iMac Retina 4K, Mid-2017

The iMac "Core i5" 3.4 21.5-Inch Aluminum (Retina 4K, Mid-2017/Kaby Lake) is driven by a 14-nm "Kaby Lake" 3.4 GHz Intel "Core i5" processor (7500). It has 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 integrated but can be upgraded later. It also includes a 1 TB Hard Drive+SSD "Fusion" drive and a Radeon Pro 560 graphics processor with 4 GB of dedicated VRAM. A "FaceTime HD" webcam and stereo speakers are built-in.

This model features a 21.5" 4096x2304 LED-backlit 16:9 widescreen IPS DCI-P3 "Retina 4K" display, operating in a "pixel doubled" mode to look like 2048x1152. The aluminum rear case is thicker in the middle and tapers to a slim 5 mm at the edges. Connectivity options comprise four USB 3.0 ports, dual Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports, Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 4.2.

Compared to its forerunner, this model maintains a nearly identical external housing but is upgraded with a more advanced processor and architecture, dedicated graphics, a brighter screen, and 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". For an extra US$30, an upgrade to the "Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad" was available, and for an additional US$50, the Magic Mouse 2 could be swapped for a "Magic Trackpad 2," which provides multi-touch and pressure-sensitive "Force Touch" features.

As the higher-end 21.5-inch 4K iMac, this machine was highly praised for its fast Kaby Lake Core i5 processor and Radeon Pro 560 graphics with 4GB of VRAM. This provided it with the capability to handle more demanding tasks like 4K video editing and 3D graphics. The standard inclusion of a Fusion Drive was a significant advantage over the lower-end model. The brighter display and the adoption of Thunderbolt 3 ports also enhanced its appeal. It was a very well-rounded machine with an excellent balance of performance and features.