Apple Introduces a New, Faster iMac

Apple Introduces a New, Faster iMac

Apple introduced the new version of the 5K Retina iMac, and according to the specs, it performs way better than the previous generation.

Display

The new iMac hasn't changed on the outside; it comes with the same slim aluminum body, which was introduced in 2012. However, on the new model, the Retina display comes with Apple's True Tone, and an optional nano-texture glass which reduces the reflection in bright environments. The 720p camera is replaced with the new 1080p FaceTime HD camera and the speakers are improved with variable EQ features for better audio quality.  

Processor and Graphics

The new iMac comes with Intel's 10th generation Comet Lake processors up to 10-cores, and the single-core clock speed can reach up to 5.0Ghz with Intel Turbo-boost technology. According to Apple, this will provide 65% better CPU performance when compared to the previous generation iMacs. On the graphics side, Apple added AMD's high-end Radeon Pro 5000 graphics, which makes it the first iMac with 16GB video memory. With the new Radeon Pro graphics, the new iMac gets 30% faster when rendering in Final Cut Pro X, and the overall graphics performance increases by 55%.

Storage

The SSD is now standard on the new iMac, and it will be available in 8TB for the first time. In addition to the new SSD options, Apple implemented the renowned Apple T2 Security Chip on the board for data encryption and better security.

The new iMac is starting at $1,799 USD and it is available for orders.

Burak Erzincanli's picture

Burak is a photographer and creative retoucher specialising in fashion and advertising, working with international clients from Canada, Europe and Australia.

Currently lives and works in Manchester, UK.

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43 Comments

"Starting at $1,799 USD", now tell us what kind of Windows machine you could build for that.

I use Mac and Windows, don’t really have a preference either way.

What I did do was try to spec match the 16” MacBook Pro with a Windows machine to save money.. was all going so well til I upgraded the screen to 4K on the windows laptop then there wasn’t a price difference.

My guess is the same will apply for a desktop, buy the same processor, gpu, high end RAM and SSD plus all other components then a 5K monitor and all you end up with is an ugly as f—k looking Windows monstrosity that costs as much.

Except maybe being able to buy it all in pieces and then throw it together.

Specs > 5K display any day. Their $1799 has pathetic specs.

CPU: Intel i5 6 core 10th gen
Memory: 8 gb of 2666 mhz
Storage: 256 gb ssd
Graphics: Radeon Pro 5300 with 4 GB of GDDR6 memory

For $1352 (no display), you could get the new Alienware Aurora Ryzen Edition:

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 3700x 8 core
Memory: 16 gb 3200 mhz
Storage: 512 gb m.2 nvme
Graphics: Nvidia Geforce RTX 2060 Super 8 GB of GDDR6 memory

I highly doubt that 5K display will help with Lightroom and chewing through 4K footage.

It’s irrelevant if you discount the screen just because you don’t think it’s needed... completely irrelevant.

It’s like saying your Dacia is better value than an Audi because Steel Wheels go round and round the same as alloys so alloys aren’t needed.

You're perfectly correct. The 5K display is irrelevant.

Speaking of irrelevant, your analogy. Alloy wheels are lighter than steel wheels so they contribute to better performance. Keyword, performance. Not just bling bling for the posers.

The point is, you cant spec up a Windows PC to the same level as a Mac for any less money. Buying a 27" 4K display (with same colour performance), wireless keyboard and mouse plus a tower will eat into a large chunk of the £1800 before you even start buying components.

But hey, you are another anti Apple commenter with your own agenda.

If you are more into form over function, then, you are probably correct. However, if you care more about performance for the money, something like the Alienware Ryzen I mentioned above and get yourself a $400, or even a $500, 27" 4K monitor would be the intelligent choice over Apple's base model. As for keyboard and mouse, if you don't have them already, you can add them to your order for free.

Also, when it's time to upgrade the iMacs, you have to buy a whole new iMac. lol. So, if you had a 2015 27" 5K and want the new 2020, you'll have to spend again for the 5K display. How dumb is that. Apple is laughing their asses to the bank. They just got you pay their Apple Tax twice. Had you already had a standalone 5K/4K monitor in 2015, come 2020, you can spurlge on a Ryzen 3900x + RTX 2080 Super for far less money than buying a new iMac. $2332 vs $3399.

I'm Anti Apple? I have a Macbook, granted a little 12". I mostly use it for watching videos while working; and also culling through images when I'm on the road. It's so tiny and light. But, I do hate how it overheats a lot.

If I had to buy a new laptop, Macbook Pro is high on my consider list. Mostly because their performance is the same whether plugged in or on battery. And, they have one of the better battery performance.

And, Apple's ARM has piqued my interest.

My personal machines are 2 Lenovo Thinkpads, a T460 and T470 for work, i also have a Lenovo desktop (im going to say M93) that i also use for work, rigged up to 2 24" HD monitors. I love using them, they get the job done.

My home setup, a 2010 Macbook Pro thats a spare now that essentially still works adequately if i need it to but i dont use it much. Also a 2015 Macbook Pro retina with its rather pathetic 8GB of RAM that still manages to run Capture One Pro, Affinity Photo, Serato DJ Pro, Rekordbox DJ and whatever else i throw at it with zero issues.

If i bought that iMac today i can guarantee it would be my machine for 10 years and would cover all my editing or gaming needs for that time, so all the Apple tax stuff is essentially nonsense when the person buying their stuff isnt always chasing the latest and greatest. These machines arent throwaway devices after 2 years.

It always makes me laugh when people bash Apple for having less RAM than a PC etc without realising that A, RAM plays a small part in a much larger ecosystem that helps performance and B, throwing 32gb of RAM into a computer wont suddenly make it go faster if it was shit in the first place.

If you don't do extensive work, then, of course 8 gb of ram is good enough for you. Or, if you've become accustomed to the lower performance.

I bash Apple for the lower ram because ram is so inexpensive and yet they charge a ludicrous amount. In this case $200 for 16gb. These are just run of the mill ram that can be had for $60. It's shit like this, preying on the uninitiated, is why they get a bad rap.

I’m not gonna disagree on that point, it’s a stain on their copybook no doubt, but it is what it is I guess, at least on an iMac you can buy it yourself and upgrade.

Hope they fixed the overheating issue. My 2015 gen model shuts down during every session - took a while to establish that it was the cpu temp getting up to 104 deg +. I have to run third party apps to force fan speeds higher, and even then it shuts down at least once an hour. Thats running LR, finder window, and maybe a LR add-in.

Yep, they fixed it. I've never had an overheating problem with my 2017 iMac running the same things. And temps inside my apartment easily reach 90F in the summer since I don't have A/C.

My 4 year old iMac running Final Cut Pro can quickly crunch multiple 4K video without using a proxy. My friends who use Windows and Adobe Premiere take 10 times longer (using a proxy). An iMac for video editing it's a workhorse. I can only dream how good newer ones are.

Might be better to wait and get the first version of the ARM-based iMac when they come out.

A bit miss leading this article the basic machine is £1,799 but to get to what we want and desire its a whopping £8,828.00.

Welcome to Apple.

Does anyone really want to buy this? I mean, PC are extremely powerful at that iMac lowest budget. Seriously, anyone, what is the actual benefit of this thing? Something that PC cannot.

Yes. 5.6 million people bought iMacs in 2Q20 according to IDC. But I know, I know, you're smart and these millions of people are stupid. You probably think you're the smartest person in whole world, right?

If I think I'm the smartest person in the world, then I know the advantages of iMac.

Don't give me a fanboy answer. Give me answer so I can understand.

There are 100 million TikTok users, does that means that there are 100 million idiots? No, more than that.

Well, for one thing it looks a lot nicer that a PC (i.e., it's aesthetically pleasing). Although the MS Surface Studio comes close. That's about it though. And for artists, looks and design matter a LOT.

Anyone that pays a ton of money extra because something under your desk looks pleasing is an idiot. That's like spending money on a phone that comes in one color (white) and has no extended storage option because they you to buy a whole other phone for more money (also in white).

An iMac sits on top of your desk. But if it's not for you, fine. Buy what you want. And I assume your house is furnished with $10 plastic chairs from Walmart, too? They work just as well as the more expensive chairs, right?

No I bought the Apple ichair. It is plastic but it's white and only 2k. 3k if you want arms on the chairs.

An unmatched robust ecosystem.

Care to explain more?

He's speaking about how Apple basically builds a machine, creates all the software and pretty much doesn't let you do anything with it except what they tell you can be done. Because Windows people always install 3rd party stuff and Apple doesn't trust you enough not to screw your comp up.

Great fanboy response. It has honestly gotten old. I own both systems and prefer my Mac system.
There isn’t anything I need to do that I cannot do on my Mac efficiently.

I’m not trying to be the next Mr. Robot or a professional twitch gamer.

Fan boy of what? PC users are using pretty much the same hardware as macs without paying extra just to say they are using a mac. I used a mac in graphic design school and it had as many problems as a PC and that was running programs made just for macs. But if you like paying extra for pretty much the same thing, it's your money. Throw some extra money out for a new iphone and some apple tv. Maybe buy a $50 apple bumper sticker for your icar.

No no, not 50$, it's 99$ for the bumper sticker and 199$ for the embossed version

Find me a PC that fits in that footprint, has the same screen and the high end wireless keyboard and mouse for that budget.

everyone keeps saying this shit about 'i can spec up a PC' etc... build one then send me the link then.

You can still use the same mouse and keyboard with the PC. Is footprint really that deciding factor?
my post is a question, sadly still no one can answer. What is the benefit? If it's an absolute win, I'll consider to buy one. So don't give me a fanboy answer. Give me your professional opinion.

Just so you know, i use both platforms daily, both work for me in employment terms too... i have zero preference for either.

my argument is when people claim you can build a likewise PC for cheaper than the Mac, its just not true.

Oh and whilst you are on, dont call people fanboys just for having a different opinion to you, how old are you, 12?

Ok boomer. I'm 15yo

What’s a boomer?

Rick, macOS is a BSD UNIX derivative operating system that has a history going back to Steve Jobs' days at NeXT in the 1990's. Provided Apple hasn't stripped out all of the UNIX functionality (I know that sar isn't included in Catalina), the OS would be a good platform for software development. The GUI has evolved over the years and has become more "user friendly" than before.

People who like macOS like the look and feel of it which is OK if that is all you want out of an operating system. There are plenty of detractors for both macOS and Windows so it becomes a matter of personal preference since both operating systems can do the same things. For us photographers there is no distinct advantage to running Photoshop or Lightroom on either OS unless you happen to be a system engineer and have the skills to fine tune the OS under the hood to get a performance edge.

Thanks for the answer. I use Linux and Windows for work and in term of system stability Linux is better. Just the usability is crap. Perhaps a stable OS in mac can be a good option. Did you see any improvement when using Premier pro?

Rick, I only briefly tested Premiere Pro. On my current system it would more than likely run well (12-core Ryzen, 128 GB of memory, 3 TB in multiple SSD's). Don't care for Linux despite using it off and on since 1993. I prefer Solaris by Sun Microsystems/Oracle.

It costs $200 to add 8 gb of 2133 DDR4 ram. I can get 16gb of the same ram for $85. That is egregiously over priced.

What good is it when Apple has already announced that they're going to phase out Intel processors? Looks like Apple is headed back down into a similar toilet as when Scully damn near ran it into the ground before Jobs took over again.

As my Mac products die, they'll be replaced by PCs I build myself.

I agree. Steve Jobs left behind a few great product ideas he was working on before he died. Now those ideas are drying-up and Apple is headed downhill. Steve Jobs decided to go with the Intel processor for lots of good reasons. Tim Cook however is only thinking of ways to make profit for their shareholders. Too bad because I love my iMac. Better purchase the last Intel base iMac while you can.

Honestly, this upgrade feels pointless when a redesigned Apple Silicon iMac is 2 years away at the latest. I want to switch over to the Mac ecosystem (preferably with a MacBook Pro) but doing so now would likely just be a waste with AS on the horizon.