For starters. the regular white LEDs used in many monitors with a fair amount of blue in them have been skipped, replaced with red-green phosphor LEDs which allow more red and green to come out, and in turn allow more colours to be seen.
The screens are also calibrated out of the box, and images literally pop. Apple calls this a “P3” display due to the amount of colour it supports, and we wish more screens were like it.
It’s not enough to note that this is a sharp screen, though it’s definitely that. The visuals here are simply stunning, and whether you’re looking at photos, video, websites, games, or even text — yes, text can pop — you will be impressed with the visual level of clarity on offer in the 27 inch iMac.
Simply put: the new iMac is almost perfect. Seriously.
We’re not mincing words on this computer, because with a bump in specs and more of that Apple excellence in design, the late-2015 iMac is mind-blowingly close to being perfect.
But it isn’t, and it’s a lack of change and a continuation with a design flaw that has just skip out on that perfect five star score.
That first complaint comes from the ports on the back, with an older connection technology being pushed on a product months after Apple introduced its replacement to the world.
For this, we’re talking about Thunderbolt 3, the next generation of Apple and Intel’s high-speed connection technology that can not only provide super fast 40Gbps transfer rates, but even provide 4K video out and the ability to power a computer. Thunderbolt 3 even relies on a universal port shape and technology, with the USB Type C port the same connection used for Thunderbolt 3.
Now we don’t expect Apple to use Thunderbolt 3 to power the new iMac, as that would be insane. The iMac has much higher power requirements than the MacBook, so leaving a jug plug in as the main plug for the iMac makes more sense.
But given that Thunderbolt 3 is newer, better, and faster, and has been on another Mac computer for a good six or seven months, we’re surprised that it hasn’t been included on the new iMac.
What it seems like Apple has done is to just recycle the previous iMac casings and throw the new hardware inside, because the ports on the back are exactly the same as they have been on previous iMac 27 inch computers.
And because it’s the same case, it also means Apple’s poorly placed SD card slot is in the same location, with an SD slot on the back in that hard to reach spot.
Want to check out the memory from your camera? Take the SD card out and reach around to the back of the computer where you’ll have to plug it in.
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: this is one of the more frustrating design elements of Apple’s ultra-thin iMac designs, and ever since the company put the SD card slot there, we’ve been complaining about it.
Guess what? We still are.
Conclusion
As close to perfection as it gets, Apple’s 27 inch iMac is still the best all-in-one out there, and the upgrade to Intel’s latest and greatest only makes this better.
Simply put, Apple’s 27 inch iMac is now faster, more capable, and offers a slight update to a screen that already had the potential to blow our eyelids off from how amazingly clear and sharp it could be.
While we wish Apple would move that SD card slot on the back, and it would have been nice to see Apple’s Thunderbolt 3 ports make an appearance, there’s no doubt that Apple’s iMac is the best all-in-one on the planet right now, and well worth a look if you’re in the market for a big screened desktop. Highly recommended.
