When should I choose Imac 21.5” 2017?

Users prioritizing high-resolution visual fidelity with a 21.5-inch 4K Retina display (4096x2304 resolution, 500 nits, and DCI-P3 wide color). Creative workflows requiring high-bandwidth dual 40Gbps Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports and a built-in SDXC card slot. Users tied to the legacy Apple ecosystem and comfortable operating within macOS 13 Ventura.

What are the advantages of Imac 21.5” 2017 over LENOVO A100 23.8" All-in-One PC - Intel® Core i3-N305, 512 GB SSD?

The iMac 21.5-inch (2017) offers an optional 4K Retina display with a crisp 4096x2304 resolution, 500 nits of brightness, and DCI-P3 wide color gamut support.. The iMac 21.5-inch (2017) features two high-bandwidth 40Gbps Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports with native DisplayPort output and a built-in SDXC card slot..

AI comparison report

LENOVO A100 23.8" All-in-One PC - Intel® Core i3-N305, 512 GB SSD vs Imac 21.5” 2017

By CompareAI Editorial Team · Published 2026-08-31 · How we compare

Choose the LENOVO A100 23.8" All-in-One PC for modern processing, standard NVMe SSD speed, and supported software, or pick the iMac 21.5” 2017 if you specifica…

Who wins: LENOVO A100 23.8" All-in-One PC - Intel® Core i3-N305, 512 GB SSD or Imac 21.5” 2017?

Choose the LENOVO A100 23.8" All-in-One PC first, as its modern 8-core processor, high-speed 512 GB NVMe SSD, modern Wi-Fi 6, and fully supported Windows 11 ensure daily responsiveness and security, whereas the iMac 21.5" 2017 is limited by legacy 7th-gen processors, slow baseline 5400-rpm storage, and discontinued major macOS updates.

Based on our analysis across 5 dimensions with 20 sources, LENOVO A100 23.8" All-in-One PC - Intel® Core i3-N305, 512 GB SSD scores 8.0/10 overall while Imac 21.5” 2017 scores 5.5/10 overall.

Dimension	LENOVO A100 23.8" All-in-One PC - Intel® Core i3-N305, 512 GB SSD	Imac 21.5” 2017
Processing & Architecture	8.5/10	4/10
Display Size & Visual Fidelity	6.5/10	8.5/10
Operating System & Software Support	9.5/10	4/10
Storage Technology & Baseline Speed	8.5/10	2.5/10
I/O Ports & Peripheral Connectivity	6.8/10	8.4/10
Overall	8.0/10	5.5/10

Should I choose LENOVO A100 23.8" All-in-One PC - Intel® Core i3-N305, 512 GB SSD or Imac 21.5” 2017?

Verdict: Choose the LENOVO A100 23.8" All-in-One PC first, as its modern 8-core processor, high-speed 512 GB NVMe SSD, modern Wi-Fi 6, and fully supported Windows 11 ensure daily responsiveness and security, whereas the iMac 21.5" 2017 is limited by legacy 7th-gen processors, slow baseline 5400-rpm storage, and discontinued major macOS updates.

Choose the LENOVO A100 23.8" All-in-One PC for modern processing, standard NVMe SSD speed, and supported software, or pick the iMac 21.5” 2017 if you specifically need a 4K Retina display and dual Thunderbolt 3 connectivity in a legacy macOS environment.

The LENOVO A100 23.8" All-in-One PC is the superior everyday workstation thanks to its modern 8-core Intel Core i3-N305 processor (boosting up to 3.8 GHz), standard 512 GB PCIe NVMe SSD, modern Wi-Fi 6 networking, and full Windows 11 support. In contrast, the baseline iMac 21.5" 2017 is held back by older 7th-gen dual-core or quad-core chips starting at 2.3 GHz, an outdated 1 TB 5400-rpm mechanical hard drive, and software support capped at macOS 13 Ventura. However, the iMac 21.5" 2017 remains compelling strictly for display-centric users due to its optional 4K Retina panel delivering a 4096x2304 resolution at 500 nits brightness with DCI-P3 color support—surpassing the Lenovo A100's 1920x1080 250-nit 100Hz screen—along with two 40Gbps Thunderbolt 3 ports.

Best for LENOVO A100 23.8" All-in-One PC - Intel® Core i3-N305, 512 GB SSD

Users needing modern 8-core processing with boost speeds up to 3.8 GHz for everyday productivity and multi-threaded performance
Buyers requiring standard high-speed 512 GB PCIe NVMe SSD storage over slow mechanical hard drives
Users who need full, ongoing 64-bit Windows 11 operating system and security update support
Workspaces benefiting from a larger 23.8-inch Full HD display with a smooth 100Hz refresh rate
Environments requiring modern Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.2 wireless connectivity

Best for Imac 21.5” 2017

Users prioritizing high-resolution visual fidelity with a 21.5-inch 4K Retina display (4096x2304 resolution, 500 nits, and DCI-P3 wide color)
Creative workflows requiring high-bandwidth dual 40Gbps Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports and a built-in SDXC card slot
Users tied to the legacy Apple ecosystem and comfortable operating within macOS 13 Ventura

When not to compare directly

Do not compare them directly when high-resolution color grading or specialized macOS hardware connectivity is non-negotiable, as the iMac 21.5" 2017 offers a 4K 500-nit DCI-P3 display and dual 40Gbps Thunderbolt 3 ports that the LENOVO A100 23.8" All-in-One PC's 1080p 250-nit panel and USB-A ports cannot match.

What are the key differences between LENOVO A100 23.8" All-in-One PC - Intel® Core i3-N305, 512 GB SSD and Imac 21.5” 2017?

Processing & Architecture

The Lenovo A100 provides a modern 8-core Intel Core i3-N305 processor boosting up to 3.8 GHz, whereas the 2017 21.5-inch iMac relies on older 7th-generation Intel processors with dual-core or quad-core configurations starting at 2.3 GHz [1, 2].
LENOVO A100 23.8" All-in-One PC - Intel® Core i3-N305, 512 GB SSD: The Lenovo A100 features a modern 8-core Intel Core i3-N305 processor capable of boost clock speeds up to 3.8 GHz, offering efficient multi-threaded performance and contemporary architecture for modern operating systems [1, 3].
Imac 21.5” 2017: The 2017 21.5-inch Apple iMac relies on legacy 7th-generation Intel Kaby Lake architecture, featuring dual-core or quad-core configurations such as the 2.3 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 [2, 6].
Scores — LENOVO A100 23.8" All-in-One PC - Intel® Core i3-N305, 512 GB SSD: 8.5/10, Imac 21.5” 2017: 4/10
Determines speed, multitasking capability, and overall responsiveness for modern daily tasks and operating system workflows.
Sources: Lenovo - A100 23.8" Full HD All-In-One -Core i3 N305, iMac (21.5-inch, 2017) - Technical Specifications
Display Size & Visual Fidelity

While the Lenovo A100 offers a larger 23.8-inch 1080p panel, the iMac 21.5-inch (2017) delivers significantly superior visual fidelity through its optional 4K Retina screen featuring a 4096x2304 resolution, 500 nits brightness, and DCI-P3 color gamut [3, 4].
LENOVO A100 23.8" All-in-One PC - Intel® Core i3-N305, 512 GB SSD: The Lenovo A100 features a 23.8-inch Full HD (1920x1080) anti-glare IPS display with 250 nits brightness and a 100Hz refresh rate, offering more physical screen area for general multitasking [3].
Imac 21.5” 2017: The iMac 21.5-inch 2017 offers either a standard 1920x1080 sRGB panel or a superior 21.5-inch Retina 4K display with a 4096x2304 resolution, 500 nits of brightness, and DCI-P3 wide color support [4].
Scores — LENOVO A100 23.8" All-in-One PC - Intel® Core i3-N305, 512 GB SSD: 6.5/10, Imac 21.5” 2017: 8.5/10
Screen resolution, color accuracy, and panel size directly impact readability, multitasking screen real estate, and visual media consumption.
Sources: Lenovo A100, iMac (Retina 4K, 21.5-inch, 2017) - Technical Specifications
Operating System & Software Support

The Lenovo A100 supports fully updated 64-bit Windows 11 with ongoing security patches, whereas the 2017 21.5-inch iMac is officially capped at macOS 13 Ventura and no longer receives major OS upgrades [3, 6].
LENOVO A100 23.8" All-in-One PC - Intel® Core i3-N305, 512 GB SSD: The Lenovo A100 23.8" All-in-One PC runs modern 64-bit Windows 11 Home, providing ongoing security updates, full modern application compatibility, and direct OEM support for its 8-core Intel Core i3-N305 architecture [3].
Imac 21.5” 2017: The Apple iMac 21.5-inch (2017) originally shipped with macOS Sierra (10.12) or macOS High Sierra and is officially limited to macOS 13 Ventura as its final major operating system version, leaving it cut off from official upgrades to newer macOS releases [2, 6].
Scores — LENOVO A100 23.8" All-in-One PC - Intel® Core i3-N305, 512 GB SSD: 9.5/10, Imac 21.5” 2017: 4/10
Operating system support determines access to security patches, app compatibility, and longevity of the machine.
Sources: Lenovo A100, iMac "Core i5" 2.3 21.5" (Mid-2017) Specs ...
Storage Technology & Baseline Speed

While the Lenovo A100 includes a high-speed 512 GB PCIe NVMe SSD as standard, the baseline 2017 21.5-inch iMac relies on a sluggish 1 TB 5400-rpm mechanical hard drive.
LENOVO A100 23.8" All-in-One PC - Intel® Core i3-N305, 512 GB SSD: The Lenovo A100 comes standard with a fast 512 GB M.2 PCIe NVMe solid-state drive, delivering modern read/write throughput that ensures rapid boot times and responsive application performance.
Imac 21.5” 2017: The 2017 21.5-inch iMac typically shipped with a legacy 1 TB 5400-rpm mechanical hard drive as its baseline configuration, severely bottlenecking system responsiveness unless upgraded to a Fusion Drive or SSD.
Scores — LENOVO A100 23.8" All-in-One PC - Intel® Core i3-N305, 512 GB SSD: 8.5/10, Imac 21.5” 2017: 2.5/10
Drive speed dramatically affects boot times, application loading, and overall system responsiveness.
Sources: iMac (21.5-inch, 2017) - Technical Specifications, Lenovo A100
I/O Ports & Peripheral Connectivity

While the Lenovo A100 provides modern Wi-Fi 6 wireless connectivity and 10Gbps USB-A ports, the iMac 21.5-inch (2017) delivers significantly higher peripheral and display bandwidth through two 40Gbps Thunderbolt 3 ports and includes a built-in SDXC card slot.
LENOVO A100 23.8" All-in-One PC - Intel® Core i3-N305, 512 GB SSD: The Lenovo A100 features modern Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.2 alongside two USB-A (10Gbps / USB 3.2 Gen 2) ports, two USB-A 2.0 ports, an HDMI 1.4 out port, Gigabit Ethernet, and a 3.5mm combo audio jack, but lacks Thunderbolt and USB-C.
Imac 21.5” 2017: The iMac 21.5-inch (2017) provides two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports supporting data transfer up to 40Gbps and native DisplayPort output, four USB-A (5Gbps) ports, an SDXC card slot, Gigabit Ethernet, and a 3.5mm headphone jack, though it relies on older Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) and Bluetooth 4.2.
Scores — LENOVO A100 23.8" All-in-One PC - Intel® Core i3-N305, 512 GB SSD: 6.8/10, Imac 21.5” 2017: 8.4/10
Available ports and wireless standards dictate how easily external drives, monitors, accessories, and networks can be connected.
Sources: iMac (21.5-inch, 2017) - Technical Specifications, Lenovo A100

What are the pros and cons of LENOVO A100 23.8" All-in-One PC - Intel® Core i3-N305, 512 GB SSD vs Imac 21.5” 2017?