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Apple's (AAPL) all-in-one iMac desktops are iconic thanks to their superb design and seemingly unflappable performance. But much to the chagrin of Apple diehards, the company doesn't seem to have the same affinity for its iMacs as users do. Updates to the systems are few and far between. Which is why when it does give its desktops a little love, it's a pretty big deal.
And that's exactly what the company is doing now with its latest iMacs. Available now, the newest iMacs feature the same looks as their predecessors, but get some big-time performance upgrades under the hood. We're talking about all-new processors, more memory, and drastically improved graphics offerings.
All of that power and performance will certainly cost you — prices start at $1,299 — and my review unit topped out at a whopping $3,449. Still, for Apple lovers, this is definitely the desktop to beat.
A big step up
The last time Apple upgraded its iMac line was back in 2017, so the desktops were overdue for a power boost. And thankfully, Apple delivered. The latest iMacs are available in 21.5-inch and 27-inch varieties, with the 27-inch models getting the most powerful components.
The macOS-powered, $1,299 entry-level 21.5-inch iMac gets an 8th-generation Intel (INTC) Core i3 processor, 8GB of RAM, Radeon Pro 555X graphics, and a 1TB hard drive. The iMac's display is also a 4K Retina display panel, which is great for watching movies, or doing video and photo editing.
My review unit packed a 27-inch, 5K Retina display; an 8-core, Intel Core i9 processor; 16GB of RAM, and a Radeon Pro Vega 48 graphics chip with 8GB of HBM2 memory. That's an incredibly powerful machine. For the average consumer, though, it's overkill. That said, I didn't run into a single hiccup during my time with the desktop.
The review model Apple provided is something that photo and video editors, or other professionals with a need for serious computing power, would likely opt for. If you're the type of person who browses the web, sends emails, and streams Netflix (NFLX) while filling out spreadsheets for your work, then you're better off snagging the $1,299 iMac.
Hardcore gamers looking to play the latest AAA titles will also want to look for Windows-powered PCs rather than the iMac, since most developers don't make their games for macOS.
Part of the value proposition for iMacs, though, is that they last quite a while. My brother had a hand-me-down iMac that was kicking around for nearly 10 years before he had to get rid of it to make room in his home for a nursery. Your mileage will undoubtedly vary, but in my experience iMacs have offered excellent longevity.