Is the iMac 24" M5 worth it for everyday use in 2026?
The iMac 24" with M5 (2025) is Apple's most popular all-in-one. 24-inch Liquid Retina 4.5K display with P3 coverage, M5 chip with 10 CPU and GPU cores, 12MP Center Stage webcam and ultra-thin design. The ideal pick for the home or office that wants a wireless Apple desktop with an excellent screen. From €1,499.
Everyday-use score
95
/ 100
Unified memory
16–32
GB
Price from
~1499 €
What is the iMac 24" M5 ideal for?
Real-world performance of the M5 on the most common day-to-day tasks.
Office and productivity
Word, Excel, Google Docs, Notion — the M5 handles this effortlessly. Instant response and no heat.
Streaming and entertainment
Netflix 4K, YouTube, Spotify — hardware decoding of H.264, H.265 and AV1. Minimal battery use.
Video calls
Zoom, Teams, Google Meet — the FaceTime 1080p camera and high-quality microphones make any iMac stand out in video calls.
Browsing and multitasking
With 16 GB of memory, opening 20+ tabs in Safari or Chrome plus several apps at once runs smoothly.
Light photo editing
M5 handles Lightroom, Capture One and RAW photo editing smoothly.
Students and basic programming
M5 is excellent for programming: fast compilation, native Xcode and smooth terminals.
✓ Ideal for
- • All-in-one with 24-inch Retina 4.5K display
- • Everyday home/office use without external cables
- • 4K H.264/H.265 video editing with calibrated display
- • Programming and web development on a compact, silent machine
- • Graphic design and photography with the 24" P3 display
✗ Limitations
- • Professional 4K RAW or ProRes editing (insufficient active cooling)
- • Demanding AAA gaming
- • Local AI with large models
- • Users needing more than 32 GB of memory
Other Apple options for everyday use
FAQ — iMac 24" M5 for everyday use
Is the iMac 24" M5 worth it for everyday use in 2026?
The iMac 24" with M5 (2025) is Apple's most popular all-in-one. 24-inch Liquid Retina 4.5K display with P3 coverage, M5 chip with 10 CPU and GPU cores, 12MP Center Stage webcam and ultra-thin design. The ideal pick for the home or office that wants a wireless Apple desktop with an excellent screen. From €1,499.
How long does the iMac 24" M5 battery last?
The MacBook Pro M5 offers up to 17-22 hours depending on the model (14" vs 16"). In real use, between 10-16 hours of active work.
Is 16 GB of memory enough for everyday use?
Yes, 16 GB of unified memory is more than enough for everyday use. You can have 20+ Safari tabs, several active apps and simultaneous streaming with no issues.
What is the iMac 24" M5 not suitable for?
Professional 4K RAW or ProRes editing (insufficient active cooling). Demanding AAA gaming. Local AI with large models. Users needing more than 32 GB of memory.