The Apple tax is no joke, but neither is a typical Apple owner’s fear of unlocking their systems and costing their Mac some extra nice memory. But here’s the thing: If you pay Apple for RAM that you can install yourself, you’re wasting money. Full stop.
How many? Let’s do the math.
Apple’s latest 27-inch iMac costs $ 1,799 for the base version without modifications. That gives you a respectable 8GB DDR4 memory, but I would argue that most ridiculous badass systems nowadays for gamers and creative professionals would have to push to a minimum of 16GB. You might never need to again, so why not max out when you can?
The problem? If you opt for this upgrade through Apple – by customizing your system before you buy it – you will pay $ 200 for that extra 8GB. And if you dare to go higher, the prices will only go crazy:
- 32GB (+ $ 600)
- 64GB ($ + 1,000)
- 128GB (+ $ 2,600)
While very few of us will ever need 128 GB of memory – in principle those who deal with motion graphics and video editing – the costs associated with the upgrade are quite extreme. You could buy a second computer with even better specs than the basic 27-inch iMac for what you just pay for that memory. It makes even less sense when you realize that PC owners can easily outfit their desktops with a full 128 GB of memory that is faster than Apple’s, for one quarter the price.
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So, when you shop for a new Mac, what do you do?
Before you buy a Mac, make sure you can upgrade it
You can open some models of iMac and upgrade the memory yourself, if you want. But this will not always be easily possible. Your best bet, before you shop, is to check and see if Apple has access to your system’s memory and to exchange (or supplement) it.
Fortunately, Apple provides a pretty handy list of upgradeable Macs over here. (As for the MacBook, fat chance.) Our example above, the latest 27-inch iMac, is compatible.
You will of course need to purchase your own memory that matches the exact specifications of your system (provided by Apple). You can also just cheat and use one of a manufacturer’s web-based tools like OWC buy the exact memory your system needs to function.
You can probably save money by doing this yourself, instead of using OWC memory, but you run the risk of selecting something that does not quite work with your Mac. Since you probably only want to take one stick here, and you’ll already save a ton of money when buying Apple RAM, that might be good enough for you – no shame, but know that are other options there.
Save hundreds (if thousands) with just a little work
As for the savings, well, it will be huge. Here’s that list of what Apple’s memory upgrades would cost:
- 32GB (+ $ 600)
- 64GB (+ $ 1,000)
- 128GB (+ $ 2,600)
Get the base amount of memory for your iMac (8GB) and spring for an OWC kit, and you pay the following:
- 32GB (+ $ 120)
- 64GB (+ $ 270)
- 128GB (+ $ 600)
The Apple Tax is real, folks.
Well, you have to install this memory yourself, but this is hardly a task worth paying anywhere from $ 500- $ 2,000 for Apple to take care of you. It is absurdly easy to do; Call will show you how. Here’s the brief version of the process for Apple’s latest iMac:
- Disconnect your iMac and gently pull it onto the display.
- Press the gray button below the AC port to open the memory compartment.
- Release the DIMMs (your RAM) by pushing out both visible cards and then pulling towards you
- Delete and replace your memory, and make sure you orient the notch of each DIMM to the right or right (depending on the construction of your Mac).
- Use the levers to lock the DIMMs in place when you are ready, and replace the memory compartment panel.
These instructions will vary depending on your iMac – older iMacs may even require you to use a screwdriver to access the memory compartment. In any case, Apple’s instructions should be straightforward for even the most inexhaustible of computer crashes.
And the benefits? Now, saving potentially thousands of dollars for five minutes of work is the best trade-off you’ve ever made with your Mac. Stop paying Apple tax.
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