Apple iMacs refreshed with Intel Haswell processors


Apple has announced it will be giving its iMac range a 2013 refresh, complete with new Intel Haswell processors.


Both the 21.5-inch and 27-inch models will receive the Intel i5 processors that are more energy efficient and powerful than their predecessors.


The iMac update follows a similar update given to the Apple MacBook Air range earlier this year.


“iMac continues to be the example that proves how beautiful, fast and fun a desktop computer can be”, said Philip Schiller, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing. “Inside its ultra-thin aluminium enclosure, the new iMac has the latest Intel processors, faster graphics, next generation 802.11ac Wi-Fi and faster PCIe flash storage.”


New iMac Features

The new iMac desktop Macs will come with support for the next-gen 802.11ac Wi-Fi, offering performance three times faster than the average wireless broadband connection.


There is also support for PCI3-based flash storage that is 50 per cent faster than the previous generation. The standard iMac configuration comes with 8GB of RAM and a 1TB hard-drive, but this can be boosted to 32GB of RAM and a 3TB hard drive.


As standard, the iMac 2013 range comes with two Thunderbolt and four USB 3.0 ports as well.


The entry-level 21.5-inch iMAc will have a 2.7GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor and Iris Pro graphics, while the high-end 21.5-inch model and basic 27-inch model will have the quad-core Intel i5 up to 3.4GHz and Nvidia GeForce 700 series graphics.


Anyone wanting higher specs can upgrade to the quad-core Intel Core i7 processor that clock at speeds up to 3.5GHz or choose Nvidia GeForce GTX 780M graphics with 4GB of dedicated video memory.



New iMac Price and Release Date


Available now from the Apple Store, prices start at £1,149 for the basic 21.5-inch model, with the 2.9GHz Intel Core i5 version priced at £1,299.


The basic 27-inch iMac is £1,599, while the 3.4GHz Intel i5 will retail for £1,749.


Next, read our pick of the best laptops of 2013.