2017 iMac upgrade: 27-inch models unavailable

The current Mac mini and an external 27" or multiple displays is an excellent option.

If you have unlimited funds, consider getting an Apple Studio Display.

If not, do some comparison display shopping at BestBuy.

For help choosing a Mac model, visit > Mac - Which Mac is best for me? - Apple

Then if you are seriously considering one of the new Mac mini models.

see > Connect a display to Mac mini - Apple Support

and > Set up your Mac mini - Apple Support

Amyontheranch wrote:

I have a 2017 iMac that I want to upgrade. I love the 27" screen and the simplicity of cords, etc. What's the best option for me going forward as no 27" iMacs are available?

If you have the budget, the closest thing is the combination of

• A M4 Mac mini, M4 Pro Mac mini, or M4 Max Mac Studio
• A 27" 5K Apple Studio Display
• An Apple Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse

However, with Apple's current pricing, by the time you buy the Studio Display, Magic Keyboard, and Magic Mouse, you will have spent as much as a decent 27" 5K Retina iMac used to cost – and you'll still need to buy the Mac!

There are some third-party 27" 5K (5120x2880 pixel) monitors now, but the less sharp 27" 4K (3840x2160 pixel) monitors tend to be more budget-friendly.

Amyontheranch wrote:

Did you [Old Toad] buy a webcam too? And would you reccomend getting a montitor with speakers or just use the speakers that the mini has?

Here's what worked for me.

I have a Mac Studio, and a third-party 27" 4K monitor. The monitor has no speakers or Webcam. It does have a thin bezel, so a clip-on Webcam might obscure part of the center of the top of the screen.

If you're listening to music, you probably want stereo speakers, rather than the speaker built into a Mac mini or a Mac Studio. I had some powered computer speakers, and an old USB "sound card", on hand, so I plugged those into one of the USB ports on the monitor. (Some monitors without speakers, including this one, have audio jacks that could cut out the need for the USB "sound card".). I have a good set of headphones plugged "permanently" into the Mac's headphone jack for nighttime listening.

As for a Webcam, I rarely need a video camera, but I did want to be able to take calls from my iPhone on my Mac. So I got a USB conference microphone. It fits easily on the monitor stand, although if you put it on top of one of the current Mac minis, it might look a little bit like a UFO was trying to abduct your Mac mini!

If you have an iPhone stand, it is also possible to press an iPhone into service as a Webcam for a Mac.

Continuity features and requirements for Apple devices - Apple Support

Continuity Camera: Use iPhone as a webcam for Mac - Apple Support

Consider the following; a 10 Core Mac Mini M4 with 16 GB RAM and 1 TB SSD ($1084 US) with a 32" LG 4k monitor ($331 US) from Amazon.com)  is $1415 US which is $541US less than a similarly configured new 24" iMac ($1956 US)  re 07/2025. Keep your keyboard and mouse from your current Mac for use with the Mini. 

I got the above Mini with a 32" LG 4K monitor w/speakers for only $60 US more than the 27" (didn't know the Mini had a speaker).  There are many monitors available in 27" size for $100 US to $500 US depending on what features you want.  The monitor prices are before tariffs.

The Mini shown above will run rings around a 2017 27' i9 iMac. I know I have both.

I got a mac mini m4 and a 27” monitor which was an LG 5k. You can now get a Kuycon 27” 5k for about $800. I also have a 32” 6k Kuycon monitor which is great

-g wrote:

I went to 2019 and stopped — the M series iMacs have screen issues…and ram/ssd soldered to the board

Only the M1's. The later iMacs seem OK. No reported screen issues.

However, the Mac Mini M4 is a better value along with a 4K 27" or 32" monitor.

I went to 2019 and stopped — the M series iMacs have screen issues…and ram/ssd soldered to the board

2019 runs Mojave-Sequoia

they are otherwise fairly the same beast

I didn't buy a webcam as I don't do much Zooming. That's my wife's area of expertise. I did look into how to use mu iPhone as a camera when I first got the Mini. For the life of me I don't remember now how it's to be set up.

However, there are very good USB cameras w/ microphone out there. It's just not been a priority for me.

I find the built in mono speaker in the Mini is sufficient for my workflow. It'll all depend on your workflow and audio expectations. If you listen to a lot of music on your Mac external USB or Bluetooth stereo speakers might fit you best.