Apple Updates iMac Lineup, Offers Small But Mighty 4K 21.5-Inch Model

Apple has updated its iMac lineup, offering a number of new computers in the iMac range, including a 21.5-inch iMac with a 4K display.

The new 21.5-inch iMacs will join the larger 27-inch iMac computers, which now will only be offered with a 5K display, with Apple removing the possibility of purchasing a non-5K 27-inch iMac. Here are some of the biggest changes that Apple has made to the iMac lineup.

Display

As mentioned, the 21.5-inch iMac will now be available with a 4K display. Previously the computer maxed out at a 1,920 x 1,080, with the new display bringing the max display resolution up to 4,096 x 2,304. This is, however, optional, so for those that aren’t too concerned about display resolution, it might be perhaps better to stick with the non-4K computer to cut down on costs.

As mentioned, when it comes to the 27-inch iMac, a 5K display is now the standard, offering a 5,120 x 2,880 resolution, which, according to Apple, offers the same pixel density as the 4K iMac. In total, there is 4.5 times the number of pixels on the new generation of iMacs compared to the previous generation.

Not only that, but the new generation of iMacs also offer a better color representation, extending from the sRBG offering in previous iMacs to the wider P3 range, essentially offering 25 percent more colors. This will be great for people like photographers and video editors.

Processor And Performance

The 27-inch iMac computers feature Intel’s sixth generation of Core processors, with base options ranging from 3.2GHz processors to 3.3GHz processors, which can be upgradeable to 4.0GHz processors. This is paired with AMD R9 M300-series graphics, which is certainly not bad.

The 21.5-inch computers, however, still run Intel’s fifth generation of Core processors, which are paired with Intel’s Iris Pro 6200 graphics. It seems as though Apple, because of the 21.5-inch graphics offering, is trying to incentivize users to shell out more cash for the larger computer, which is a little unfortunate considering the fact that it means that users can’t take full advantage of the great new 4K display. The base computers come with processors ranging from 1.6GHz to 3.1GHz.

Hard Drive

Now we get to the hard drive offerings. Something that is particularly surprising is that Apple continues to offer a 5400 rpm drive in the base 21.5-inch iMac, meaning that users have to pay to upgrade their hard drive because no one wants a 5400 rpm drive. If you’re buying this computer to browse Facebook and don’t mind waiting a minute for the computer to boot then maybe this drive will still be fine for you, but anyone else really will want to upgrade before they head to checkout. Apart from that, options range from a 1TB ATA 7200 rpm drive to a 1TB solid state drive. For those wanting as much space as possible, there is a 3TB Fusion drive available, which seems to be a great compromise between a hard drive and a solid state drive.

Price

The 21.5-inch iMac is available starting at $1,099, however those wanting a 4K model will need to shell out at least $1,499. The 27-inch 5K iMac starts at $1,799. In both, adding things like a larger hard drive or better processor will add to the cost.

Accessories

Apart from the iMac itself, Apple has also introduced a slew of new accessories, including a “Magic Mouse 2” and a new keyboard called the Magic Keyboard. The Magic Mouse 2 is mostly the same as its predecessor, however it includes a rechargeable battery that charges using a Lightning cable rather than users having to use AA batteries.

The Magic Keyboard is an upgrade to Apple’s previous wireless keyboard, and features larger, square keys rather than the smaller ones found on the previous iteration of the keyboard. The overall design is also different, with the device looking like a large slab that slopes down.

Last but not least is a new trackpad, which is completely different. The device is rechargeable, meaning Apple has been able to ditch the AA battery tube, meaning that the trackpad looks like another large slab. It also features Apple’s new Force Touch technology, meaning that the technology is no longer limited to only iPhone users and MacBook users.

Conclusions

The new range of iMacs are a promising step forward for Apple, however it would have been nice if the company upgraded graphics and hard drive options on the smaller computer. Overall, users thinking about upgrading computers have multiple great options to consider.