Apple has today announced its new iMac family – and the company is focusing on high-resolution displays in a big way with its latest releases.
For the first time, the 21.5-inch iMac gets an optional Retina 4K Display with 4096x2304px resolution. And in another first, all 27-inch models will now include Retina 5K Display as standard – the company says that this panel is “the world’s highest-resolution all-in-one display with a stunning 14.7 million pixels.”
Apple has upgraded other key specs of its latest desktop too. The 27-inch iMac gets the latest sixth-generation ‘Skylake’ Intel Core processors, along with AMD graphics. However, the 21.5-inch models are available only with an older fifth-gen processor and Intel Iris Pro Graphics.
All iMacs now get two Thunderbolt 2 ports, along with three-stream 802.11ac Wi-Fi, while expanded Fusion Drive options are now available at a lower price, in a new 1TB hard drive + 24GB ‘fast flash’ configuration.
“From the first iMac to today, the spirit of iMac has never wavered — deliver the ultimate desktop experience with the latest technologies, gorgeous displays and cutting-edge designs,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “These are the most stunning iMacs we’ve ever made. With our gorgeous new Retina displays, more powerful processors and graphics and all-new Magic accessories, the new iMac continues to redefine the ultimate desktop experience.”
The new 4K and 5K iMacs are available today online as well as Apple retail stores and select resellers. Every new iMac comes bundled with the new Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse. The Force Touch Magic Trackpad is available as an optional add-on accessory.
Alongside the updates, Apple has also posted a ‘Then and Now’ iMac memorabilia page which shows the development of the iMac over time and celebrates the growth of Apple over that period. The new iMacs are 366x times faster and feature 1000x more RAM than the flagship iMac from 1998. The page concludes with a reaffirmation of Apple’s promise to continue progress in desktop computing: “1 unwavering commitment to craft the ultimate desktop computer.”
The new iMacs are available today – the 27-inch models start at $1799, while the 21.5-inch models are priced from $1099, or $1499 with a Retina 4K Display.