You can replace RAM and processors in new iMacs, but there's a catch

Earlier this week, Apple revealed a fleet of new iMacs -- and as usual, the "teardown" experts at iFixit have started taking them apart. The first to go under the knife is the new 4K, 21.5-inch iMac (which we've already taken out for a brief test run), and the iFixit team found a few surprises. The most notable is that the iMac's RAM isn't soldered directly to the motherboard. That means it is technically replaceable down the line, something that hasn't been the case in a 21.5-inch iMac since 2013.

Additionally, the new iMac actually has a "socketed" CPU that can also be replaced. It's been even longer since that's been the case in a 21.5-inch iMac -- 2012, to be exact. Of course, we need to be clear that these are not easy-to-access parts. You'll need to pry the case apart and remove the screen entirely. That's not what I'd call "user-serviceable," and Apple agrees. If you start tinkering with these parts, you'll almost certainly void your warranty. That said, it's good to know that if you pick up one of these iMacs and it starts to get sluggish a few years down the line, you'll have options -- assuming you're brave enough to pull the iMac's screen off.