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iMac (24-inch, M1, 2021) vs MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports)

iMac (24-inch, M1, 2021)1MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports)2

Quick look

Quick look: iMac M1 against MacBook Pro
FigureiMac M11MacBook Pro2
Price£1,2493launch price£1,2994launch price
ChipM1chipCore i51.4GHz quad-core 8th-generation Intel
CPU8-coreCPU4-coreCPU
GPU7-coreGPUNot available5GPU
Memory8GBunified memory, base8GBmemory, base
Storage256GBstorage, base256GBstorage, base
Battery life Not available6No batteryUp to10 hrsvideo playback, claimed
ReleasedMay 20217Release date, month onlyOrderable online from 30 April 2021.4 May 20208Available online; Apple gave no in-store day
Security updatesNot available9Security updatesNot available9Security updates
Price
The iMac M1 is £1,249 at launch, per Apple Newsroom (UK); the MacBook Pro is £1,299 at launch, per Apple Newsroom (UK).
Kind of Mac
The iMac M1 is an all-in-one; the MacBook Pro is a laptop. The MacBook Pro has a battery, whereas the iMac M1 has none.

True to scale

iMac (24-inch, M1, 2021) · 547 × 461 mm frontMacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) · 304.1 × 212.4 mm footprint

An all-in-one and a laptop are different shapes, so they stand side by side rather than superposed: the front face of one and the footprint of the other, from Apple’s published dimensions, at one scale. Corner rounding is our drawing convention, not a measurement.

Specifications

Each figure is from the source marked by its Mac’s name unless it carries its own small number, which links to where that figure was read.

Body

Body: Apple iMac (24-inch, M1, 2021) against Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports)
SpecificationiMac M11MacBook Pro2
Dimensions461 x 547 x 147 mm15.6 x 304.1 x 212.4 mm
Weight4.46 kg1.4 kg
ColoursBlue, Green, Pink, Silver10Silver, Space Gray
PortsTwo Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports, 3.5mm headphone jackTwo Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports, 3.5 mm headphone jack
Thunderbolt ports22
Thunderbolt versionThunderbolt 3Thunderbolt 3
USB-A portsNo USB-A ports.11No USB-A ports.12
HDMINo HDMI port.13No HDMI port.14
SD card slotNo SD card slot.13No SD card slot.14
Headphone jackYesYes
MagSafeNot available15No MagSafe port.12
KeyboardMagic KeyboardBacklit Magic Keyboard with Touch Bar and Touch ID
Touch IDNo Touch ID.11Yes
Touch BarNot available16Yes

Display

Display: Apple iMac (24-inch, M1, 2021) against Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports)
SpecificationiMac M11MacBook Pro2
Display size24 in13.3 in
Resolution4480 x 25202560 x 1600
Pixel density218 ppi227 ppi
Display type4.5K Retina displayRetina display
Brightness500 nits500 nits
Wide colour (P3)YesYes
Nano-texture optionNo nano-texture display option.13Not available5

Chip and memory

Chip and memory: Apple iMac (24-inch, M1, 2021) against Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports)
SpecificationiMac M11MacBook Pro2
ChipApple M1 chip1.4GHz quad-core 8th-generation Intel Core i5
Apple siliconYesIntel processor, not Apple silicon.12
CPU cores84
Performance cores4Not available17
Efficiency cores4Not available17
GPU cores7Not available5
Graphics7-core GPU, 8-core GPU18Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645
Neural Engine cores16Not available19
Chip optionsM1 with 8-core CPU and 7-core GPU or 8-core GPU1.4GHz quad-core 8th-generation Intel Core i5 or 1.7GHz quad-core 8th-generation Intel Core i7
Memory (base)8GB8GB
Memory (maximum)16GB16GB
Memory options8GB or 16GB8GB or 16GB
Memory upgradeable by userNo, as Apple documents20No, as Apple documents21
Storage (base)256GB256GB
Storage (maximum)2TB2TB
Storage options256GB, 512GB, 1TB or 2TB256GB, 512GB, 1TB or 2TB

Battery and power

Battery and power: Apple iMac (24-inch, M1, 2021) against Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports)
SpecificationiMac M11MacBook Pro2
Battery capacityNot available658.2 Wh
Rated charge cyclesNot available61,000 cycles22
Video playback (claimed)Not available610 h
Wireless web (claimed)Not available610 h
Included power adapter143 W61 W
Fast chargingNot available6No fast charging.23

Connectivity

Connectivity: Apple iMac (24-inch, M1, 2021) against Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports)
SpecificationiMac M11MacBook Pro2
Wi-Fi802.11ax Wi-Fi 6802.11ac Wi-Fi
Bluetooth5.05.0
EthernetGigabit Ethernet configurable24No Ethernet port.14
External displays (base)12

Camera and audio

Camera and audio: Apple iMac (24-inch, M1, 2021) against Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports)
SpecificationiMac M11MacBook Pro2
Camera1080p FaceTime HD camera720p FaceTime HD camera
SpeakersHigh-fidelity six-speaker system with force-cancelling woofersStereo speakers with high dynamic range
MicrophonesStudio-quality three-mic array with high signal-to-noise ratio and directional beamformingThree-mic array with directional beamforming

Platform

Platform: Apple iMac (24-inch, M1, 2021) against Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports)
SpecificationiMac M11MacBook Pro2
Shipped withNot available25macOS Catalina26
Newest macOSmacOS 27 Golden Gate27macOS Sequoia28
Model identifieriMac21,229MacBookPro16,328
Model year20212020

Benchmarks

Benchmarks: Apple iMac (24-inch, M1, 2021) against Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports)
SpecificationiMac M11MacBook Pro2
Geekbench 7 (CPU, single-core)2,168301,13130
Geekbench 7 (CPU, multi-core)8,365303,60030

Sources

  1. Apple Support (UK) — iMac (24-inch, M1, 2021) - Technical Specifications · Default for iMac M1 · Apple’s figure · read 15 Sep 2026

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  2. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) - Technical Specifications · Default for MacBook Pro · Apple’s figure · read 15 Sep 2026

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  3. Apple Newsroom (UK) — iMac features all-new design in vibrant colours, M1 chip, and 4.5K Retina display · Apple’s figure · read 15 Sep 2026

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  4. Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple updates 13-inch MacBook Pro with Magic Keyboard, double the storage, and faster performance · Apple’s figure · read 15 Sep 2026

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  5. Not published by Apple. Pages checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) - Technical Specifications; Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple updates 13-inch MacBook Pro with Magic Keyboard, double the storage, and faster performance; Apple Support (UK) — Identify your MacBook Pro model. Read 9 Oct 2026

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  6. Doesn’t apply: no battery

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  7. Apple Newsroom (UK) — iMac features all-new design in vibrant colours, M1 chip, and 4.5K Retina display · Apple’s figure · read 3 Oct 2026

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  8. Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple updates 13-inch MacBook Pro with Magic Keyboard, double the storage, and faster performance · Apple’s figure · read 22 Sep 2026

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  9. Security updates: no end date published. Checked: endoflife.date. Read 22 Sep 2026

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  10. Apple Support (UK) — Identify your iMac model · Apple’s figure · read 2 Oct 2026

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  11. iMac (24-inch, M1, 2021): No USB-A ports. No Touch ID. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — iMac (24-inch, M1, 2021) - Technical Specifications. Read 15 Sep 2026

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  12. MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports): No USB-A ports. No MagSafe port. Intel processor, not Apple silicon. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) - Technical Specifications. Read 15 Sep 2026

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  13. iMac (24-inch, M1, 2021): No HDMI port. No SD card slot. No nano-texture display option. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — iMac (24-inch, M1, 2021) - Technical Specifications. Read 9 Oct 2026

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  14. MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports): No HDMI port. No SD card slot. No Ethernet port. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) - Technical Specifications. Read 9 Oct 2026

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  15. Doesn’t apply: MagSafe is a notebook charging port

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  16. Doesn’t apply: the Touch Bar was only fitted to MacBook Pro

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  17. Doesn’t apply: this is an Intel processor, and Apple lists a total core count only

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  18. Apple Support (UK) — iMac (24-inch, M1, 2021) - Technical Specifications · Apple’s figure · read 9 Oct 2026

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  19. Doesn’t apply: Apple silicon feature; this Mac has an Intel processor

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  20. Apple Support (UK) — Install memory in an iMac · Apple’s figure · read 18 Oct 2026

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  21. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro: how to remove or install memory · Apple’s figure · read 18 Oct 2026

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  22. Apple Support (UK) — Determine battery cycle count for Mac laptops · Apple’s figure · read 15 Oct 2026

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  23. MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports): No fast charging. Checked: Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple unveils game-changing MacBook Pro. Read 9 Oct 2026

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  24. Apple Support (UK) — iMac (24-inch, M1, 2021) - Technical Specifications · Apple’s figure · read 11 Oct 2026

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  25. Not published by Apple. Pages checked: Apple Support (UK) — iMac (24-inch, M1, 2021) - Technical Specifications; Apple Support (UK) — Identify your iMac model; Apple Newsroom (UK) — iMac features all-new design in vibrant colours, M1 chip, and 4.5K Retina display. Read 9 Oct 2026

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  26. Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple updates 13-inch MacBook Pro with Magic Keyboard, double the storage, and faster performance · Apple’s figure · read 9 Oct 2026

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  27. Apple Support (UK) — macOS 27 Golden Gate is compatible with these computers · Apple’s figure · read 22 Sep 2026

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  28. Apple Support (UK) — Identify your MacBook Pro model · Apple’s figure · read 15 Sep 2026

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  29. Apple Support (UK) — Identify your iMac model · Apple’s figure · read 10 Oct 2026

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  30. Geekbench Browser (Primate Labs) · third-party figure · read 11 Oct 2026

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Not published by Apple

iMac M1. Apple doesn’t publish for this Mac: refresh rate, memory bandwidth, storage upgradeable by user, media engine, maximum continuous power. Geekbench 7 Metal: the Mac chart row for this Mac does not state its GPU core count, so no Metal score is shown (chart read 10 Oct 2026). Pages checked: Apple Support (UK) — iMac (24-inch, M1, 2021) - Technical Specifications; Apple Support (UK) — Identify your iMac model; Apple Newsroom (UK) — iMac features all-new design in vibrant colours, M1 chip, and 4.5K Retina display, read 9 Oct 2026.

MacBook Pro. Apple doesn’t publish for this Mac: refresh rate, storage upgradeable by user. Geekbench 7 Metal: the Mac chart has no Metal score for this Mac (chart read 10 Oct 2026). Pages checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) - Technical Specifications; Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple updates 13-inch MacBook Pro with Magic Keyboard, double the storage, and faster performance; Apple Support (UK) — Identify your MacBook Pro model, read 9 Oct 2026.

If you own one of them

Whether to move is a different question from which is better. Each Mac has a page on it: what its successor changes (the newest Mac in its line where Apple sells one, otherwise the Mac this site treats as its replacement, which can be in another line), what it fetches and whether it still gets updates. Should I upgrade my iMac M1 (24-inch, 2021)? · Should I upgrade my MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports)?

The pairs a buyer of either Mac would also weigh. Any two Macs in the catalogue can be compared from the chooser.