iMac Retina 5K, Mid-2017

The iMac "Core i5" 3.4 27-Inch Aluminum (Retina 5K, Mid-2017/Kaby Lake) is powered by a 14-nm "Kaby Lake" 3.4 GHz Intel "Core i5" processor (7500). It features four independent cores on a single chip, a 6 MB shared level 3 cache, 8 GB of easily upgradable 2400 MHz DDR4 SDRAM, a 1 TB Hard Drive+SSD "Fusion" drive, and a Radeon Pro 570 graphics processor with 4 GB of dedicated VRAM. A "FaceTime HD" webcam and stereo speakers are also integrated.

This model is equipped with a 27-inch 5120x2880 LED-backlit 16:9 widescreen IPS DCI-P3 "Retina 5K" display. The aluminum rear enclosure 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 3 (USB-C) ports, Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 4.2.

Compared to its predecessor, this version maintains a nearly identical external design but offers a more advanced processor and architecture, a brighter display, 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". An upgrade to the "Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad" was available for an additional US$30, and for an extra US$50, the Magic Mouse 2 could be swapped for a "Magic Trackpad 2," which provides multi-touch and pressure-sensitive "Force Touch" capabilities.

As the entry-level 27-inch 5K iMac, this machine received very high praise for its Kaby Lake quad-core i5 processor and Radeon Pro 570 graphics with 4GB of VRAM. The brighter 5K display and the adoption of Thunderbolt 3 ports further enhanced its appeal. The standard 1TB Fusion Drive provided sufficient speed and capacity for most users. The continued advantage of easy RAM upgrades was also a reassuring feature for users looking to future-proof their investment. It was an outstanding machine with an excellent balance of performance, display, and expandability.