Apple announced that it will update its entire line of iMac desktops with new high-resolution Retina displays and faster internal hardware. The iMacs will also receive a number of other upgrades to improve the user experience.
4K Display On 21.5 Inches; Skylake, Too
On the 21.5-inch iMac, Apple will now give users the option of having a 4K (4096x2304) display in addition to the 1080p option available before. The model with the 4K display also features faster internal hardware, containing either a 3.1 GHz Intel 5th Gen (Broadwell) Core i5 or a 3.3 GHz Intel Core i7. The system may also come with up to a 512 GB SSD, whereas the other 21.5-inch iMacs are limited to a 256 GB SSD.
As for the 27-inch iMac, although a model with a 5K Retina display has been available since May, the new model contains higher-performance hardware. This system can optionally include a 3.2 or 3.3 GHz Intel 6th Gen (Skylake) Core i5, or a 4 GHz Intel 6th Gen (Skylake) Core i7. The graphics card has also been updated and can come with one of several AMD R9 300 series graphics cards, including the R9 M380, R9 M390, R9 M395 or R9 M395X.
As an extra storage option, both systems also support Apple's Fusion Drive technology that pairs SSD storage with an HDD to achieve SSHD-like performance. The 1 TB Fusion Drive will include 24 GB of flash storage, while the 2 TB and 3 TB configurations will include a 128 GB SSD partition.
Both new systems will also include two Thunderbolt 2 ports. Naturally, they will also come pre-installed with Apple's latest operating system, the OS X El Capitan.
| Apple iMacs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Model | Apple 21.5-inch 4K | Apple 27-inch 5K |
| Display | 21.5-inch 4K 4096x2304 | 27-inch 5K 5120x2880 |
| CPU | Intel 5th Gen (Broadwell) Core i5 @ 3.1 GHz; Core i7 @ 3.8 GHz | Intel 6th Gen (Skylake) Core i5 @ 3.2 GHz; Core i5 @ 3.3 GHz; Core i7 @ 4 GHz |
| Memory | Up to 16 GB | Up to 32 GB |
| HDD | Up to 1 TB 5400 RPM; 1 TB or 2 TB Fusion Drive | Up to 1 TB 7200 RPM; 1 TB, 2 TB, 3 TB Fusion Drive |
| SSD | Up to 512 GB | Up To 1 TB |
| Graphics | Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 | AMD Radeon R9 M380; R9 M390; R9 M395; R9 M395X |
| Price | $1,499 | $1,799 |
"Magic" Accessories
Apple also introduced three new wireless accessories: the Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse 2, and Magic Trackpad 2. Apple stated that these new devices have been redesigned to feel more comfortable, and they now have internal rechargeable batteries. The Magic Trackpad 2 will also feature the Force Touch interface.
Compared to the old Magic Trackpad device, the trackpad surface is 29 percent larger. Apple claimed that these devices can last a full month or more on a single charge, and they will pair instantly with your Mac once connected via the Lightning-to-USB charging cable.
All iMacs will come with these new accessories, but they can also be purchased separately.
| Devices | Magic Keyboard | Magic Mouse 2 | Magic Trackpad 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $99 | $79 | $129 |
The new systems are available now from various authorized Apple resellers. The 21.5-inch 4K iMac has a starting price of $1,499, and the 27-inch 5K iMac starts at $1,799.
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Michael Justin Allen Sexton (or MJ) is a Contributing Writer for Tom's Hardware. As a tech enthusiast, MJ enjoys studying and writing about all areas of tech, but specializes in the study of chipsets and microprocessors. In his personal life, MJ spends most of his time gaming, practicing martial arts, studying history, and tinkering with electronics.
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