iMac Late 2015

The iMac "Core i5" 2.8 21.5-Inch Aluminum (Late 2015/Broadwell) is equipped with a 14-nm "Broadwell" Quad Core 2.8 GHz Intel "Core i5" processor (5575R). This CPU has four independent cores on a single chip, a 4 MB shared level 3 cache, and is paired with 8 GB of onboard 1867 MHz LPDDR3 SDRAM (upgradable to 16 GB at time of order, but not afterward). It includes a 1 TB (5400 RPM) hard drive and an integrated Intel Iris Pro 6200 graphics processor that shares system memory. A "FaceTime HD" webcam and stereo speakers are also built-in.

This model features a 21.5" 1920x1080 LED-backlit 16:9 widescreen IPS display with a fully laminated glass cover and an anti-reflective coating. Its aluminum rear casing is thicker in the middle and tapers to a razor-thin 5 mm at the edges.

Connectivity includes four USB 3.0 ports, dual Thunderbolt 2 ports, Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11ac Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n compatible), and Bluetooth 4.0.

Compared to its predecessor, this model shares a nearly identical external enclosure but benefits from a more advanced processor and graphics architecture.

The "Late 2015" iMacs were shipped with a compact aluminum Apple Magic Keyboard and a choice of either a multi-touch "Magic Mouse 2" or a traditional wired Apple mouse. For an additional US$50, users could also upgrade from the Magic Mouse 2 to the "Magic Trackpad 2," which offers multi-touch and pressure-sensitive "Force Touch" capabilities.

Featuring a quad-core processor and powerful Intel Iris Pro 6200 graphics, this model offered the best performance available in a non-Retina 21.5-inch iMac. Its processing power, a clear step up from the lower-end models, was appreciated by users with more demanding workloads. However, this model was also hampered by its standard 5400 RPM hard drive, and an upgrade to a Fusion Drive or SSD was recommended to unlock its full potential. The non-upgradable RAM was also seen as a shortcoming for a higher-end model. It was a powerful machine, but one with a notable storage bottleneck.