Apple · iMac
iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2014)
The first 27-inch Retina 5K iMac, with a 5120 × 2880 IPS display, quad-core Intel processors, AMD graphics and standard Fusion Drive storage.
Model history · 10 models, 2006–2014
- 2006iMac (24-inch, Late 2006)Compare
- 2007iMac (24-inch, Mid 2007)Compare
- 2008iMac (24-inch, Early 2008)Compare
- 2009iMac (24-inch, Early 2009)Compare
- 2009iMac (27-inch, Late 2009)Compare
- 2010iMac (27-inch, Mid 2010)Compare
- 2011iMac (27-inch, Mid 2011)Compare
- 2012iMac (27-inch, Late 2012)Compare
- 2013iMac (27-inch, Late 2013)Compare
- 2014iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2014)
- Type
- All-in-one
- Processor
- Intel Core i5 or i7
- Memory
- 8 GB – 32 GB
- Storage
- 256 GB – 3 TB
- Screen
- 27″
- Weight
- 9.54 kg
What reviewers say
Reviewers praised the exceptionally sharp display and capable performance for photo and video work. Fusion Drive and accessible memory were useful strengths. The higher price suited display-focused work more than basic tasks, while difficult internal upgrades and the lack of monitor input remained limitations.
From macworld.com, engadget.com and arstechnica.com
Specifications
Report a wrong or missing specPerformance
- Processor
- Intel Core i5-4690 or Intel Core i7-4790K
- CPU cores
- 4
- CPU threads
- 4 or 8
- Graphics
- AMD Radeon R9 M290X (2 GB GDDR5) or AMD Radeon R9 M295X (4 GB GDDR5)
- Memory
- 8 GB, 16 GB or 32 GB
- Storage
- 256 GB to 3 TB
- CPU
- 3.5 GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 with Turbo Boost up to 3.9 GHz, configurable to a 4.0 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 with Turbo Boost up to 4.4 GHz
- GPU
- AMD Radeon R9 M290X with 2 GB GDDR5, configurable to AMD Radeon R9 M295X with 4 GB GDDR5; either graphics option can be paired with either processor
- Memory type
- 1600 MHz DDR3; 8 GB (two 4 GB modules), configurable to 16 GB (two 8 GB modules) or 32 GB (four 8 GB modules); four user-accessible SO-DIMM slots
- Storage type
- 1 TB Fusion Drive as standard; optional 3 TB Fusion Drive or 256 GB, 512 GB or 1 TB flash storage (SSD)
Display
- Screen size
- 27″
- Resolution
- 5120 × 2880
- Panel
- IPS LCD
- Display type
- 27-inch Retina 5K display with IPS technology and support for millions of colours
- Display features
- Laminated display and anti-reflective coating described by Macworld; Target Display Mode is unavailable (Engadget and Ars Technica). Apple does not publish brightness or refresh rate in the specification sheet.
Connections
- Ports
- 2 × Thunderbolt 2, 4 × USB-A, SD card slot, Ethernet, headphone jack
- Ethernet
- 1 Gb/s
- External displays
- Up to 1
- Wi-Fi
- 802.11ac
- Bluetooth
- 4.0
- Camera
- FaceTime HD
- Back ports
- Four USB 3 ports, two Thunderbolt 2 ports with Mini DisplayPort output, SDXC card slot, Gigabit Ethernet, headphone and optical digital audio output; Kensington lock slot. DVI, VGA and dual-link DVI need separately sold adapters.
- External displays
- Built-in display at native resolution alongside one external display up to 3840 × 2160; extended desktop and video mirroring
- Speakers
- Stereo speakers; supports Apple iPhone headset with microphone
- Microphones
- Dual microphones
- Keyboard and mouse
- Apple Wireless Keyboard and Magic Mouse; optional Magic Trackpad
Design and power
- Type
- All-in-one
- Weight
- 9.54 kg
- Width × depth × height
- 650 × 203 × 516 mm
- Operating system
- macOS
- Size and weight detail
- Dimensions include the stand; weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process. A built-in VESA mount version was also available.
- Power supply
- 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz, single phase
- Noise
- Apple's operator-position sound pressure is 15 dB at idle, during hard-drive seek and during its wireless-web test; tested on the standard Core i5/M290X/Fusion Drive configuration
- Materials
- Recyclable aluminium and glass enclosure; arsenic-free display glass and mercury-free LED backlight
- In the box
- iMac with Retina 5K display, Apple Wireless Keyboard, Magic Mouse and power lead; OS X Yosemite and built-in creative and productivity apps
Configurations
| Processor | Memory | Storage | Storage type | Graphics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Core i5-4690 | 8 GB | 1 TB | Fusion Drive | AMD Radeon R9 M290X (2 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i5-4690 | 8 GB | 3 TB | Fusion Drive | AMD Radeon R9 M290X (2 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i5-4690 | 8 GB | 256 GB | SSD | AMD Radeon R9 M290X (2 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i5-4690 | 8 GB | 512 GB | SSD | AMD Radeon R9 M290X (2 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i5-4690 | 8 GB | 1 TB | SSD | AMD Radeon R9 M290X (2 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i5-4690 | 16 GB | 1 TB | Fusion Drive | AMD Radeon R9 M290X (2 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i5-4690 | 16 GB | 3 TB | Fusion Drive | AMD Radeon R9 M290X (2 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i5-4690 | 16 GB | 256 GB | SSD | AMD Radeon R9 M290X (2 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i5-4690 | 16 GB | 512 GB | SSD | AMD Radeon R9 M290X (2 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i5-4690 | 16 GB | 1 TB | SSD | AMD Radeon R9 M290X (2 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i5-4690 | 32 GB | 1 TB | Fusion Drive | AMD Radeon R9 M290X (2 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i5-4690 | 32 GB | 3 TB | Fusion Drive | AMD Radeon R9 M290X (2 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i5-4690 | 32 GB | 256 GB | SSD | AMD Radeon R9 M290X (2 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i5-4690 | 32 GB | 512 GB | SSD | AMD Radeon R9 M290X (2 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i5-4690 | 32 GB | 1 TB | SSD | AMD Radeon R9 M290X (2 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i5-4690 | 8 GB | 1 TB | Fusion Drive | AMD Radeon R9 M295X (4 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i5-4690 | 8 GB | 3 TB | Fusion Drive | AMD Radeon R9 M295X (4 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i5-4690 | 8 GB | 256 GB | SSD | AMD Radeon R9 M295X (4 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i5-4690 | 8 GB | 512 GB | SSD | AMD Radeon R9 M295X (4 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i5-4690 | 8 GB | 1 TB | SSD | AMD Radeon R9 M295X (4 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i5-4690 | 16 GB | 1 TB | Fusion Drive | AMD Radeon R9 M295X (4 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i5-4690 | 16 GB | 3 TB | Fusion Drive | AMD Radeon R9 M295X (4 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i5-4690 | 16 GB | 256 GB | SSD | AMD Radeon R9 M295X (4 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i5-4690 | 16 GB | 512 GB | SSD | AMD Radeon R9 M295X (4 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i5-4690 | 16 GB | 1 TB | SSD | AMD Radeon R9 M295X (4 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i5-4690 | 32 GB | 1 TB | Fusion Drive | AMD Radeon R9 M295X (4 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i5-4690 | 32 GB | 3 TB | Fusion Drive | AMD Radeon R9 M295X (4 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i5-4690 | 32 GB | 256 GB | SSD | AMD Radeon R9 M295X (4 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i5-4690 | 32 GB | 512 GB | SSD | AMD Radeon R9 M295X (4 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i5-4690 | 32 GB | 1 TB | SSD | AMD Radeon R9 M295X (4 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i7-4790K | 8 GB | 1 TB | Fusion Drive | AMD Radeon R9 M290X (2 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i7-4790K | 8 GB | 3 TB | Fusion Drive | AMD Radeon R9 M290X (2 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i7-4790K | 8 GB | 256 GB | SSD | AMD Radeon R9 M290X (2 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i7-4790K | 8 GB | 512 GB | SSD | AMD Radeon R9 M290X (2 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i7-4790K | 8 GB | 1 TB | SSD | AMD Radeon R9 M290X (2 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i7-4790K | 16 GB | 1 TB | Fusion Drive | AMD Radeon R9 M290X (2 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i7-4790K | 16 GB | 3 TB | Fusion Drive | AMD Radeon R9 M290X (2 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i7-4790K | 16 GB | 256 GB | SSD | AMD Radeon R9 M290X (2 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i7-4790K | 16 GB | 512 GB | SSD | AMD Radeon R9 M290X (2 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i7-4790K | 16 GB | 1 TB | SSD | AMD Radeon R9 M290X (2 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i7-4790K | 32 GB | 1 TB | Fusion Drive | AMD Radeon R9 M290X (2 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i7-4790K | 32 GB | 3 TB | Fusion Drive | AMD Radeon R9 M290X (2 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i7-4790K | 32 GB | 256 GB | SSD | AMD Radeon R9 M290X (2 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i7-4790K | 32 GB | 512 GB | SSD | AMD Radeon R9 M290X (2 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i7-4790K | 32 GB | 1 TB | SSD | AMD Radeon R9 M290X (2 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i7-4790K | 8 GB | 1 TB | Fusion Drive | AMD Radeon R9 M295X (4 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i7-4790K | 8 GB | 3 TB | Fusion Drive | AMD Radeon R9 M295X (4 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i7-4790K | 8 GB | 256 GB | SSD | AMD Radeon R9 M295X (4 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i7-4790K | 8 GB | 512 GB | SSD | AMD Radeon R9 M295X (4 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i7-4790K | 8 GB | 1 TB | SSD | AMD Radeon R9 M295X (4 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i7-4790K | 16 GB | 1 TB | Fusion Drive | AMD Radeon R9 M295X (4 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i7-4790K | 16 GB | 3 TB | Fusion Drive | AMD Radeon R9 M295X (4 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i7-4790K | 16 GB | 256 GB | SSD | AMD Radeon R9 M295X (4 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i7-4790K | 16 GB | 512 GB | SSD | AMD Radeon R9 M295X (4 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i7-4790K | 16 GB | 1 TB | SSD | AMD Radeon R9 M295X (4 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i7-4790K | 32 GB | 1 TB | Fusion Drive | AMD Radeon R9 M295X (4 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i7-4790K | 32 GB | 3 TB | Fusion Drive | AMD Radeon R9 M295X (4 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i7-4790K | 32 GB | 256 GB | SSD | AMD Radeon R9 M295X (4 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i7-4790K | 32 GB | 512 GB | SSD | AMD Radeon R9 M295X (4 GB GDDR5) |
| Intel Core i7-4790K | 32 GB | 1 TB | SSD | AMD Radeon R9 M295X (4 GB GDDR5) |
Pros and cons
Pros
- 5K IPS display with room to view 4K video at native resolution
- Standard Fusion Drive with SSD storage options
- User-accessible memory with four SO-DIMM slots
Cons
- Built-in display cannot be used as an external monitor
- Storage and graphics are difficult to upgrade internally
- Higher purchase price than the contemporary non-Retina iMac
Closest rivals
Model | Type | Processor | Memory | Storage | Screen | Weight | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All-in-one | Intel Core i5 or i7 | 8 GB – 32 GB | 256 GB – 3 TB | 27″ | 9.54 kg | Sept 2013 | |
| All-in-one | Intel Core i5 or i7 | 8 GB – 32 GB | 256 GB – 3 TB | 27″ | 9.54 kg | Oct 2015 | |
| All-in-one | Intel Core i5 | 8 GB – 32 GB | 256 GB – 3 TB | 27″ | 9.54 kg | May 2015 |
Previous model: iMac (27-inch, Late 2013). Newer model: iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Mid 2015).
Sources
- support.apple.com/en-gb/112436
- apple.com/uk/newsroom/2014/10/16Apple-Introduces-27-inch-iMac-with-Retina-5K-Di…
- browser.geekbench.com/macs/imac-27-inch-late-2013-intel-core-i5-4670-3-4-ghz-4-…
- macworld.com/article/667289/retina-5k-imac-review.html
- engadget.com/2014-10-22-imac-with-retina-display-review.html
- support.apple.com/en-gb/108054
Photo: cdsassets.apple.com
