The iMac "Core i3" 3.6 21.5-Inch Aluminum (Retina 4K, 2019/Coffee Lake) features a 14-nm "Coffee Lake" 3.6 GHz Intel "Core i3" processor (I3-8100) with four independent processor "cores" on a single chip, a 6 MB shared level 3 cache, 8 GB of 2400 MHz DDR4 SDRAM that is reportedly "built into the computer" -- but it actually can be upgraded later, it is just needlessly difficult -- a 1 TB (5400 RPM) hard drive (256 GB SSD standard with an optional 1 TB "Fusion" Drive, which combines a 32 GB SSD and a 1 TB HDD, for the same price starting on August 4, 2020), and a Radeon Pro 555X graphics processor with 2 GB of dedicated GDDR5 video memory. It also has a built-in "FaceTime HD" webcam and stereo speakers.

This model has a 21.5" 4096x2304 LED-backlit 16:9 widescreen IPS DCI-P3 "Retina 4K" display (that runs "pixel doubled" to look like 2048x1152). The rear of the case is aluminum and is thicker in the middle and tapers to a razor thin 5 mm at the edges.

Connectivity includes four USB 3.0 ports, dual Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports, Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 4.2. It does not have a T2 chip.

Compared to its predecessor, this model is very similar externally and internally, but it has a more advanced processor and architecture as well as graphics processor.

By default, the "2019" iMac models shipped with a compact aluminum Apple Magic Keyboard and the multi-touch "Magic Mouse 2". For an additional US$30, you could upgrade from the default keyboard to the "Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad" and for an additional US$50, you also could upgrade from the Magic Mouse 2 to the "Magic Trackpad 2," which provides multi-touch and pressure-sensitive "Force Touch"