Apple iMac 21.5" Certified Refurbished Silver 2017
The 21.5-inch 4K display delivers a sharp 3840 x 2560 resolution, powered by a 3.0 GHz Intel Core i5 and Radeon Pro 555 graphics for solid entry-level photo editing. Its extensive connectivity includes six USB-A ports and dual Thunderbolt 3 ports, a rare find in modern all-in-ones, though the 1TB HDD feels sluggish by current standards. This refurbished desktop is best for students or home-office users needing a crisp macOS display for productivity tasks, not for AI workloads or heavy video rendering.
No current retailer price
Snapshot
The 30-Second Version
A stunning 4K display trapped in a 2017 time capsule. Grab it cheap for light use, or don't grab it at all.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- That 4K display is still gorgeous 99th
- Reliability scores are top-tier 93rd
- macOS runs smooth for basic tasks 70th
- Thunderbolt and USB-C ports included
Cons
- 8GB RAM is barely enough in 2025
- 1TB HDD feels ancient
- No price listed, which is never a good sign
- AI and LLM workloads are a non-starter
What owners think
How owner sentiment changed over time
ExclusiveBased on when customers actually wrote their reviews - so you can see whether early praise held up.
- Q1 202485/100
Buyers praised the machine's performance and condition but found the included keyboard and mouse cheap and clumsy.
- The iMac works perfectly even as used/refurbished, performing well after upgrades.
- The included keyboard and mouse are cheap, clumsy, and barely usable.
- The display is loved by users.
- Q4 202392/100
Buyers are highly satisfied with the purchase, praising its condition, performance, and value. Minor issues include cheap accessories and Bluetooth connectivity.
- Device performance, condition, and value praised.
- Offered accessories are cheap; used wireless peripherals have Bluetooth issues.
- Excellent for business or personal use; multiple units ordered.
- Refurbished unit arrives clean; works well after setup.
- Q3 202359/100
Mixed feedback: some buyers praise it as great value and perfect for basic use, but others warn it's outdated, slow, and warn against buying.
- Several users find the iMac perfect for their needs, fast, and a great bargain.
- Revived complaints about the included keyboard and mouse being of poor quality or missing.
- Multiple reviews call the iMac outdated, slow for a child, and not worth buying.
- One review describes it as described but also notes it's outdated hardware.
- Q1 2023100/100
All reviewers are fully satisfied, highlighting savings, daily functionality, and easy setup of a refurbished iMac.
- Excellent value; buyers saved money compared to new models.
- Performs well for both work and personal daily use.
- Easy setup process; computer matches description exactly.
- No defects reported; reliability not a concern in this period.
- Q3 202240/100
Mixed reviews: some praise the picture and sound, but others report long shipping delays and a destroyed hard drive.
- Good picture, sound, and ease of use for desk setup.
- Shipping took 2 months, unacceptable wait time.
- Hard drive was destroyed upon arrival, unusable.
- Uncomfortable and not worth the price for some users.
- Q1 202243/100
Mixed period: half of buyers thrilled with value and performance, others report severe slowness, a boot failure, and misleading sales support for RAM upgrades.
- Boot failure after a few months; unit will not turn on.
- Extreme slowness during setup and basic tasks, force quits needed.
- Geek Squad could not install RAM as promised; misleading online chat.
- Great value, easy setup, works great, extra peripherals included.
- Q4 202127/100
Mixed reviews: one excellent performance, two major issues with updates, power cord, and peripherals.
- Device won't update despite multiple attempts.
- Wrong power cord and poor-quality Bluetooth keyboard and mouse.
- iMac performs all tasks well and exceeds expectations.
- Bluetooth keyboard non-functional, causing frustration.
Based on 45 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.
The proof
Performance
The 3.0 GHz quad-core i5 handles everyday stuff fine, but that 1TB spinning hard drive is the real bottleneck. Boot times and app launches feel sluggish compared to anything with an SSD, and the Radeon Pro 555 sits right at the middle of the pack for graphics. The 8GB of RAM is the weak spot, landing in the bottom 10 percent of all desktops we track. For basic browsing and office work it's fine, but throw anything heavy at it and you'll feel the wait.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| CPU | Intel 7th Generation Core i5 |
| Cores | 4 |
| Frequency | 3.0 GHz |
Graphics
| GPU | AMD Radeon Pro 555 |
| Type | Discrete |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 8 GB |
| RAM Generation | DDR4 |
| Storage | 1000 GB |
| Storage Type | HDD |
Build
| Form Factor | aio |
| Weight | 5.7 kg / 12.5 lbs |
Connectivity
| USB-C Ports | 2 |
| USB Ports | 6 |
| Thunderbolt | 2 x Thunderbolt 3 |
| HDMI | 0 |
| Wi-Fi | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ |
| Ethernet | Gigabit Ethernet |
System
| OS | macOS |
vs Competition
Against something like the Minisforum DeskMini UM880 Plus or GMKtec Nucbox K8 Plus, this iMac gets embarrassed on raw performance. Those mini PCs pack newer chips and faster storage for similar money. The HP OmniDesk M02-0234 and Dell Tower ECT1250 offer more upgradeability and modern components. But none of them have that 4K Retina display, and that's the iMac's only real trump card.
| Spec | Apple iMac 21.5" Certified Refurbished | HP OMEN GT22-3080 | Lenovo Legion Tower 5a Gen 10 | Dell Area-51 | The Horizon Pcs Autherium Dragon PITPJ7JXJ | CLX SET TGMSETRTU5204BM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel 7th Generation Core i5 | Intel Core Ultra 7 265K | AMD Ryzen 9 7950X | Intel Core Ultra 9 285K | Core i9 | Intel Core i9 14900KF |
| RAM (GB) | 8 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 64 | 64 |
| Storage (GB) | 1000 | 2048 | 4096 | 2000 | 5120 | 8000 |
| GPU | AMD Radeon Pro 555 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 OC | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 |
| Form Factor | aio | mid-tower | mid-tower | desktop | mid-tower | mid-tower |
| Psu W | - | 850 | 850 | 1500 | - | 850 |
| OS | macOS | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 Home |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | CPU | GPU | RAM | Ports | Storage | Reliability | Social Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple iMac 21.5" Certified Refurbished | 49.7 | 49.9 | 9.6 | 70.3 | 47.5 | 99.4 | 92.5 |
| HP OMEN GT22-3080 Compare | 95.8 | 90.8 | 79.8 | 92.9 | 91.8 | 69.4 | 87.4 |
| Lenovo Legion Tower 5a Gen 10 Compare | 96.5 | 88.2 | 79.8 | 89.5 | 98.5 | 69.4 | 100 |
| Dell Area-51 Compare | 97.4 | 90.8 | 91.6 | 99.5 | 87.1 | 69.4 | 66.6 |
| The Horizon Pcs Autherium Dragon PITPJ7JXJ Compare | 99.1 | 84.7 | 93 | 98.9 | 97.4 | 11.2 | 91.1 |
| CLX SET TGMSETRTU5204BM Compare | 94.2 | 84.7 | 96.9 | 85.5 | 99.2 | 11.2 | 96 |
Price
Value & Pricing
Pricing is all over the place, from USD 350 to USD 660 across three listings. At the low end, this is a decent deal for a 4K display with a free computer attached. At the high end, you're getting fleeced. If you can snag it near USD 350, it's worth considering. Anything above USD 500 and you should walk away.
Read more
Overview
This is a 2017 iMac wearing a certified refurbished badge, and honestly, that badge is doing a lot of heavy lifting. The one thing to know? You're buying a gorgeous 4K display with a computer attached, not the other way around. The 21.5-inch screen is still stunning, but the guts inside are showing their age faster than a milk carton left on the counter.
Common Questions
Q: Can I upgrade the RAM myself?
Technically yes, up to 32GB, but on the 21.5-inch model it requires peeling off the display, which is a pain. Most people won't bother.
Q: Is the 1TB hard drive fast enough?
No. It's a spinning drive, not an SSD. Expect slow boot times and sluggish app launches. You'll want an external SSD if you buy this.
Q: Can this handle video editing or gaming?
Light 1080p editing is doable but not fun. The Radeon Pro 555 is mid-tier at best, and 8GB of RAM will choke on anything serious. This is not a gaming machine.
Who Should Skip This
If you need real performance for video editing, gaming, or AI workloads, this isn't it. Go get a Minisforum DeskMini UM880 Plus or a modern mini PC with an SSD and 16GB of RAM instead. You'll get way more speed for the same money.
Verdict
Buy this if you want a beautiful 4K display for light work and don't mind the slow hard drive. Skip it if you need any real performance. The reliability is excellent and the screen is lovely, but the 8GB RAM and HDD make this a tough sell in 2025 unless you get it cheap.
