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Prices checked November 10, 2026Not tested in handNo paid rankingsHow we pick
You give up: Its Full HD screen is far less sharp than the iMac's 4.5K display.
Short answer: The closest cheaper alternative to the Apple iMac 24" (M6, 10-core CPU/10-core GPU) is the Dell 27 All-in-One (EC27250, Core 5 120U, 16GB/512GB, 27" FHD), about $1,300 instead of $1,499 (save 13%). What you give up: Its Full HD screen is far less sharp than the iMac's 4.5K display. The cheapest is the Apple Mac mini (M6) at about $899. Prices checked November 10, 2026.
Why it's a good swap A Windows all-in-one with a bigger 27-inch screen, 16GB RAM and twice the storage.
You give up: Its Full HD screen is far less sharp than the iMac's 4.5K display.
Why it's a good swap An M6 Mac with 16GB/256GB in a tiny desktop, for $600 less.
You give up: No screen, keyboard or mouse included; you supply your own.
Why it's a good swap A 24-inch all-in-one with the screen, computer and a 512GB SSD in one unit.
You give up: Only 8GB RAM, a Full HD screen and a basic Core 3 chip.
Why it's a good swap The 2024 iMac with the same 24-inch 4.5K Retina display, 16GB of memory and 256GB of storage, refurbished by Apple with a one-year warranty and a Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse in the box.
You give up: An older M4 chip with 8 CPU and 8 GPU cores where the M6 model has 10 and 10, and Apple says refurbished supplies are limited, so it can sell out.
Typical US prices, checked November 10, 2026. Not live prices; check the listing before you buy.
Looking for a cheaper alternative to the Apple iMac 24" (M6, 10-core CPU/10-core GPU)? It usually sells for about $1,499. Here are 4 cheaper swaps from $899: the Dell 27 All-in-One (EC27250, Core 5 120U, 16GB/512GB, 27" FHD) is the closest match from another brand, the Apple iMac 24" (M4, 8-core CPU/8-core GPU, Apple Certified Refurbished) is a cheaper option from Apple and the Apple Mac mini (M6) is the cheapest at about $899. Each one says what you give up for the lower price.
The iMac 24" with M6 (10-core CPU and GPU) starts at $1,499, per Apple. Apple's refurbished store has had the M4 iMac for $1,189, and the Mac mini (M6) is $899 if you bring your own screen, keyboard and mouse. For Windows in one unit, the Dell 27 All-in-One ($1,300) and Dell 24 All-in-One ($1,000) have Full HD screens.
The iMac is worth it if you want one tidy machine with a sharp screen and everything in the box. Apple lists a 24-inch 4.5K Retina display (4480 x 2520, 500 nits), a 12MP Center Stage camera, a six-speaker system, and a color-matched Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse in the box. BGR called the previous M4 model an excellent all-in-one for families and productivity work, and Apple says the M6 model keeps the same design and screen with two more CPU and GPU cores.
Apple's refurbished M4 iMac keeps the 4.5K screen and everything in the box for $310 less, while stock lasts. If you already own a monitor, keyboard and mouse, the Mac mini (M6) at $899 gives you macOS with 16GB/256GB. Apple lists three Thunderbolt 4 ports, two front USB-C ports and HDMI, and it ships with only a power cord, so budget for the rest. The Dell 27 and Dell 24 All-in-Ones make sense if you want Windows in a single unit, but Dell lists Full HD (1920 x 1080) screens on both, far less sharp than the iMac's 4.5K panel.
Compared on their own pages: Magic Keyboard with Touch ID alternatives · Mac mini alternatives
| Option | Type | Typical price | You save | What you give up | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple iMac 24" (M6, 10-core CPU/10-core GPU) | The original | $1,499 | – | – | View ↗ |
| Apple Mac mini (M6) | Same brand, cheaper | $899 | $600 (40%) | No screen, keyboard or mouse included; you supply your own. | View ↗ |
| Dell 24 All-in-One (EC24250, Core 3 100U, 8GB/512GB, 23.8" FHD) | Budget pick | $1,000 | $499 (33%) | Only 8GB RAM, a Full HD screen and a basic Core 3 chip. | View ↗ |
| Apple iMac 24" (M4, 8-core CPU/8-core GPU, Apple Certified Refurbished) | Same brand, cheaper | $1,189 | $310 (21%) | An older M4 chip with 8 CPU and 8 GPU cores where the M6 model has 10 and 10, and Apple says refurbished supplies are limited, so it can sell out. | Not on Amazon |
| Dell 27 All-in-One (EC27250, Core 5 120U, 16GB/512GB, 27" FHD) | Close match | $1,300 | $199 (13%) | Its Full HD screen is far less sharp than the iMac's 4.5K display. | View ↗ |
Typical US prices from retailer listings and price trackers, checked November 10, 2026. They are not live Amazon prices and may have changed, so check the listing before you buy.
The Apple Mac mini (M6), at about $899 (40% less). An M6 Mac with 16GB/256GB in a tiny desktop, for $600 less. The catch: No screen, keyboard or mouse included; you supply your own.
The Dell 27 All-in-One (EC27250, Core 5 120U, 16GB/512GB, 27" FHD), at about $1,300 (13% less). A Windows all-in-one with a bigger 27-inch screen, 16GB RAM and twice the storage. The catch: Its Full HD screen is far less sharp than the iMac's 4.5K display.
Yes. The Apple iMac 24" (M4, 8-core CPU/8-core GPU, Apple Certified Refurbished), at about $1,189 (21% less). The 2024 iMac with the same 24-inch 4.5K Retina display, 16GB of memory and 256GB of storage, refurbished by Apple with a one-year warranty and a Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse in the box. The catch: An older M4 chip with 8 CPU and 8 GPU cores where the M6 model has 10 and 10, and Apple says refurbished supplies are limited, so it can sell out.
Apple says the M6 iMac adds two CPU cores and two GPU cores over M4, with up to 2x faster graphics and SSD speeds. TidBITS reports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread from Apple's N1 chip, plus 2.5Gb Ethernet. The design, 24-inch 4.5K display, camera and colors carry over.
The Mac mini (M6) comes with only a power cord, per Apple, so you need your own display, keyboard and mouse. In return it has more ports (three Thunderbolt 4, two front USB-C and HDMI) and supports up to three external displays. The iMac puts a 4.5K screen, camera, speakers, keyboard and mouse in one package.
To keep macOS in one piece, the Apple iMac 24" (M4, 8-core CPU/8-core GPU, Apple Certified Refurbished) ($1,189) is the previous iMac with the same 4.5K display, for $310 less. If you already own a monitor, the Apple Mac mini (M6) ($899) runs the same macOS on an M6 chip. For Windows in one unit, the Dell 27 All-in-One has a bigger 27-inch screen, but at Full HD.
On November 10, 2026 Apple's US refurbished store listed the M4 iMac (8-core CPU and GPU, 16GB/256GB, two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports) at $1,189, marked down from $1,399. It comes with a Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse, a one-year limited warranty and Apple's 14-day returns policy. You give up the M6 chip, and Apple says supplies are limited.
Dell's 27 and 24 All-in-Ones are the picks here, at $1,300 with a Core 5 120U, 16GB and 512GB, and $1,000 with a Core 3 100U, 8GB and 512GB. Both come with a keyboard and mouse. The big difference is the screen: Dell lists 1920 x 1080 on both, against 4480 x 2520 on the iMac, so text and photos look much less sharp.
No. Apple's iMac comes in one size, a 24-inch 4.5K display that measures 23.5 inches diagonally. For a bigger screen on a Mac, pair the Apple Mac mini (M6) ($899) with a monitor of your choice. The Dell 27 All-in-One has a 27-inch screen, but it runs Windows and is Full HD.
Each swap links to a store that sells it (amazon.com or Apple). Prices are typical US prices checked November 10, 2026 and change often, so check the listing before you buy.
Compared on their own pages: Mac mini alternatives
Every swap is a product sold in the US that does the main job of the original. Close match is another brand with similar features, Same brand, cheaper is an older, smaller or renewed model from the same maker, and Budget pick is the cheapest thing that still does the job. On each page, Closest match is the close match nearest the original in price, and Lowest price is the cheapest swap. We compare published specs, retailer listings and reviews; we don't test products ourselves.
A cheaper product is cheaper for a reason. Each swap says what you give up, like weaker noise cancelling, a smaller screen or a shorter warranty, so you can decide if the savings are worth it.
Prices are typical US prices from retailer listings and price trackers, last checked October 2026. They are not live Amazon prices, which change often. When a price couldn't be confirmed, the page says “Check price on Amazon” instead of showing a number.
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