Refurbished iMac

Every refurbished iMac on this page has been inspected, functionally tested, and graded for condition before it ships. All carry a 12-month warranty and are eligible for free 30-day returns. Loop Certified means our technicians have verified display performance, chip and storage, keyboard and mouse pairing, all ports, and every core function against a 75-point quality check. The range covers 24-inch iMac generations on M1, M3, and M4, with multiple colour options, storage tiers, and port configurations. Explore the wider refurbished Mac range if you want to compare against MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, or Mac mini.

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FAQs

Frequently asked questions and answers about iMac.

For more detailed information and additional queries, please refer to our FAQ Page.

Which refurbished iMac should I choose?

The right iMac comes down to chip generation, memory, and how many ports you need. Here is a breakdown of the generations typically available refurbished:

  • 24-inch iMac (M1, 2021). The first Apple Silicon iMac and the first full redesign in years. 4.5K Retina display, seven colour options, Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse included. Two-port base model has two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports; four-port model adds two additional USB-C ports and Gigabit Ethernet in the power brick.
  • 24-inch iMac (M3, 2023). Same chassis and display as the M1 generation, upgraded to the M3 chip. Adds Wi-Fi 6E. The practical mid-range refurbished choice.
  • 24-inch iMac (M4, 2024). Current generation. M4 chip, updated colour options including a new Blue and Green, 12MP Center Stage camera, Thunderbolt 4 ports, and standard 16GB unified memory on every configuration.

Browse our refurbished iMac range and check the listing for exact generation, chip, memory, storage, and port configuration.

Is a refurbished iMac worth buying?

Yes. A refurbished iMac is the most cost-effective way to get a complete Apple Silicon desktop setup with a high-quality 4.5K Retina display built in. Every unit has been tested, cleaned, and restored to working order, with all functions verified and a 12-month warranty included. Apple Silicon iMacs continue to receive macOS updates, run current apps, and perform identically to a new unit. The only meaningful differences from new are cosmetic grade and the saving against Apple's UK retail price.

What is the iMac best for?

The iMac is the right choice for any user who wants a complete desktop Mac in one unit, without assembling a separate computer, monitor, and peripherals. The 24-inch 4.5K Retina display is sharp, colour-accurate, and well-suited to design, photography, document work, and video streaming. The included Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse give you a working setup out of the box. Typical users include home offices, family households, small creative studios, reception areas, and education settings. The thin chassis and minimal cable count also make it a good fit where a tidy desk matters.

What is the difference between the two-port and four-port iMac?

The base iMac configuration has two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports on the back and uses a standard power cable. The higher-tier configuration adds two additional USB-C ports (four ports total) and includes Gigabit Ethernet integrated into the power brick, so the network cable runs to the power supply rather than the iMac itself. The four-port model also typically ships with a Magic Keyboard that has Touch ID built in. If you plan to connect multiple peripherals or want wired Ethernet, the four-port configuration is worth the additional outlay.

How much RAM and storage should I specify?

Unified memory cannot be upgraded after purchase. For general household and office use, 8GB is the baseline on M1 and M3 iMacs, though 16GB is more comfortable for long-term use. The M4 iMac ships with 16GB as standard on every configuration, which is a meaningful improvement. For photo editing, light video work, and heavier multitasking, 16GB is the practical minimum; 24GB is worth considering if your workload is more demanding. Storage cannot be expanded internally. 256GB suits basic use, 512GB is comfortable for most users, and 1TB or more is worth the outlay for creative work with larger local libraries.

Can I use my refurbished iMac as an external display for a laptop?

No. The 24-inch iMac does not support Target Display Mode, so it cannot be used as an external monitor for another Mac or PC. If you want a shared display across a laptop and desktop setup, the practical option is to pair a Mac mini or MacBook with an external monitor, or use features like macOS Handoff and Universal Control to move between devices.

Does the iMac come with a keyboard and mouse?

Yes. Every Apple Silicon iMac includes a colour-matched Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse in the box. The four-port configuration typically ships with a Magic Keyboard that has Touch ID built in, which allows fingerprint login and Apple Pay authentication directly from the keyboard. Refurbished iMacs on this page ship with the original Apple accessories where they were included; check the listing for exact contents.

Will a refurbished iMac still receive macOS updates?

Yes. Apple Silicon iMacs (M1 onwards) will continue to receive macOS updates for several more years. Based on Apple's recent support cycles, Apple Silicon Macs typically receive seven or more years of major macOS updates after release, plus security updates beyond that. Any iMac with an M1 chip or newer will run current macOS releases, including the most recent version, without compromise.

What does Loop Certified refurbished mean for iMac?

Loop Certified is our internal refurbishment standard. Every iMac is put through a 75-point quality check covering chip performance, RAM and storage integrity, the 4.5K Retina display, speakers, microphones, camera, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, keyboard and mouse pairing, and all ports including Thunderbolt, USB-C, and Gigabit Ethernet where applicable. Cosmetic condition is then graded (Premium, Excellent, Good, Fair) so you know exactly what you are buying. Every Loop Certified iMac ships with a 12-month warranty and free 30-day returns.

Choosing Your Refurbished iMac

A refurbished iMac performs identically to a new one. The iMac is Apple's all-in-one desktop, built around Apple Silicon chips with a 24-inch 4.5K Retina display, colour-matched Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse, built-in camera, microphones, and speakers. It is the most complete desktop Mac in the range, because everything you need to start working arrives in one box. The thin chassis and single-cable power connection also make it well-suited to desks where a tidy setup matters.

Before buying a refurbished iMac, four technical details are worth checking on the listing: chip generation, port configuration (two-port or four-port), unified memory (RAM), and storage capacity. Chip generation determines raw performance and long-term macOS support. Port configuration matters more than it appears: the base two-port model uses a standard power cable, while the four-port model adds two USB-C ports and integrates Gigabit Ethernet into the power brick. Unified memory and storage cannot be upgraded after purchase, so choose enough headroom for your actual workload upfront.

The iMac's 24-inch 4.5K Retina display is one of its strongest features. It has a native resolution of 4480 by 2520 pixels, supports P3 wide colour and True Tone, and is bright enough for most working environments. For design, photography, video review, and any work that benefits from accurate colour, the display is a meaningful part of the value proposition. Combined with the six-speaker sound system, spatial audio support, and the 1080p or 12MP Center Stage camera (depending on generation), the iMac is also well-suited to video calls and media consumption without any additional peripherals.

Compare iMac generations

Feature iMac (M1, 2021) iMac (M3, 2023) iMac (M4, 2024)
Chip M1 M3 M4
Display 24" 4.5K Retina 24" 4.5K Retina 24" 4.5K Retina
Base unified memory 8GB 8GB 16GB
Max unified memory 16GB 24GB 32GB
Max storage 2TB 2TB 2TB
Ports (two-port) 2x Thunderbolt / USB 4 2x Thunderbolt / USB 4 2x Thunderbolt 4
Ports (four-port) 2x Thunderbolt, 2x USB-C, Gigabit Ethernet 2x Thunderbolt, 2x USB-C, Gigabit Ethernet 2x Thunderbolt 4, 2x USB-C, Gigabit Ethernet
Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 6 Wi-Fi 6E Wi-Fi 6E
Camera 1080p FaceTime HD 1080p FaceTime HD 12MP Center Stage
Colour options 7 colours 7 colours 7 colours (including new Blue, Green)

Specifications vary by exact configuration. Loop's refurbished stock spans multiple generations and colours, so check individual listings for chip, memory, storage, port configuration, and cosmetic grade of each unit.

Choosing by what you actually need

Best value into a complete desktop Mac: the iMac M1 is the most affordable route into an Apple Silicon all-in-one. It runs current macOS releases, handles everyday productivity comfortably, and includes the same 4.5K Retina display as the newer generations. The trade-off is the standard M1 chip, 8GB or 16GB memory ceiling, and Wi-Fi 6 rather than Wi-Fi 6E. For home office, family use, and general household computing, it remains genuinely capable.

A step up with Wi-Fi 6E and more memory headroom: the iMac M3 adds the newer chip, optional 24GB of unified memory, and Wi-Fi 6E support, while keeping the same chassis and display. If you want a more future-proofed iMac without paying current-generation prices, the M3 is the practical mid-range choice.

The latest chip, 16GB standard, and best camera: the iMac M4 is the current generation. Every configuration ships with 16GB of unified memory as standard, which meaningfully improves the base experience and makes the entry-level M4 a more capable everyday machine than the base M1 or M3. The 12MP Center Stage camera is a notable upgrade for video calls, keeping the subject centred in frame even as they move. If you want the longest software support runway and the best current specification, the M4 is the answer.

Two-port or four-port configuration: the four-port iMac is worth the additional outlay if you plan to connect multiple peripherals, want wired Gigabit Ethernet for a more stable connection than Wi-Fi, or prefer a keyboard with built-in Touch ID. The two-port model is sufficient for users who rely primarily on wireless accessories and do not need Ethernet.

iMac compared to Mac mini with a monitor

A common question is whether a refurbished iMac or a refurbished Mac mini paired with a separate monitor is the better choice. The iMac is simpler: one box, one cable, complete setup out of the box, with a very good 4.5K Retina display. The Mac mini offers more flexibility: you choose the monitor size and specification, you can upgrade peripherals independently, and it typically costs less overall for equivalent chip performance. For users who already have a monitor they like, or want to specify a particular display (for example, a larger 27-inch 5K or an ultrawide monitor), the Mac mini is often the sharper value. For users who want everything in one box with minimal setup, the iMac is the right answer.

What Loop Certified refurbished means for iMac

A refurbished iMac is a previously owned unit that has been returned, inspected, and restored. Loop's 75-point quality check covers every core function of the device: chip performance, RAM and storage integrity, the 4.5K Retina display, speakers, microphones, camera, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, keyboard and mouse pairing, and all ports including Thunderbolt, USB-C, and Gigabit Ethernet where applicable. The iMac is then reset to factory condition, updated to a current macOS release, and repackaged in 100% recycled Loop packaging.

Cosmetic condition is graded separately from functional performance. A Fair grade iMac performs identically to a Premium grade iMac. The difference is surface wear only, and the grade is clearly labelled on each listing so you know exactly what you are buying before checkout. Every Loop Certified iMac ships with a 12-month warranty and free 30-day returns.

The environmental case for buying refurbished

Manufacturing a new iMac requires raw material extraction, component production, assembly, and global shipping. The all-in-one design means the carbon footprint of a new unit includes both the computer and the display, which is meaningful. A refurbished iMac is the same device returned to use rather than replaced, avoiding those emissions entirely. Loop ships every order in 100% recycled packaging with a 99% CO2 saving on delivery, verified by Greenly, a certified carbon accounting partner. Choosing refurbished is one of the most direct consumer actions available for reducing electronic waste and extending the useful life of existing hardware. Learn more on the Loop sustainability page.

Ready to choose your iMac?

If you want the most affordable route into a complete Apple Silicon desktop, the iMac M1 is the starting point. If you want Wi-Fi 6E and more memory headroom without paying current-generation prices, the iMac M3 is the practical mid-range choice. If you want the latest chip, 16GB standard, the best camera, and the longest software support runway, the iMac M4 is the current-generation pick. For users who connect multiple peripherals or want wired Ethernet, the four-port configuration is worth the additional outlay on any generation.

Check the individual listing for generation, colour, unified memory, storage, port configuration, and condition grade. More models are added to this page regularly, so if your preferred configuration is not available right now, check back soon. If you want to compare iMac against other Macs, see our full refurbished Mac range.