PM in response to Servant of Cats

I do not have that Mac. The "Identify your iMac model" incorrectly states the maximum OS for that Mid 2015 iMac as macOS Monterey. "Newest compatible operating system" means it's the last version of OS to be compatible with a particular computer in hardware. For example, the newest compatible macOS version for iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2014) is macOS Big Sur, but that iMac model cannot run Monterey, the successor to Big Sur, or any macOS version after Monterey.

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Answer 4

Nov 11, 2023 3:41 PM in response to Rudegar

Rudegar wrote:

• the list you post claim

iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015)

• iMac (Retina 4K, 21.5-inch, Late 2015)

• iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2015)

which would indicate that your mac would support monterey

The OP said that they have a iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Mid 2015). That Mac is not in the list in

macOS Monterey is compatible with these computers - Apple Support

but is shown (incorrectly) as being compatible with Monterey in the article on identifying iMacs.

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Answer 5

Feb 7, 2024 10:57 AM in response to DD&amp;amp;amp;amp;D_Ministry

Re: “The iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015) it's fully compatible with macOS Monterey.”

The Late 2015 model is not the same as the Mid 2015 model.

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Answer 6

Feb 10, 2024 1:47 PM in response to Servant of Cats

Hi there,

You are right, I didn't pay attention it was the Mid-2015 model you guys were talking about.

My bad, sorry about that!

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Answer 7

Mar 21, 2024 8:24 PM in response to Servant of Cats

Im so confused, I own a iMac Retina 5K, 27-inch, Mid 2015 and every friday morning i do my weekly check for upgrades and to day out the blue I get my very first OS update for a Looooog time and could not believe what I was seeing. Can someone here or at Apple tell me what's going on? When I clicked Upgrade now the New install downloaded but is awaiting me to click install what should I do?

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Answer 8

Feb 11, 2024 3:01 AM in response to Rudegar

I did not refer to those iMac models. The one I am referring to is a low spec variant of the Late 2014 iMac with Retina 5K Display. It is like a base 27-inch Retina iMac. It was released in the middle of 2015, but still would be stuck with macOS Big Sur though. In other words, I clearly did not state I have or had any of those iMac models when I wrote the original post above.

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