Apple iMac 21.5-Inch With 4K Retina Display (2017) - Review 2022

With merely minor updates to the iMac'due south design and components since 2022, Windows all-in-ane desktops (AIOs) like the Microsoft Surface Studio accept gear up their targets squarely on Apple tree'due south AIO, only almost of those comparable models have larger screens and are priced well above $2,000, putting them more in line with the 27-inch iMac. The 21.5-inch model plays in an expanse without a lot of competition. Although the contempo updates to Apple's smaller, more affordable AIO aren't revolutionary, it does get a dainty bump in processor ability, updated ports, the improver of discrete graphics, and a more-vibrant 4K display. For artists on a upkeep or those whose daily tasks don't require a larger screen, the 21.5-inch with 4K Retina display (starts at $1,299; $1,499 as tested) is still the midrange AIO standard bearer, and is our Editors' Option.

Same Sleek Aluminum and Glass Design

The design of the 21.5-inch iMac is well-nigh identical to the 2022 iteration, and at 17.vii by xx.8 by 6.ix inches (HWD), it'south the same size. Despite the classic wait, the stylish aluminum-and-glass iMac is even so a design leader and more modern looking than the Lenovo B50, our last height choice for midrange AIO desktops, which is generally black plastic.

On the left rear panel are a headset jack, an Ethernet port, an SD card reader, four USB three.0 ports, and two USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports. While positioning them behind the screen adds to the make clean design, they're inconvenient to reach compared with the side-mounted port selection on thicker AIOs like the Dell Optiplex 7450 All-in-Ane and the HP Envy 34 Curved.

USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports are notable because they replace the older Thunderbolt two ports of the 2022 iMac and are condign increasingly popular, even on Windows PCs. They also mean faster and more versatile connections for data transfer. If you are carrying over Thunderbolt 2 accessories like external hard drives or displays, Apple sells a Thunderbolt iii-to-two adapter for $49. Similar third-party adapters are bachelor for DisplayPort and HDMI monitors.

The organisation can support up to 2 additional 4K monitors or one 5K display, including the internal 4K screen. Unfortunately, at that place'south no easy way to use the iMac itself as an external brandish for a notebook or another desktop, like the Lenovo B50 or HP Envy 34 Curved can, since at that place are no HDMI-in or DisplayPort-in connectors.

Superb Screen

The 4K Retina brandish is mostly the aforementioned equally the previous version of the iMac, which, with its 4,096-by-two,304 resolution and stunning edge-to-edge glass, isn't necessarily a bad thing. The screen is brilliant and images appear sharp. This time around, the improvement here comes in the form of a 500-nit backlight, translating to a super-bright screen that most users will desire to tame downwards a few notches for daily use.

Like the 27-inch iMac and the 28-inch Microsoft Surface Studio, the screen features DCI-P3 color gamut and 10-scrap color, resulting in brighter and more accurate hues. Those who desire to upgrade to the 5K Retina display will need to beat out out the extra cash for the 27-inch iMac, equally the 21.5-inch version tops out at 4K. If a touch screen is part of your requirements, y'all'll need to look to a Windows machine. Apple announced a slew of new features in the upcoming update to macOS, Loftier Sierra, but touch is reserved exclusively for iOS.

Strong Speakers, Solid Accessories

The internal stereo speakers are aimed down at your desk-bound or piece of work surface, and they can make full a medium-sized room with clear audio. Bass came through in some of our test tracks, though it doesn't sound as robust every bit with the Dell XPS 27 (7760), which has viii speakers and two passive radiators. The iMac's speakers are accurate enough to quality check videos you're editing, though y'all'll desire to use headphones for best results.

The familiar Apple Magic Mouse 2 and Magic Keyboard, both Bluetooth, come pre-paired with the iMac. You tin also opt for a Magic TrackPad 2 instead of the mouse for an additional $50, or both for $129. Apple tree's wireless accessories charge with the included USB-to-Lightning cablevision, which also lets you use the keyboard in wired mode. The only nit is that they are very shallow compared with typical PC keyboards and mice. Still, the peripherals hither are much higher quality than, say, the wired, plastic mouse and keyboard that come up with the Lenovo B50. The iMac supports 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth iv.2.

An Nether-the-Hood Upgrade

The base of operations $1,299 version of the 21.5-inch iMac 4K comes with 8GB of RAM, a 3GHz Core i5 processor, and a 1TB hard drive. Our $one,499 examination unit has the aforementioned amount of RAM, a faster iii.4GHz Core i5 CPU, and a 1TB Fusion Drive, which is Apple's SSD/HDD hybrid. The 32GB SSD component of the Fusion Drive helps the desktop kick and launch oftentimes-used apps faster, especially compared with hard-drive-only systems like the $1,099 base-level not-Retina iMac or the Acer Aspire Z3 (AZ3-715-UR15).

This upgraded model tin can be equipped with 32GB of RAM for $600 more, and a faster 1TB SSD for an extra $700. And at that price point, you lot may want to consider the 27-inch iMac or the Microsoft Surface Studio for their larger screens and more than powerful internal components. Merely know that no affair which version of the iMac y'all buy, you'll need to commit to a configuation before you order, because the chassis is effectively sealed, limiting future upgrades. (The i tweak you lot can make in the 27-inch is to upgrade memory via a slot in the rear.) The iMac comes with a one-year warranty with 90 days of gratuitous technical support.

Steady Performance

An Intel Core i5-7500 processor and detached AMD Radeon Pro 560 graphics powered the iMac to solid results on our benchmark tests. Information technology took 1 minute and 4 seconds to cease the Handbrake examination, viii seconds behind the Dell XPS 27. It besides took 3:08 to consummate the Photoshop test, eighteen seconds behind the Dell Optiplex 7450. Though not the best scores we've seen, they are certainly respectable. In our experience, any system that breaks the 1-minute barrier on Handbrake and 3 minutes on Photoshop is a solid performer.

Functioning is on par with the larger, pricier contest like the 2022 27-inch iMac, the Microsoft Surface Studio, and the HP Envy 34 Curved in most areas. For example, its Handbrake score was within one second or matching the other models, and its Photoshop score was within 5 seconds. Multimedia functioning is similar to the 2022 iMac, though, so information technology's not a must-have upgrade if y'all've recently bought the final-generation iMac.

Nearly AIO desktops aren't fabricated for hardcore gamers, but the iMac showed respectable scores on our 3D gaming tests. It returned playable frame rates (higher up xxx fps) on the Sky (45 fps) and Valley (64 fps) tests at medium-quality settings. When we ran the same tests at ultra quality in its native 4K resolution, the results were much as well wearisome for polish animation. That said, the 2022 iMac is measurably amend at 3D tasks than systems with integrated graphics, like the 2022 iMac 21.v-inch, and systems with entry-level GPUs, similar the Acer Aspire Z3. The but organization listed in our benchmark chart that could play either test smoothly at ultra resolution in Full Hard disk drive was the Microsoft Surface Studio, which has a gaming-grade Nvidia GeForce GTX 980M GPU. You lot'll be able to play the occasional game on the iMac, just only in a pocket-size window or diddled up to full screen from a 1,366-by-768 resolution.

The Radeon Pro GPU on our review unit is prepare to take on VR, which High Sierra will back up when it's released later this year. Augmented reality (AR) isn't playable however in macOS, but Apple has demonstrated information technology on the iPad Pro and iPhone.

In a Class of its Own

While the 27-inch iMac is more than vulnerable to competition from Windows AIOs, the Apple tree iMac 21.5-inch with 4K Retina display is in a safer zone, at to the lowest degree for now. Windows systems like the $4,199 Surface Studio and $ii,799 Dell XPS 27 are admittedly attractive, simply the 21.v-inch iMac is much more than affordable, equally long as the smaller screen size isn't an event for you. An upgraded processor, discrete graphics, and a stunning screen help this smaller iMac replace the aging Lenovo B50 as the midrange AIO PC we'd recommend for creative types who don't accept the deep pockets or desk infinite for a Microsoft Surface Studio, the 27-inch iMac, or the upcoming workstation-class Apple iMac Pro.

Source: https://sea.pcmag.com/desktops/16266/apple-imac-215-inch-with-4k-retina-display-2017

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