Apple 27″ iMac updated with new Intel chips, Full HD FaceTime camera and nano-texture glass option

Apple has just announced a major update for its 27″ iMac desktop computer. It still retains the same sleek all-in-one design and it now runs on the current 10th gen Intel Core processors. The new iMac models are now available in Malaysia with a starting price of RM7,999.

According to Apple, this is their most powerful and capable iMac ever with faster processors with up to 10-cores, double the maximum RAM capacity and more powerful graphics options. All models now come with SSD storage as standard which provides better performance than their previous Fusion Drive. However, this also means that the base model now comes with a smaller 256GB SSD capacity compared to its previous 1TB Fusion Drive offering.

The 27″ display still pushes a 5K resolution with True Tone technology but now they are giving the option to add-on a nano-texture glass that was first offered on the Pro Display XDR. The nano-texture coating is said to provide a better viewing experience under various lighting conditions. The matte surface helps to scatter light to reduce reflectivity and glare without the haze and sparkle that you get on typical matte coatings. If you want this option, it would cost you RM2,000 extra.

The base 27″ iMac is powered by a 3.1GHz 6-core 10th gen Core i5 processor with 8GB DDR4 RAM and you can customise it up to a 3.6GHz 10-core Core i9 processor with 128GB LPDDR4 RAM. The lower spec variant get Radeon Pro 5300 graphics with 4GB of GDDR6 RAM but on the higher-spec configuration, it runs on a Radeon Pro 5500 XT with 8GB GDDR6 RAM that can be upgraded up to a 5700 XT with 16GB of GDDR6 RAM.

Another notable upgrade is the webcam. Apple has replaced the previous 720p FaceTime HD camera with a higher-resolution 1080p FaceTime HD. The 27″ iMac still features stereo speakers with studio-quality three-mic array and it still gets a 3.5mm headphone jack.

In terms of connectivity, it still supports 802.11ac WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0 and 1Gbps LAN by default. You can also upgrade to a faster 10Gbps LAN for RM400 extra. In terms of ports, it still gets 4x USB-A, 2x Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) and a SDXC card slot.

The latest 27″ iMac series is now available for purchase on the official Apple Online Store for Malaysia. The base model with a 3.1GHz 6-core Core i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Radeon Pro 5300 graphics costs RM7,999. Moving up a notch, the 27″ iMac with a 3.3GHz 6-core Core i5 with 8GB RAM and 512GB storage is priced at RM8,849.

Meanwhile, the higher 8-core Core i7 variant with 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD and Radeon Pro 5500 XT costs RM10,099. For those that want the max performance, a fully-spec 27″ iMac with nano-texture glass, 10-core Core i9, 128GB RAM, 8TB SSD, 10Gbps LAN and the Magic Mouse 2 + Magic Trackpad 2 combo would costs a whopping RM36,588. That’s more than a Proton Saga 1.3 Standard Auto.

A pre-configured iMac would take 1 business day to ship and a customised iMac would take an estimated 5-7 business days.

For the smaller 21.5″ iMac, there are no significant changes and all are still running on the same 7th or 8th gen Intel Core processors. However, Apple is now offering 256GB SSD by default for the same price. If you prefer to have more storage, you do have the option to switch back to the 1TB Fusion drive at no extra cost.

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