Apple unwraps new entry-level 21.5 inch iMac

Cupertino tech giant has unwrapped the new entry-level iMac for $1099, to make the world’s leading all-in-one computing solution more affordable for the masses. When Apple shut down its online store briefly to refresh the iMac line, most people were caught off guard when no Retina iMacs appeared — instead, there came a update of a cheaper new iMac.

The new iMac will be a 21.5-inch variant with an Intel Core i5 processor clocked at 1.4 GHz with Turbo Boost support for up to 2.7 GHz, 8GB of onboard RAM and a 500GB hard drive. On the graphics front, the iMac will be powered by an Intel HD 5000 graphics chip and will feature Wi-Fi 802.11ac connectivity. The device will also sport 4 USB 3.0 and two Thunderbolt ports, making peripheral connectivity carefree for most part.

From a software outlook, the new iMac will be powered by OS X Mavericks, with the possibility of a free upgrade to OS X Yosemite once it becomes available later this autumn.The update revealed during WWDC 2014 will be capable of making phone calls and send text messages from your iMac for the first time. The new features will allow users to synchronise all files automatically across multiple Apple devices, and even Windows PCs and tablets.

New iMac Review (2014): Specs

• 21.5-inch LED display at 1920 x 1080 (Full HD) resolution


• 1.4 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 CPU


• Intel HD Graphics 5000


• 8 GB RAM


• 500 GB hard drive


• FaceTime HD camera


• Stereo speakers, dual microphones


• 4x USB 3.0 ports, 2x Thunderbolt ports


• MiniDisplay port


• Gigabit ethernet


• 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0


• 12.5 pounds


• Includes Apple Wireless Keyboard and Apple Magic Mouse


• Runs OSX


• MSRP: $1099

Apple never does anything without reason, and it’s a good gamble the company took not to release a cheap new iMac with a major cut in specs just to annoy critics. It’s possible that this new 21.5-inch iMac was rushed out in response to the growing popularity of cheap PCs by Hewlett-Packard  and Samsung Google’s  Chromeboxes in the education market.

The new iMac is available right away for $1099 through the Apple online store, Apple Retail Stores and some authorized resellers. It retains the overall appeal(including the cool design), but in a slower computing. For homework, general productivity and casual home use, you’ll likely never observe the difference. More demanding customers should resist the savings and opt for a more powerful version, though.

Apple unwraps new entry-level 21.5 inch iMac