Among other great new devices, Apple recently unveiled a new iMac with a 5K display that boasts a number of great new features.
But what exactly makes the new iMac better? Read on to find out exactly what has been improved and if it's worth the money for your needs.
Design
The new iMac looks exactly the same as the rest of the iMac lineup, including the thin edges that curve outward in the center to house the innards of the computer. The edges are very thin, coming in at only 5 mm.
However, the fact Apple managed to keep the computer just as thin makes the upgrades of the computer even more impressive. Apple was able to radically improve the display without any visible design changes or any thickening of the computer, which is a feat of engineering.
Display
Clearly the display is the main selling point of the new computer. If display quality is a serious concern then the 5K iMac is one of the best options on the market. This computer should really appeal to photographers, graphic designers and animators.
The difference between the regular iMac and the iMac with a 5K display is as substantial and impressive as the difference between the MacBook Pro and the MacBook Pro with Retina Display.
While the non-Retina 15-inch MacBook Pro had a resolution of 1,440, the MacBook Pro with Retina Display jumped all the way to 2,880 x 1,800.
In the same light, while the non-Retina 27-inch iMac has a display resolution of 2,560 x 1,440, the 5K iMac has a resolution of a whopping 5,120 x 2,880, double the non-Retina version.
Performance
Apple has not stopped at the improved display. The performance is also better than previous models. In the base configuration, the iMac with Retina 5K display comes with a 1 TB Fusion Drive as well as 8 GB of RAM, which is not bad but could definitely be improved upon. Apple has made sure to make it easy to add more RAM to the computer, so for those who buy the computer with 8 GB of RAM and find that it's not enough, it's always possible to upgrade.
The base model comes with a 3.5 GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor, which is also pretty good. Coupled with an AMD Radeo R9 M290X graphics processor, there should be plenty of muscle to handle tasks as power-taxing as 4K video editing.
Avid gamers and video editors should have no problems with the performance on the computer.
Conclusion
Apple has hit a home run with the new 5K iMac. The display is stunning and a clear step up for the portfolio. Under the hood is no different. While this computer will appeal to some more than others, such as photographers and video editors, it's still a great option for those that want a high-performance computer. While $2,499 is certainly steep, for those that could benefit from a better resolution display the computer is well worth the investment.
