Check Out: Apple iMac 2017

Say what you will about the iMac, but you simply cannot deny its iconic status and impact on the world of computing. With the refreshed 2017 iMac, Apple makes tweaks to the winning formula, kitting it with powerful internals and a screen that spoils you for everything else.

Straight out of the box, the brushed aluminum all-in-one design on the iMac borders on the sublime. The rear panel fits in all the connectivity ports you would need — four USB 3.0 ports, two USB-C ports and a memory card slot — all in a body that tapers down to 5mm edges. The tradeoff, if any, is rather average audio quality via the built-in stereo speakers, and while the included wireless keyboard and mouse are a delight to work with, the fact that you can’t charge the mouse while using it (the charging port is located below the mouse) is just plain odd.

However, any misgivings I had were completely squashed the moment I took a look at the 4K (4096x2304 resolution) display on the mid-range 21.5-inch model I reviewed. Not only is it significantly brighter than previous generations, it’s incredibly sharp and, courtesy a clever bit of tech borrowed from high-end TVs (called 10-bit dithering), is capable of showing an extremely wide colour gamut with insane levels of detail. Photo and video editors will of course appreciate it,  but the effect is noticeable even if you’re playing a high-resolution movie and viewing your photo library. Perhaps the only complaint is its size — in today’s workplaces, 24-inch monitors are fast becoming the norm, and the 21.5-inch display can feel slightly cramped. Of course, you could consider the massive 27-inch iMac with its superior 5K display if  you’re willing to shell out a lot more.

Under the hood, the Intel 7th generation Kaby Lake Core i5 processor proves to be a strong performer, though I’d recommend picking up the top-end variant to eke out the extra speed benefits of Apple's hybrid Fusion Drive and the AMD Radeon Pro 560 graphics.