iMac Retina 4K, Mid-2017

The iMac "Core i5" 3.0 21.5-Inch Aluminum (Retina 4K, Mid-2017/Kaby Lake) is powered by a 14-nm "Kaby Lake" 3.0 GHz Intel "Core i5" processor (7400). It features four independent cores on a single chip, a 6 MB shared level 3 cache, and 8 GB of 2400 MHz DDR4 SDRAM, which is reportedly onboard but can be upgraded later. The system includes a 1 TB (5400 RPM) hard drive and a Radeon Pro 555 graphics processor with 2 GB of dedicated VRAM. It also has a built-in "FaceTime HD" webcam and stereo speakers.

This model showcases a 21.5" 4096x2304 LED-backlit 16:9 widescreen IPS DCI-P3 "Retina 4K" display, which runs "pixel doubled" to an effective resolution of 2048x1152. The aluminum rear casing is thicker in the middle and tapers to a slim 5 mm at its edges.

Connectivity consists of four USB 3.0 ports, dual Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports, Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 4.2.

Compared to its predecessor, this model maintains a very similar external enclosure but features a more advanced processor and architecture, dedicated graphics, a brighter display, and modern Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports.

By default, the "Mid-2017" iMacs came with a compact aluminum Apple Magic Keyboard and a multi-touch "Magic Mouse 2". An upgrade to the "Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad" was available for an extra US$30, and an upgrade from the Magic Mouse 2 to the "Magic Trackpad 2," which offers multi-touch and pressure-sensitive "Force Touch," was an additional US$50.

As the entry-level iMac with a 4K Retina display, this machine offered a stunning visual experience. The Kaby Lake quad-core i5 processor and Radeon Pro 555 graphics were sufficient for everyday tasks and light creative work. However, this model's major weakness was its standard 5400 RPM hard drive, with many reviews strongly recommending an upgrade to a Fusion Drive or SSD. The fact that the RAM was technically user-upgradable was a welcome change, though the process remained difficult. While the display quality was outstanding, the storage performance was a significant factor that brought down its overall evaluation.