Best Time To Get An Apple iMac 2017 – especially the Retina 5K 27-inch edition

Samuel J Tan Desktops, Personal Technology, Technology 2

They say, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time is now.” Unfortunately for Tech, here never really is a best time to get any. You can possibly expect 6-12 months of ‘new’ use before an update or a totally new version will come out to replace the device you are after. Apple devices are no exception.

However, with the release of Apple’s new iMac 2017, we can safely say that, there is no better time to take the plunge. The last wave of refresh to the iMac range was late 2015 (see technical specification at the bottom of this page). Here we explore five reasons why we say the iMac 2017 is your best bet if you are looking for a new desktop.

5 Reasons Why iMac 2017 is Your Best Buy

Let’s take a look at why we say the iMac 2017, particularly the 5K 27-inch is a good buy.

1. Better Display

Not only are these Retina 5K displays with 5120‑by‑2880 resolution, they are much improved with support for one billion colours and 500 nits brightness. If you have the last iMac (late 2015) this may not be immediately obvious but for those coming from ordinary displays, the visual experience will be nothing short of astounding.

2. Faster Processors

The new iMac 2017 uses the latest 7th Generation Intel Processors. While tests have shown that the performance of these processors are faster but by not by very much, they are more efficient and runs cooler. The Entry level iMac 5K 27-inch 2017 comes with 3.4GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 (Turbo Boost up to 3.8GHz) this is a level up from the entry level iMac 5K 27-inch late 2015 at 3.2GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 (Turbo Boost up to 3.6Ghz).

Mid and high tier models received similar Intel Core i5 processor upgrades from 3.2GHz (Turbo Boost 3.6GHz to 3.5GHz (Turbo Boost 4.1GHz) and 3.3GHz (Turbo Boost 3.9GHz) to 3.8GHz (Turbo Boost 4.2GHz) respectively. If money is no object, pick the high tier model and customise this further with a chart topping 4.2GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 Turbo Boost up to 4.5GHz.

3. Fusion Drive Across The Board

Faster storage is everything these days with Solid State Drive being a common place on tablets and machines. They offer quick start-up and all round more responsive and better performance. We just don’t understand why after paying a premium for these iMac that Apple still chooses to make SSD available as upgrades at point of purchase.

4. Better Value

While the price points are maintained, if you wanted iMac 5K 27-inch late 2015 with Fusion Drive, you would need to go with the mid-tier version as a minimum. Now, with the new iMac 2017, you save yourself a couple of hundred dollars and still get a faster machine with Fusion Drive going with the entry version. No more paying a premium for faster storage.

5. Faster GPU & Bigger Display Memory

Here is one of those things you think you might use and it’s there if you need it. Personally, I would go for it as I have a “multi-screen fetish”. What am I talking about? The ability to hook up multiple external displays to extend your workspace. Both iMac 5K late 2015 and 2017 lets you connect up to two 4K (4096-by-2160) external displays or one 5K (5120-by-2880) with dual-cable external display, the difference here is the iMac 5K 2017 also supports two external 4K UHD (3840-by-2160) external displays. Although, we are sure the late 2015 machine has that ability too.

The new Radeon Pro 570/575/580 GPUs with 4GB/4GB/8GB VRAM respectively powers the iMac 5K 2017. The previous generation iMac 5K late 2015 uses the slower with half the video memory. Radeon R9 M380/M390/M395 GPU with only 2GB of video memory, 4GB if you configure your GPU to Radeon R9 M395X.

Together with all round improved components, the result is 1.8 times faster video editing. 1.7 times faster gaming and 1.7 times faster 3D graphics perfect for what Apple has in store.

Final Thoughts

For a quick summary of the updates you would get with the iMac 5K 2017 edition, we have highlighted the specifications below. Also note that with the new iMac, it now supports up to 64GB RAM so you can load up your machine using the user accessible memory slots while previously you can only upgrade up to 32GB RAM. The five main points and the addition of Thunderbolt 3 ports in the form of two USB-C ports each with up to 40Gbps data transfer lets you connect external drives, cameras and other USB-C peripherals as well as offer twice the bandwidth for video and display connectivity. There are also four USB 3 ports, enough for all your peripherals so you never have to worry about connecting your iPhone, flash drives, external storage, cameras or printers. With the new iMac 2017, Apple also launched the wireless Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad. You will however, need to customise this at the of purchase when ordering online or it will come with the standard Magic Keyboard (without numeric keypad). We can safely say that there is nothing like an iMac where desktops are concerned, the usual aesthetics, sleek iconic design and premium quality components.

iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2017) – Technical Specifications [UPDATES]

Display

Retina 5K display
27-inch (diagonal) Retina 5K display
5120‑by‑2880 resolution with support for one billion colors
500 nits brightness
Wide color (P3)

Processor

3.4GHz
3.4GHz quad‑core Intel Core i5 (Turbo Boost up to 3.8GHz)
3.5GHz
3.5GHz quad‑core Intel Core i5 (Turbo Boost up to 4.1GHz)
Configurable to 4.2GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 (Turbo Boost up to 4.5GHz)
3.8GHz
3.8GHz quad‑core Intel Core i5 (Turbo Boost up to 4.2GHz)
Configurable to 4.2GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 (Turbo Boost up to 4.5GHz)

Memory

3.4GHz
8GB (two 4GB) of 2400MHz DDR4 memory; four SO-DIMM slots, user accessible
Configurable to 16GB or 32GB
3.5GHz
8GB (two 4GB) of 2400MHz DDR4 memory; four SO-DIMM slots, user accessible
Configurable to 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB
3.8GHz
8GB (two 4GB) of 2400MHz DDR4 memory; four SO-DIMM slots, user accessible
Configurable to 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB

Storage¹

3.4GHz
1TB Fusion Drive
Configurable to 2TB Fusion Drive or 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB SSD
3.5GHz
1TB Fusion Drive
Configurable to 2TB or 3TB Fusion Drive or 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB SSD
3.8GHz
2TB Fusion Drive
Configurable to 3TB Fusion Drive or 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB SSD

Graphics

3.4GHz
Radeon Pro 570 with 4GB of VRAM
3.5GHz
Radeon Pro 575 with 4GB of VRAM
3.8GHz
Radeon Pro 580 with 8GB of VRAM

Video Support and Camera

FaceTime HD camera
Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display at 1 billion colors and:
- One 5120‑by‑2880 (5K) external display at 60Hz with support for 1 billion colors, or
- Two 3840-by-2160 (4K UHD) external displays at 60Hz with support for 1 billion colors, or
- Two 4096‑by‑2304 (4K) external displays at 60Hz with support for millions of colors
Thunderbolt 3 digital video output
Native DisplayPort output over USB‑C
Thunderbolt 2, HDMI, DVI, and VGA output supported using adapters (sold separately)

Audio

Stereo speakers
Microphone
3.5 mm headphone jack
- Support for Apple iPhone headset with microphone

Connections and Expansion

3.5 mm headphone jack
SDXC card slot
Four USB 3 ports (compatible with USB 2)
Two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports with support for:
- DisplayPort
- Thunderbolt (up to 40 Gbps)
- USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10 Gbps)
- Thunderbolt 2, HDMI, DVI, and VGA supported using adapters (sold separately)
10/100/1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet (RJ-45 connector)
Kensington lock slot

Input

Magic Keyboard
Magic Keyboard comes standard with your iMac. It’s wireless and rechargeable (so you won’t be replacing batteries), with an ultracompact, edge-to-edge design that wastes no surface space. It has a stable scissor mechanism, optimized key travel, and a low profile that provide control and comfort. And it pairs immediately with your iMac right out of the box.
Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad
You get all the functionality of Magic Keyboard, with an extended layout that makes it even easier to work and play. The new Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad includes document navigation controls — page up, page down, home, and end — and full-size arrow keys that are perfect for navigating pro apps, moving through spreadsheets, and playing games.
Magic Mouse 2
Magic Mouse 2 comes standard with your iMac. The design of Magic Mouse 2 lets it glide smoothly across your desk. And since it supports Multi-Touch, you can use simple gestures on its surface to do things such as swipe between web pages and scroll through documents.
Magic Trackpad 2
If you prefer using a trackpad, Magic Trackpad 2 gives you the full range of Multi-Touch gestures and introduces Force Touch to the desktop. Sensors underneath the trackpad surface detect subtle differences in the amount of pressure you apply, bringing more functionality to your fingertips and enabling a deeper connection to your content. This design, along with a low profile, makes it extremely comfortable to use.

Wireless

Wi-Fi
802.11ac Wi-Fi wireless networking
IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n compatible
Bluetooth
Bluetooth 4.2 wireless technology

Size and Weight

Height: 20.3 inches (51.6 cm)
Width: 25.6 inches (65.0 cm)
Stand depth: 8 inches (20.3 cm)
Weight: 20.8 pounds (9.44 kg)²

iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015) – Technical Specifications