Apple Updates 21.5-inch and 27-inch iMac with Haswell

With the successful launch of not one but two new iPhones under its belt, Apple could be forgiven for taking a couple of days breather before making another big announcement. But no, it's all go at Cupertino today, as Apple has announced a long overdue update to its iMac line.

Apple this morning announced that it would be adding Intel's fourth generation Haswell processors as well as new graphics, next generation WiFi and faster PCIe flash storage options. The 21.5-inch entry-level iMac now comes with a 2.7 GHz quad-core Core i5 CPU and a new Iris Pro graphics. The 27-inch model and the higher-end 21.5-inch model use quad-core Core i5s up to 3.4 GHz and Nvidia's GeForce 700 series graphics. Customers also have the option of upping that to a 3.5 GHz Core i7 and GeForce GTX 780M graphics. the iMac now sports 802.11ac WiFi, 8 GB of RAM as standard, a 1 TB hard drive, two Thunderbolt ports, and four USB 3.0 ports. Customers can also up the RAM to 32 GB and storage to a 3 TB HDD.

"iMac continues to be the example that proves how beautiful, fast and fun a desktop computer can be," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior VP of Worldwide Marketing. "Inside its ultra-thin aluminum enclosure, the new iMac has the latest Intel processors, faster graphics, next generation 802.11ac Wi-Fi and faster PCIe flash storage."

Pricing for the new 21-inch iMac starts at $1,299, while the 27-inch model starts at $1,799. The new line is already available through Apple's online store and retail stores. No word on when the company's Pro laptops will get the same Haswell-flavored treatment.

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