Apple has announced an update to its 27in iMac that comes with 10th-generation Intel CPUs, a Retina 5K display and an all-new 1080p webcam.
Despite Apple's plans to ditch Intel in favour of ARM-based processors, the new 27in iMac sticks with the former and supports up to 10-core 10th-generation Intel processors with Turbo Boost speeds of up to 5GHz.
Apple, which is touting this iMac as its "most powerful ever", claims this under-the-hood upgrade will deliver "65% faster" CPU performance and 25% faster build times in Xcode when compared to the previous-generation 8-core 27in iMac.
This Comet Lake CPU will come paired with AMD’s Radeon Pro 5000 series graphics with up to 16GB memory and at least 256GB of SSD storage, with Apple also giving buyers the option to add an 8TB SSD for the first time. For security, the new iMac will feature the Apple T2 Security Chip, the company's second-generation custom chip that supports encrypted storage and secure boot features.
Apple is also adding a Retina 5K display that features its True Tone colour technology to its 27in iMac. Buyers will also have the option of upgrading this to “nano-texture glass" that supposedly offers low reflectivity and less glare.
Perhaps the most noteworthy upgrade, particularly for those working from home, is the iMac's new 1080p FaceTime HD camera. Not only is this an improvement over the 720p webcam found on other Macs, but Apple says its T2 chip will also enable tone mapping, exposure control, and face detection.
Apple has also announced minior updates to its 21.5in iMac and iMac Pro. The former now comes with SSDs as standard, while the latter will now ship with a 10-core Intel Xeon CPU.
The 27in iMac is available from £1,799, going up to £2,299 for the highest-spec variant, while the 21.5in iMac and iMac Pro will start at £1,099 and £4,999, respectively. All three models are available now, and will be upgraded to macOS Big Sur later this year.
