iMac Retina 5K, Mid-2017

The iMac "Core i5" 3.5 27-Inch Aluminum (Retina 5K, Mid-2017/Kaby Lake) is equipped with a 14-nm "Kaby Lake" 3.5 GHz Intel "Core i5" processor (7600), featuring four independent cores on a single chip and a 6 MB shared level 3 cache. It includes 8 GB of easily upgradable 2400 MHz DDR4 SDRAM, a 1 TB Hard Drive+SSD "Fusion" drive, and a Radeon Pro 575 graphics processor with 4 GB of dedicated VRAM. An integrated "FaceTime HD" webcam and stereo speakers are also part of the package.

This model showcases a 27-inch 5120x2880 LED-backlit 16:9 widescreen IPS DCI-P3 "Retina 5K" display. Its aluminum rear housing is thicker at the center 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 predecessor, this version maintains a nearly identical external design but boasts a more advanced processor and architecture, a brighter display, and modern Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports. By default, the "Mid-2017" iMacs were shipped 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 for an additional US$50, the Magic Mouse 2 could be exchanged for a "Magic Trackpad 2," which provides multi-touch and pressure-sensitive "Force Touch" capabilities.

As the mid-range 27-inch 5K iMac, this machine was highly praised for its fast Kaby Lake Core i5 processor and Radeon Pro 575 graphics with 4GB of VRAM. In addition to solid performance gains over the previous generation, the brighter display and adoption of Thunderbolt 3 ports further enhanced its appeal. The inclusion of a Fusion Drive provided a balanced storage environment of speed and capacity for most users. The ease of RAM upgrades also ensured future expandability, making it an optimal choice for many.