Apple updates 27-inch iMac with new Intel processors and improved webcam

Apple has refreshed the iMac with major hardware updates. The 27-inch iMac gets a specs bump to Intel’s 10th-generation Comet Lake processors, and the rest of the line, including the 21.5-inch iMac, now comes with SSDs as a standard. Although, there’s Fusion Drive build-to-order option with the 21.5-inch model.

The FaceTime HD camera has been improved to 1080p resolution, up from 720p in previous iMacs. Apple’s custom-designed T2 chip brings high-bandwidth read/write speeds and security benefits to the iMac, which has been there in the MacBook line-up for past few years. There’s also an array of ‘studio-quality’ microphones for improved audio experience.

The 27-inch iMac update features 10th-generation Intel processors with 6- and 8-core options. Apple has also provided a 10-core option for the first time on the iMac. The storage goes up to 8TB with 128GB of RAM for pro-level performance. Apple says the new iMac delivers up to 55 percent faster graphics performance, thanks to the next-generation AMD Radeon Pro 5000 series graphics.

There are no exterior design changes in the iMac. The thick bezels around the screen remain intact with this refresh. Apple, however, updated the 5K Retina Display on the 27-inch iMac to feature True Tone technology for better adaptive color balance with surrounding lighting condition. Furthermore, there’s a nano-texture matte glass option available, first initiated in the Pro Display XDR.

Apple is also making Intel’s 10-core Xenon processor a standard on the iMac Pro, expandable up to 18 cores in processing power, up to 22 teraflops in graphics, and up to 256GB in RAM.

The latest 27-inch iMac starts at $1,799, the 21.5-inch iMac at $1,099, and the iMac Pro at $4,999. The former starts shipping this week, while the latter two begin next week.