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A day with Apple's new iMac (no, not the Pro)
I have some good news and bad news. The good news: I left WWDC on Monday with an iMac. The bad news: It's not the iMac Pro. Sorry, folks, but our review of that space-gray machine with the 18-core processor and $4,999 price tag will have to wait until December, when it goes on sale. What I have today is a consumer all-in-one: a refreshed 21.5-inch system bringing a slew of under-the-hood upgrades. (I also have in my possession an updated MacBook, but I'll need more time to test that.) Before I talk you out of reading further, hear me out. The refreshed iMac does bring some exterior improvements, including a wider Magic Keyboard with a built-in numeric keypad; a second Thunderbolt 3 port; and a display that's 43 percent brighter and supports a billion colors. That's enough for us to take a closer look, even if it doesn't deserve the full review treatment.
Apple iMac review (21.5-inch, 2015): 4K is optional, faster hard drives shouldn't be
No, it's not just a CPU refresh. Apple started selling a new line of iMacs today, and yes, while they have fresh processors and graphics cards inside, that's really the least of it. Going forward, all the 27-inch models have a 5K screen -- not just the flagship we reviewed last year -- while the 21.5-inch version now has an optional 4K panel. Across the board, too, these new 4K and 5K displays have a wider color gamut, although the difference is fairly subtle. Possibly more important than the iMac itself, though, are the input devices: Apple redesigned the wireless keyboard, mouse and trackpad, adding rechargeable batteries and, in the case of the touchpad, pressure-sensitive Force Touch gestures.I've been spending a few days with the new iMac, and chose to review the 4K 21.5-inch edition in particular since this is the first "small" iMac with a Retina display. Between the crisper screen, compact footprint and a lower price than the 27-inch models, it has the potential to hit the sweet spot for a lot of people. Just be sure to upgrade the hard drive before you place your order.
The smaller iMac gets a 4K display, all the 27-inch models have 5K
Apple's big fall keynote happened more than a month ago, so it's a bit late for Tim Cook to be saying "one more thing." Sure enough, though, the company just unveiled a refreshed line of iMacs, including a 21.5-inch model with an optional 4K (4,096 x 2,304) screen. That last bit shouldn't come as a surprise: The internet has already been abuzz with rumors that the smaller iMac would finally get a Retina display option, as opposed to just plain old 1080p. All told, the 4K iMac has 4.5 times the resolution of Full HD, with the same pixel density as the 5K version. Speaking of the sort, the 27-inch model now comes standard with a 5,120 x 2,880 panel, whereas 5K resolution was once reserved for a $2,499 flagship edition. Across the board, both the 4K and 5K iMacs bring a 25 percent wider color range, and upgrading to Apple's hybrid Fusion Drives costs about half as much as it used to ($100, down from $200 to $250). That said, it's a shame that 5,400 rpm HDDs are still the standard throughout much of the iMac lineup.
iMac with Retina display review: best in class, but not everybody needs one
When Apple held one of its big keynotes last week, it was easy to think of it as "iPad day." Sure enough, the company announced some upgraded tablets, but it was a desktop, of all things, that stole the show. Though the new 27-inch iMac with Retina display has the same overall design as Apple's previous all-in-ones, it ushers in a 14.7-million-pixel 5K display with screen resolution of 5,120 x 2,880. That's seven times as many pixels as 1080p, and 67 percent more than you'll find even on a 4K panel. I'm not exaggerating when I say there's nothing like it. As it is, you'd be hard-pressed to find a 4K all-in-one, and meanwhile, here's this machine from Apple, with enough pixels to view a 4K video at full resolution, and still have room left onscreen for other stuff, like the Final Cut Pro dashboard. Needless to say, it's in a league -- and price class -- of its own. Starting at $2,499, it's more expensive than almost any other all-in-one on the market, even the supposedly high-end ones. As it turns out, though, if it's this kind of screen quality you're after, this might well be your only choice.
Apple aesthetics: A look at the iMac's design history
A new version of Apple's iMac desktop machine doesn't always come with a retooled exterior. As has become the norm with the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, a spec boost via new internals is the case more often that not. This week, in addition to packing in a load of updated components, the company outfitted the all-in-one option with a new high-res Retina display that should translate to some stellar views. With a product line that dates back to the late '90s, let's take a closer look at the iMac's notable design changes over the years.
Here's your first look at Apple's new 5K iMac with Retina display
We had a feeling Apple would announce a new iMac today, and indeed, the company didn't disappoint. Here in Cupertino, we just saw Tim Cook and co. unveil the 27-inch iMac with Retina display, which has basically the same slim design as the last version, except this time it packs a 5K, 5,120 x 2,880 display. And it's available today, starting at $2,499. I'd be lying if I said I got to spend much time with it -- the demo area here is extremely crowded -- but I did want to give you some early impressions. And you know, some hands-on photos, too. Have a gander at the gallery below, and keep your eyes peeled for a full review -- something tells us we'll be taking one of these bad boys for a spin very soon.
Apple iMac review (2013)
This is an "s" year for Apple, and no, we're not just talking about the iPhone. In addition to announcing the iPhone 5s, the company refreshed its MacBook Air line with Haswell processors, leaving everything else unchanged. Now, Apple's come out with some new iMacs, and these, too, are basically the same as last year's, just with fresh components inside. The difference, though, is that while the MacBook Air is getting a bit long in the tooth, the iMac was just revamped a year ago -- and it's still a tempting product. Like the 2012 models, this year's iMac comes in 21.5- and 27-inch screen sizes, with low-glare displays and a thin bezel that measures just 5mm thick. This time around, as you'd expect, Apple's added Haswell processors, along with newer NVIDIA GPUs, faster 802.11ac WiFi and optional PCIe SSDs for faster transfer rates. Given that we've already been recommending the iMac, and given that the entry prices have stayed the same ($1,299 / $1,799), it seems obvious that spec bumps like these would make a great product even better. But you also want to know how the new machine performs, don'tcha? Sure you do. Read on for some performance numbers (and a recap of the design too, if you missed it the first time).
Apple iMac review (2012)
Better, faster, stronger. The new iMac claims to be better in all the ways you'd expect a refreshed product to be better: it steps up to Ivy Bridge, and packs NVIDIA Kepler chips for stronger graphics performance. It sports an improved display that cuts down on glare by 75 percent. But thinner? For the first time in the product's history, the iMac is missing a built-in optical drive, which allows it to measure just 5mm thick around the edges. We can't say we've been waiting for a desktop quite that skinny, but if the new iMac delivers substantive improvements over the last-gen model, we won't begrudge Apple a little eye candy. So, does the iMac do more than just sit pretty? Are the performance and display as good as we've been led to believe? In a word, yes. Here's why.
New 21.5-inch iMac gets an early teardown in Japan
We're currently putting Apple's latest "skinny" iMac through its paces here in New York, but an eager Japanese customer has already popped open the 21.5-inch desktop's case, revealing a serviceable hard drive, removable logic board and even a bit of room to spare in the tapered silver housing. There's not much in the way of details over at Kodawarisan, a scant Japanese-language site, but there are plenty of interior pics to gawk at, tiding us over until the experts at iFixit manage to dissect an iMac of their own. Head on over to the source link below for a dozen or so undressed snaps of Cupertino's latest creation.
Redesigned Apple iMacs available from November 30th, 27-inch model shipping next month
Apple's announced that its updated 21.5-inch iMac range will be in stores and online on November 30th. The bigger 27-inch version will arrive later and start shipping next month. This year's refresh manages to cram a 1TB Fusion Drive, quad-core Core i5 processor and NVIDIA graphics into that oh-so-slim redesigned chassis. The 21.5-inch version is available with a 2.7GHz processor and NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M, priced at $1,299. However, bump the processor up to the 2.9GHz variant and NVIDIA's GeForce GT 650M and you can expect to pay $1,499. If you're willing to wait for the 27-incher, build options start with a 2.9GHz processor and a GeForce GTX 660M at $1,799, moving up to $1,999 for the top-of-the-range 3.2GHz Core i5 model with GeForce GTX 675MX graphics. A shame it missed those Black Friday sales, though.
Apple unveils next-generation iMac with slimmer design and Ivy Bridge, starting at $1,299
Who said Apple's event was all about the little things? Apple just unveiled its first redesign to its iMac desktop in three years. The new all-in-one makes the widely expected leap to Intel's Ivy Bridge Core i5 and Core i7 processors, but also represents a much leaner and meaner replacement for the 2009-era template -- its edges are just 5mm thick, and it's constructed with "friction stir welding" as well as a gapless, less reflective display that's laminated together with the glass. Screen sizes remain the same and include both a 21.5-inch, 1080p model and a 27-inch, 2,560 x 1,400 model -- sorry, no Retina displays this year. They share 720p-capable front cameras with dual mics as well as NVIDIA's GeForce 600-era graphics, up to 32GB of RAM and a panoply of storage options that peak at 3TB of spinning storage, a 768GB SSD or what Apple calls a Fusion Drive that mixes both 128GB of flash with 1TB or 3TB of conventional storage (a hybrid drive, for those of us who've seen it before). There's no optical drive unless you plug in a USB option. The 21.5-inch model ships in November, and will set you back $1,299 for a 2.7GHz Core i5, 8GB of RAM and a 1TB hard drive; pony up for the 27-inch model at $1,799 and you'll get a 2.9GHz Core i5 as well as the same memory and storage. Apple's larger iMac doesn't ship until December, however, which will give some impulse buyers at least a brief respite. %Gallery-169056% For more coverage, visit our Apple Special Event hub!
Twelve South HiRise takes iMacs and Apple displays to new heights, tidies up in the process
Many of those who buy iMacs and Apple-designed displays are eager to avoid clutter in the first place, which makes an organizer all the more logical for those who'd like Desk Zero almost as much as Inbox Zero. Accessory maker Twelve South's newly available HiRise aims to clean it all up -- and lift it up. The aluminum-and-steel frame elevates Apple's modern all-in-ones and screens to any one of six points while conveniently leaving storage space that goes with the local computing decor, whether it's to hold external hard drives or car keys. Although the HiRise is no trivial expense at $80, it's better for propping up an iMac than an old college textbook, and arguably more useful as a whole.
Apple gets patent for universal batteries, edges closer to long-lasting wireless peripherals
These days, just about every Apple product is defined by a non-removable battery. It's with no small hint of irony, then, that Apple just received a US patent for a universal removable battery system. As proposed, the technique would let Apple cut batteries from lithium-polymer or similar materials into commonly sized packs that could then be swapped between devices, providing all the benefits of removable, rechargeable batteries with a longer lifespan than an old set of AAs. Batteries could have serviceable cores for when they finally give up the ghost, and computers could even alternate between charging the batteries (when plugged in) or using them to extend the runtime of MacBooks. We'd recommend against basing any purchasing strategy around Apple's filing, though. The Cupertino team originally applied for the patent in 2010, and in turn broke out the technology from a patent it had filed in 2007 -- there's no guarantees Apple is still interested in replacing those disposables, let alone any sealed-in batteries. That won't stop us from yearning for the day when a Magic Mouse lasts for more than a week of heavy use.
Mac Pro refresh irks Andy Hertzfeld, Apple confirms revisions 'likely' in 2013 (update)
Along with the introduction of new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro computers, Apple yesterday introduced a new swath of Mac Pro desktops. The introduction was a quiet one for sure, and WWDC attendees of Tim Cook's keynote were none the wiser. It's hard to fault Apple for the decision, as the upgrade was modest at best, but that's exactly what has most upset Andy Hertzfeld, one of the Mac's original designers. Now an employee of Google, Hertzfeld directed harsh criticism at Apple. The following is an excerpt from his Google+ profile: "The specs for the "new" Mac Pro had hardly changed, except for a tiny, inconsequential processor clock bump. Still no Thunderbolt, still no USB 3.0, no SATA III or RAM speed improvements -- it seems like it's stuck in time in 2010. The only thing that's still high-end about it is the bloated price." Yesterday's speed bump to the Mac Pro might've come as a disappointment to many power users, but we're given reason to believe that a more substantial upgrade is on the horizon. While it's somewhat uncharacteristic of Apple to comment on unreleased products, company representatives have confirmed to both David Pogue and Forbes that a new Mac Pro and iMac "will likely be released in 2013." Naturally, the wording intentionally leaves the possibility that we may see refreshes come a bit earlier -- and we'll certainly cross our fingers -- but for the moment, both systems seem like safe buys for those needing to upgrade their desktop Macs. For those willing to wait, however, we'd like to believe that Apple has a few tricks up its sleeve for 2013. Update: Apple has since circled back to Forbes to clarify that only the Mac Pro is targeted for an update in 2013. As for the iMac, we're merely left to hope that an Ivy Bridge refresh is already in the pipeline.
Engadget's summer gear guide 2012: desktops
In the interest of keeping cool this summer, we've put together a list of the hottest products out right now. From smartphones to e-readers and everything in between, there's no time like the present to re-up that post-spring-cleaning stash. So grab a popsicle or a cold one and dive in -- the water's just right. Desktops are amazing. They deliver serious, expandable computing power to the places where you need it most, and with much better bang-for-the-buck than laptops. Moreover, they're constantly evolving: low-power PCs can now do more with fewer watts, regular gaming PCs can achieve 3D effects that would have required extreme setups just a year ago, and all-rounder desktops have become, well, even more rounded. Which brings us to the recommendations: three PCs that range from $799 to $1,199 and beyond, and that represent each of these three categories. If you're going cheaper, don't be afraid to build your own -- that way you'll only spend money on specs you actually need. Ready to see our selections? Head on past the break to read 'em.
MacBook Pro and iMac with next-gen Ivy Bridge processors crop up on benchmarks (update)
Yup, Apples are bound to flow beneath the Ivy Bridge at some point, but how much of a performance boost will they deliver? If you're happy to hold onto a little skepticism, then two unexpected appearances on the Geekbench site could offer some early answers. The first purports to be an unknown 'MacBookPro9,1' laptop powered by an Ivy Bridge Core i7-3820QM running at 2.7GHz, which achieved a benchmark of 12252 -- that's around 17 percent better than a current equivalent Core i7 15-inch or 17-inch MacBook Pro. The second benchmark comes from an 'iMac13,2' running off Intel's next-gen Core i7-3770 desktop chip clocked at 3.4GHz, which only merits a score of 12183 because it's hobbled by 4GB of RAM. If you exclude memory and compare only the CPU integer and floating point scores, then you're looking at a roughly nine percent gain over a current 27-inch iMac with a 3.4Ghz Core i7-2600 processor. Now, these benchmarks could be faked, or represent non-final hardware, but the motherboard codes look valid (see the source links) and they generally tally with what we've come to expect from Ivy Bridge: a healthy oar-stroke forwards, but nothing that would frighten the fish. Update: 9to5Mac has done some digging and come up with a few more interesting tidbits about the upcoming MacBook Pro refresh. For one, code pulled from the Mountain Lion beta appears to indicate that the Ivy Bridge machines will boast USB 3.0 and a new GPU in the NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M. The site also claims that the laptops will be slimmer than the current gen, a rumor that we've been hearing for quite some time now.
Apple grabs a third of all-in-one PC sales for Q3 2011
Apple managed to sell more all-in-one PCs that any other manufacturer in Q3 of 2011, with its iMac range claiming just under a third of the 14.5 million all-in-ones sold worldwide. According to DisplaySearch's estimates, people are still buying into the big screened monoliths, with the overall market growing by 39 percent. Lenovo claims second place with a 22.7 percent market share thanks to a strong showing in China, while the beleaguered HP bagged third with 21.4 percent. The research firm also suggested that there's plenty of space for more all-in-ones, with the potential to reach over 23 million by 2014. Looks like it's not all about the Ultrabooks -- at least, not just yet.
Engadget's holiday gift guide 2011: desktops
Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! We're well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties surrounding the seasonal shopping experience, so we're here to help you sort out this year's tech treasures. Below is today's bevy of curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season. Just because most folks have moved onto lighter and more portable playthings doesn't mean there aren't those of you that still enjoy some good old-fashioned "real computing" -- you know, of the immovable persuasion. We jest, as despite their waning sales, desktops still serve an important role in the PC market, especially for those of you serious about all-out performance or a no-frills experience. And, while the pace of innovation in a once burgeoning category has slowed to a consolidated tranquil pace, there are still some hotspots of innovation -- especially around all-in-ones and high-end gaming solutions. As you mavericks press on, so will we, so join us after the break as we suggest some of our favorite desktops for your holiday perusal.
IRL: Playseat Evolution, HTC Thunderbolt and a five-year-old iMac
Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment. Quick poll for the Android loyalists out there: anyone getting the Droid RAZR? Opting for the Galaxy Nexus instead? There's still one or two of us here at Engadget clinging onto our OG Droids and Nexus Ones, and after a week of high-profile handset announcements, we might be hemming and hawing for another month yet. We'll throw Michael in that boat, even though he took a chance on the Thunderbolt earlier this year and will be stuck with its battery-draining ways for at least another Revolution of the Earth. As for the rest of us not due for an upgrade, Joe is still justifying his $350 gaming toy while Billy is bringing up Team Luddite on his five-year-old iMac. You know the drill by now: join us past the break where we'll talk about the trusty (and embarrassingly old) gear we're using in real life.
Tim Cook: Macbook Pro and iMac are the best selling notebook and desktop in the US
Tim Cook kicked off today's 'Let's talk iPhone' event by the numbers, mentioning that "the MacBook Pro and iMac are the number one best selling notebook and desktop in the United States." Apparently the Mac platform grew by 23 percent over the last year, versus a four percent growth from the PC sector. Brandishing a chart tracing the trend back five years, Cook says that Apple is now pushing 60 million Mac users worldwide, leaving Cupertino just shy of owning a fourth of the personal computer market. "There are still 77 percent of people who are buying something else," Cook said, "We have an incredibly high ceiling here. We have a long way to go."
