All-in-One Mac · The Aluminum Age · 2009
iMac (Aluminum, 2009)
The iMac went all aluminium and glass and grew a gorgeous 27" 2560×1440 display. For a while you could even use it as an external monitor via Target Display Mode.
First 27" iMac and first with an edge-to-edge glass front.
iMac (Slim, 2012) (2012)
iMac (Aluminum, 2009): key facts
When was the iMac (Aluminum, 2009) released?
The iMac (Aluminum, 2009) arrived on October 20, 2009. Apple discontinued it in May 2011.
How much did the iMac (Aluminum, 2009) cost?
The iMac (Aluminum, 2009) launched at $1,199 in 2009, about $1,787 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: Intel Core 2 Duo / Core i5 at 3.06 GHz, 4 GB RAM, 488.3 GB storage, 21.5" or 27" LED LCD, up to 2560×1440 display.
Why does the iMac (Aluminum, 2009) matter?
First 27" iMac and first with an edge-to-edge glass front.
Full specifications
| CPU | Intel Core 2 Duo / Core i5 · 3.06 GHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 4 |
| Memory (RAM) | 4 GB (up to 16 GB) |
| Storage | 488.3 GB |
| Display | 21.5" or 27" LED LCD, up to 2560×1440 |
| GPU | ATI Radeon HD |
| Ports | USB 2.0, FireWire 800, SD |
| Weight | 13.8 kg |
| Dimensions | Aluminium-and-glass all-in-one |
| Operating system | Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard |
| Released | October 20, 2009 |
| Discontinued | May 2011 |
| Launch price | $1,199 |
How the iMac (Aluminum, 2009) compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 4.0× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 3.06 GHz, the clock is roughly 1.0× slower than a single performance core of a 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro, and that is before counting cores, width and IPC.
This held about 125,000 modern phone photos, a respectable library even today.
Launched at $1,199 in 2009, about $1,787 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Method note: clock comparisons use frequency only; price conversions use US CPI.
Sources
Specs checked against Apple technical specifications archive, EveryMac, Mactracker, Wikimedia Commons image credits.
Did you know?
The 27" panel was so good people bought iMacs just to use as displays.
Related All-in-One Mac models
Open the iMac (Aluminum, 2009) in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11