Apple iMac 21.5" 2019, Core i3, 8GB, 1TB HDD, Radeon Pro 555X, Silver

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (96)

Its 21.5-inch Retina 4K display with P3 wide color gamut and 500 nits brightness stands out for color-accurate work, though the Intel Core i3 processor and Radeon Pro 555X graphics are dated. The all-in-one design integrates a 1TB hard drive and Thunderbolt connectivity into a sleek chassis, but the 8GB of RAM and spinning disk limit performance for modern tasks. This iMac is best for office workers or students needing a basic macOS desktop for web browsing, document editing, and light photo organization.

CPU Intel 8th Generation Core i3
RAM 8 GB
Storage 1 TB
GPU AMD Radeon Pro 555X
Form Factor aio
OS macOS
Apple iMac 21.5" 2019, Core i3, 8GB, 1TB HDD, Radeon Pro 555X, Silver desktop
48 Overall Score

No current retailer price

Snapshot

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Strong reliability (99th percentile) 99th
  • Strong social proof (88th percentile) 88th

Cons

  • Below average ram (9th percentile)
  • Below average cpu (20th percentile)
  • Below average user sentiment (20th percentile)

What owners think

How owner sentiment changed over time

Exclusive

Based on when customers actually wrote their reviews - so you can see whether early praise held up.

Owner sentiment has held steady over time
65/100Our AI sentiment readmedium confidence · 13 sources · Jun 2026
1★2★3★4★5★Q1 '21: 5.0★ · 1 reviewQ2 '21: 3.3★ · 3 reviewsQ3 '21: 4.4★ · 7 reviewsQ4 '21: 5.0★ · 1 reviewQ1 '22: 2.0★ · 3 reviewsQ2 '22: 5.0★ · 1 reviewQ3 '22: 5.0★ · 1 reviewQ4 '22: 3.7★ · 3 reviewsQ1 '23: 4.5★ · 2 reviewsQ2 '23: 5.0★ · 2 reviewsQ3 '23: 3.0★ · 2 reviewsQ4 '23: 1.3★ · 3 reviewsQ1 '24: 2.0★ · 1 reviewQ2 '24: 3.7★ · 3 reviewsQ4 '24: 1.0★ · 3 reviewsQ1 '25: 4.5★ · 2 reviewsQ2 '25: 4.3★ · 6 reviewsQ3 '25: 1.0★ · 1 reviewQ1 '26: 1.0★ · 1 reviewQ2 '26: 3.1★ · 7 reviews13713113222313326117Q1 '21Q3 '21Q1 '22Q3 '22Q1 '23Q3 '23Q1 '24Q4 '24Q2 '25Q1 '26Q2 '26
Avg ratingHappy (4-5★)Unhappy (1-2★)Bar height = number of reviews
  1. Q2 202580/1004.3★6 reviews

    Most buyers are very satisfied with the iMac's condition and value, but one reviewer reported keyboard issues and slow performance.

    • Computer in prime condition, works perfectly, great value.
    • Bright, colorful, and clear screen.
    • Professional, timely, and kind communications.
    • Cheap keyboard with non-functioning keys and slow performance.
  2. Q4 20245/1001.0★3 reviews

    Buyers report missing parts, extreme slowness, and data deletion. All three reviews are 1-star, warning against purchasing this refurbished computer.

    • Missing power cord, mouse, and keyboard; store exchange required.
    • Extremely slow performance; 20-minute browser load times.
    • Random data deletion; total loss of $600.
    • No testing of refurbished products before sale.
  3. Q2 202433/1003.7★3 reviews

    One buyer loves their iMac, but another reports severe slowness and a failed OS upgrade requiring Geek Squad service, calling it a waste of money.

    • Device extremely slow, unusable even after repair.
    • macOS Sonoma upgrade corrupt, required Geek Squad fix.
    • One user finds the iMac perfect for daily use.
    • Certified refurbished iMac affordable via Best Buy open box.
  4. Q4 202313/1001.3★3 reviews

    Buyers reported extremely slow performance, freezing, and defective refurbished units. One noted the computer worked but criticized the cheap accessories and poor packaging.

    • Extreme slowness and freezing, making the computer nearly unusable.
    • Refurbished unit had same issues as before, suggesting inadequate repair.
    • Cheap aftermarket keyboard and mouse, poor packaging, and shipping concerns.
    • One unit worked well otherwise, but accessories and packaging were subpar.
  5. Q4 202270/1003.7★3 reviews

    Two buyers praised the monitor's quality and speed for gaming and photo editing; one complained about misleading upgrade info from a store associate.

    • Monitor quality and performance praised for gaming and editing.
    • Associate gave incorrect info about memory upgrade capability.
  6. Q1 202220/1002.0★3 reviews

    Buyers reported severe slowness and inability to update, with one positive but underwhelmed review. Returns were common.

    • Extreme slowness and lag in basic tasks like opening apps and browsing.
    • Computer failed to update to the newest OS version.
    • Returned due to performance issues and non-original accessories.
    • One buyer found it solid for creation but slower than expected.
  7. Q3 202171/1004.4★7 reviews

    Buyers praised the computer's condition and helpful staff, but several noted missing original accessories and unclear seller identity.

    • Computer works like new; buyers satisfied with performance and condition.
    • Missing original Apple keyboard and mouse; some received aftermarket accessories.
    • Great price but unclear that item was from a marketplace seller, not Best Buy.
    • No paperwork or manual included with the purchase.
  8. Q2 202133/1003.3★3 reviews

    Buyers were happy with the iMac's condition and performance but frustrated by incompatible or non-working accessories, requiring extra purchases.

    • iMac itself arrived in great condition and worked well.
    • Included mouse and keyboard were incompatible or defective.
    • Buyers had to spend extra money on compatible accessories.
    • Good value for price, but accessory issues offset savings.

Based on 53 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.

The proof

Performance

Performance Percentiles

CPU 19.5
GPU 51.1
RAM 9.2
Ports 36.2
Storage 46.3
User Sentiment 19.8
Reliability 99.3
Social Proof 88.1

Specifications

Full Specifications

Processor

CPU Intel 8th Generation Core i3
Cores 4
Frequency 3.6 GHz

Graphics

GPU AMD Radeon Pro 555X
Type Discrete

Memory & Storage

RAM 8 GB
RAM Generation DDR4
Storage 1 TB
Storage Type HDD

Build

Form Factor aio
Weight 5.7 kg / 12.5 lbs

Connectivity

USB-C Ports 0
USB Ports 4
Thunderbolt 2 x Thunderbolt 3
HDMI 0
Bluetooth Bluetooth 5.0
Ethernet Gigabit Ethernet

System

OS macOS

vs Competition

Spec Apple iMac 21.5" HP OmniDesk M02-0234 Lenovo Yoga AIO F0J20012US Dell ECT ECT1250 Minisforum DeskMini UM880 Plus GMKtec Nucbox K8 Plus
CPU Intel 8th Generation Core i3 AMD Ryzen 7 8700G Intel Core Ultra 7 255H Intel Core Ultra 7 265 AMD Ryzen 7 255 AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS
RAM (GB) 8 16 16 16 32 32
Storage (GB) 1024 1536 2048 1024 1024 2048
GPU AMD Radeon Pro 555X AMD Radeon 780M Intel Arc Graphics NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 AMD Radeon 780M AMD Radeon 780M
Form Factor aio mini-tower aio mid-tower mini mini
Psu W - 280 170 180 120 120
OS macOS Windows 11 Home Windows 11 Home Windows 11 Pro Windows Windows 11 Pro
Compare Compare Compare Compare Compare
Product CPUGPURAMPortsStorageUser SentimentReliabilitySocial Proof
Apple iMac 21.5" 19.551.19.236.246.319.899.388.1
HP OmniDesk M02-0234 Compare 71.963.151.494.779.994.97098.2
Lenovo Yoga AIO F0J20012US Compare 70.458.757.760.782.875.87098.2
Dell ECT ECT1250 Compare 88.468.754.187.16907070.5
Minisforum DeskMini UM880 Plus Compare 65.263.181.865.353.688.711.694.3
GMKtec Nucbox K8 Plus Compare 64.663.181.885.590.1011.695.6

Price

Value & Pricing

Price History

$366 $368 $370 $372 $374 Jun 9Jul 5Sep 8Nov 6 $370

Usage Scores

Overall (47.7)AI/LLM (21.7)Gaming (43.4)Portability (36.6)Creator (44)Business (59.3)Developer (41.2)Home Office (53.1)Workstation (38.8)
  • Overall47.7
  • AI/LLM21.7
  • Gaming43.4
  • Portability36.6
  • Creator44
  • Business59.3
  • Developer41.2
  • Home Office53.1
  • Workstation38.8

A full written review is coming soon. The specs, scores, prices and charts above are always up to date.

Other Configurations3

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