iMac line updated with 16:9 displays, quad-core Core i5 / i7 model

After months of speculation, Apple has unveiled some completely new iMacs, featuring 21.5-inch and 27-inch 16:9 displays and all-aluminum enclosures. The new widescreen IPS panels are LED-backlit and have 178-degree viewing angles -- the 21.5-inch iMac has a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution, while the 27-incher comes in at a staggering 2,560 x 1,440. Ports are the same as the outgoing model with the addition of an SD card slot and video-in on the 27-inch (via a special cable), and the wireless keyboard is now standard (as is the all-new Magic Mouse). Pricing tiers haven't changed much: there's a low-end $1,199 21.5-inch model with a 3.06GHz Core 2 Duo, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics, 4GB of RAM and a 500GB drive, a $1,499 model that bumps things up to 1TB of storage and ATI Radeon HD 4670 graphics, while the base 27-inch config starts at $1,699 with the same bumped specs. All of those can be custom-configured with up to a 3.33GHz Core 2 Duo, but it's the top-end $1,999 27-inch model that'll bring the real heat when it ships in November; it's packing a 2.66GHz quad-core Core i5 processor (with a 2.8GHz Core i7 available for $200 more) and Radeon HD 4850 graphics. Not a bad little refresh -- but it looks like all you Blu-ray fans are going home alone again. Check the full specs list after the break.

iMac line updated with 16:9 displays, quad-core Core i5 / i7 model

Pricing & Availability
The new 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo iMac and Mac mini lines are now shipping and available through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. The Intel Core i5 and i7 quad-core iMacs are available for order and will begin shipping this November. Mac mini with Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server is available from the Apple Store and Apple's retail stores.

The new 21.5-inch 3.06 GHz iMac, for a suggested retail price of $1,199 (US), includes:
• 21.5-inch 1920 x 1080 LED-backlit display;
• 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3MB shared L2 cache;
• 4GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM expandable to 16GB;
• NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics;
• 500GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
• a slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW);
• Mini DisplayPort for video output (adapters sold separately);
• built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
• built-in iSight video camera;
• Gigabit Ethernet port;
• four USB 2.0 ports;
• one FireWire 800 port;
• SD card slot;
• built-in stereo speakers and microphone; and
• Wireless Apple Keyboard, Magic Mouse.

The new 21.5-inch 3.06 GHz iMac, for a suggested retail price of $1,499 (US), includes:
• 21.5-inch 1920 x 1080 LED-backlit display;
• 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3MB shared L2 cache;
• 4GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM expandable to 16GB;
• ATI Radeon HD 4670 discrete graphics; with 256MB GDDR3;
• 1TB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
• a slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW);
• Mini DisplayPort for video output (adapters sold separately);
• built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
• built-in iSight video camera;
• Gigabit Ethernet port;
• four USB 2.0 ports;
• one FireWire 800 port;
• SD card slot;
• built-in stereo speakers and microphone; and
• Wireless Apple Keyboard, Magic Mouse.

The new 27-inch 3.06 GHz iMac, for a suggested retail price of $1,699 (US), includes:
• 27-inch 2560 x 1440 LED-backlit display;
• 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3MB shared L2 cache;
• 4GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM expandable to 16GB;
• ATI Radeon HD 4670 discrete graphics; with 256MB GDDR3;
• 1TB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
• a slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW);
• Mini DisplayPort for video input and output (adapters sold separately);
• built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
• built-in iSight video camera;
• Gigabit Ethernet port;
• four USB 2.0 ports;
• one FireWire 800 port;
• SD card slot;
• built-in stereo speakers and microphone; and
• Wireless Apple Keyboard, Magic Mouse.

The new 27-inch 2.66 GHz Core i5 iMac, for a suggested retail price of $1,999 (US), includes:
• 27-inch 2560 x 1440 LED-backlit display;
• 2.66 GHz Intel Core i5 quad-core processor with 8MB shared L3 cache;
• 4GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM expandable to 16GB;
• ATI Radeon HD 4850 discrete graphics; with 512MB GDDR3;
• 1TB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
• a slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW);
• Mini DisplayPort for video input and output (adapters sold separately);
• built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
• built-in iSight video camera;
• Gigabit Ethernet port;
• four USB 2.0 ports;
• one FireWire 800 port;
• SD card slot;
• built-in stereo speakers and microphone; and
• Wireless Apple Keyboard, Magic Mouse.

Build-to-order options for the 27-inch Core i5 quad-core iMac include a 2.8 GHz Intel Core i7 quad-core processor.

[ruby Posted Oct 20th 2009 2:26PM]

I just want to say.. For all you people who thought Sony was stupid for putting 16x9 displays on computers instead of 16x10.. Here you go.. Now tell me who is stupid.. oh wait, you probably think 16x9 is the best now because Apple uses it.

[Albino Digits Posted Oct 20th 2009 2:29PM]

Adding HD resolution and changing the display ratio to 16:9 were smart moves, but an HDMI input would have made this a decent TV replacement for a small apartment or bedroom. Would that really be that difficult/expensive?

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 23rd 2009 6:53AM]

Get a HDMI to Mini-DisplayPort adaptor - they're pretty cheap. Job done.

27-inch only, but still good to see these accepting input.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 20th 2009 2:43PM]

Where is the Blu-ray?

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 20th 2009 2:36PM]

so, 27" cinema displays coming anytime soon?

[ManjyomeThunder Posted Oct 20th 2009 3:21PM]

Is Apple seriously charging $2,000 for a computer with a desktop processor like the i5-750 that costs around $200? It's a welcome addition but at this price it's absurd, especially since at the same price Apple used to use more expensive mobile components with lower power consumption. You may have more power but the actual cost to manufacture obviously went down with the upgrade. Why wouldn't Apple just make it the standard option, and lower their prices? It might actually drive sales among those of us who don't see "Quad-Core" and think "Oooh, I never heard of that in a PC *click*".

[Tsing Tao Posted Oct 20th 2009 2:58PM]

The monitor alone will cost 1600+

[ManjyomeThunder Posted Oct 20th 2009 3:15PM]

"The monitor alone will cost 1600+"

I don't think so Tim. I've seen 30" IPS panels that are just fine from others that cost around $1,000. And if they did cost $1,600, Apple couldn't afford to sell the Core 2 version of the 27" for $1,700.

In any case, the $1,700 iMac should be the Core i5 based one if anything. The $200 the i5 itself costs isn't really that much of a price difference from the Core 2 Duo, unless Apple is getting massive discounts because Intel is trying to sell their remaining stock.

[AdmiralKlingon Posted Oct 20th 2009 3:31PM]

@chris

It's a LED back-lit S-IPS 2560 x 1440 panel with 375 cd/m2

It could be very very expensive.

Of course no one is denying Apple's margin is good.

But certainly the pricing is not crazier than 08 line-up.

[ManjyomeThunder Posted Oct 20th 2009 5:22PM]

@ AdmiralKlingon

I'm not saying it's not an expensive and extremely nice display, as it most certainly is, but I highly doubt it's anywhere near the $1,600 Tsing Tao suggested for obvious reasons.

[Tsing Tao Posted Oct 20th 2009 4:34PM]

The exact lg 24" panel in my current imac retails for 1200, was on sale last month on amazon for 1000. There isnt even a 27" available to retail yet by LG.

[ManjyomeThunder Posted Oct 20th 2009 5:23PM]

Yes, Tsing Tao, they are expensive panels, but there's no way in hell that it's $1,600+. Maybe at retail it might be, but Apple obviously gets them for cheaper through discounts on mass orders if they can afford to sell them as part of a $1,700 All-in-One with respectable specs.

[Jonny Posted Oct 20th 2009 3:52PM]

I can't wait to see that 27" panel starting to ship in other companies monitors.

[Wwhat Posted Oct 20th 2009 5:42PM]

So, $500 to $600 worth of computer with an asking price of 2 grand means those screens are about $1400 then eh, they must be good.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 20th 2009 6:23PM]

The problem is that at 2560 x 1440 the Radeon 4850 is simply not powerful enough. Whats the point of super high resolution if all your games lag like crazy. I'll stick with my homebuilt.

[rob47 Posted Oct 20th 2009 8:14PM]

Thats my question im thinking of getting one of them do i go for the expensive 21" or the cheap 27"?

[StageProps Posted Oct 20th 2009 8:24PM]

Man, my grandmother just bought herself an iMac yesterday. Came with a wired keyboard and Mighty Mouse and everything. Sucks for her.

[rob47 Posted Oct 20th 2009 9:25PM]

She can return it a few weeks after new models come out.

[StageProps Posted Oct 21st 2009 12:24AM]

That's what I would do but I don't think she cares enough to do so. She won't really be using it for intense stuff anyway.

[rob47 Posted Oct 21st 2009 3:06AM]

Aye that's true.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 20th 2009 8:40PM]

A $2,000 27", core i5 system with a $100 GDDR3 graphics card and 4GB RAM? I must be missing something right? I can get a computer with core i7, better graphics card, more RAM, and whatever screen size I want for $1,000 from HP or Dell. Wait, there's an apple logo on the front, and I can't ever upgrade or modify my system (graphics card, screen size, audio, networking). GOT IT.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 21st 2009 12:10AM]

The monitor is worth at least $1,200. It's an IPS monitor.

Apple did good this time.

[AlO Posted Oct 21st 2009 12:32AM]

They could at least put a 5000 series RADEON gpu

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 20th 2009 10:37PM]

I really wonder if it will become possible to connect my PS3 in full HD to the all new 27" iMac?! Any tips/ideas/thoughts on this?

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 23rd 2009 6:56AM]

Should be doable with a HDMI to Mini-DisplayPort adaptor, within reasonable theory.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 21st 2009 4:04AM]

would this mean the 27" won't have possible cuda acceleration in Snow Leopard ? or does this ATI support it ?

[mtnDewFTW Posted Dec 4th 2009 5:07AM]

Apple -- the coolest company that makes the coolest products on this planet :)