Apple Released the First iMac 25 Years Ago Today

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the iMac, Apple's all-in-one desktop computer released on August 15, 1998.

iMac G3 Fanned Feature Yellow 2
Characterized by its striking translucent casing and 15-inch CRT display, the ‌iMac‌ was a departure from conventional computer design of the time. The machine led the way with several industry innovations, including the adoption of USB and FireWire, while simultaneously phasing out the floppy drive and other outdated ports. The computer came with a PowerPC G3 processor, 4GB hard drive, 32MB of RAM, a CD drive, two USB ports, and an Ethernet port, reflecting the emerging importance of internet connectivity at the time.

The ‌iMac‌'s design has evolved significantly over the years. In 2002, the ‌iMac‌ G4 was introduced with a unique dome base and flat-panel display. 2004 saw the launch of the ‌iMac‌ G5, a design that integrated all components behind the display, setting the standard for future all-in-one designs.

Apple unveiled the aluminum and glass unibody ‌iMac‌ in 2007 and added a Retina display to the machine in 2014. Apple introduced an "‌iMac‌ Pro" variant in 2017, and, in 2021, the ‌iMac‌ was completely redesigned once again with the transition to Apple silicon.

As the ‌iMac‌ reaches this significant milestone, it continues to be the leading all-in-one computer and a prominent product in Apple's lineup. While the ‌iMac‌ did not receive an upgrade to the M2 chip, a refreshed model with the M3 chip is expected to launch toward the end of this year. Further in the future, Apple is expected to launch an even bigger and more powerful ‌iMac‌ model in what could be a reintroduction of the iMac Pro.

Related Roundup: iMac
Buyer's Guide: iMac (Buy Now)
Related Forum: iMac

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro Blue Feature Tighter Crop

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 13 New Features

Wednesday April 23, 2025 8:31 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of April 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone ...
iphone 17 dummies sonny dickson

iPhone 17 Air Almost as Thin as Its Buttons, New Images Show

Thursday April 24, 2025 2:14 am PDT by
If you missed the video showing dummy models of Apple's all-new super thin iPhone 17 Air that's expected later this year, Sonny Dickson this morning shared some further images of the device in close alignment with the other dummy models in the iPhone 17 lineup, indicating just how thin it is likely to be in comparison. The iPhone 17 Air is expected to be around 5.5mm thick – with a thicker ...
iPhone 17 Air Pastel Feature

iPhone 17 Air Launching Later This Year With These 16 New Features

Thursday April 24, 2025 8:24 am PDT by
While the so-called "iPhone 17 Air" is not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the ultra-thin device. Overall, the iPhone 17 Air sounds like a mixed bag. While the device is expected to have an impressively thin and light design, rumors indicate it will have some compromises compared to iPhone 17 Pro models, including only a single rear camera, a...
AirPods Pro 3 Mock Feature

AirPods Pro 3 Just Months Away – Here's What We Know

Friday April 18, 2025 5:16 am PDT by
Despite being more than two years old, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 still dominate the premium wireless‑earbud space, thanks to a potent mix of top‑tier audio, class‑leading noise cancellation, and Apple's habit of delivering major new features through software updates. With AirPods Pro 3 widely expected to arrive in 2025, prospective buyers now face a familiar dilemma: snap up the proven...
iphone 17 air dummy unbox therapy

iPhone 17 Air's Extreme Thinness Demoed in New Video

Tuesday April 22, 2025 10:22 am PDT by
Apple plans to release an all-new super thin iPhone this year, debuting it alongside the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. We've seen pictures of dummy models, cases, and renders with the design, but Lewis Hilsenteger of Unbox Therapy today showed off newer dummy models that give us a better idea of just how thin the "iPhone 17 Air" will be. The iPhone 17 Air is expected to be ...
Global Close Your Rings Day Pin

Apple Stores Giving Away a Limited-Edition Pin For Free Today

Thursday April 24, 2025 10:15 am PDT by
Starting today, April 24, Apple Stores around the world are giving away a special pin for free to customers who request one, while supplies last. Photo Credit: Filip Chudzinski The enamel pin's design is inspired by the Global Close Your Rings Day award in the Activity app, which Apple Watch users can receive by closing all three Activity rings today. The limited-edition pin is the physical...
Apple Logo Spotlight Blue

White House Hits Back at Apple's Massive EU Fine

Thursday April 24, 2025 5:57 am PDT by
Apple's $570 million fine from the EU has triggered a sharp rebuke from the White House, which called the fine a form of economic extortion, Reuters reports. The fine was announced on Wednesday by the European Commission, following a formal investigation into Apple's compliance with the bloc's Digital Markets Act (DMA), a landmark piece of legislation aimed at curbing the market dominance of ...
ipad air magic keyboard feature

iPadOS 19 Rumored to Show Mac-Like Menu Bar When Connected to Magic Keyboard

Thursday April 24, 2025 12:09 pm PDT by
When an iPad running iPadOS 19 is connected to a Magic Keyboard, a macOS-like menu bar will appear on the screen, according to the leaker Majin Bu. This change would further blur the lines between the iPad and the Mac. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman previously claimed that iPadOS 19 will be "more like macOS," with unspecified improvements to productivity, multitasking, and app window management,...

Top Rated Comments

videosoul Avatar
22 months ago
❤️ will forever love these. Both for the innovation and the nostalgia of the time! I remember how incredibly special everything about them felt at the time. The adverts, the marketing, the design, OS9 and the beginning of OSX….
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
22 months ago
iMac is one of my favorite Apple products in the world. It always reminds me of the late Steve Jobs.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jent Avatar
22 months ago
Perhaps the thing that turned Apple around and made the company what it is today. Sure, the iPhone and iPad are huge, but without the success of the original iMac one has to wonder how much longer they would have been around!
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nylonsteel Avatar
22 months ago
wish i invested in aapl stock 25 years ago
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dwaltwhit Avatar
22 months ago
The idea that anyone would put effort into how a computer looked was so revolutionary
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
johnmarki Avatar
22 months ago
Love it forever and ever. The iMac is THE Apple product that captured the creativity and joy that computing can bring. I'm impatiently waiting for an amazing iMac Pro version that ignites that "Macintosh Moment" Cmon Apple, I believe!
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)