Apple Updates iMac Lineup With Up to 8-Core 9th-Gen Intel Processors and Radeon Pro Vega Graphics Options

Nearly two years have passed since Apple last refreshed the iMac, but updates are finally here for both 4K and 5K models.

2019 imac home
Apple today announced that its ‌iMac‌ lineup has been updated with Intel's latest 8th-gen and 9th-gen Core processors, including up to a 3.2GHz six-core 8th-gen Core i7 with Turbo Boost up to 4.6GHz for the 21.5-inch 4K ‌iMac‌ and up to a 3.6GHz eight-core 9th-gen Core i9 with Turbo Boost up to 5.0GHz for the 27-inch 5K ‌iMac‌.

You'll of course have to pay to get peak performance, as processors range from a 3.6GHz quad-core 8th-gen Core i3 to a 3.7GHz six-core 9th-gen Core i5 in standard configurations of the new 4K and 5K iMacs.

Apple says the new 21.5-inch ‌iMac‌ models deliver up to 60 percent faster performance than the previous generation, while the new 27-inch ‌iMac‌ models deliver up to 2.4 times faster performance than the previous generation, narrowing the gap between the high-end standard ‌iMac‌ and the ‌iMac‌ Pro workstation.

Following in the footsteps of the 2018 MacBook Pro, Radeon Pro Vega graphics options are now available across the new ‌iMac‌ lineup, including Vega 20 for 21.5-inch models and Vega 48 for 27-inch models. Apple advertises up to 80 percent faster graphics performance compared to the previous ‌iMac‌ lineup.

The new ‌iMac‌ lineup offers up to 64GB of faster 2,666MHz DDR4 memory and up to 2TB of SSD storage. The base model 21.5-inch 4K ‌iMac‌ in particular has new 32GB memory and 1TB SSD upgrade options for the first time.

2019 imac video
Beyond the performance improvements, there is a lot of familiarity. The new ‌iMac‌ models have the same design used since 2012 and the same 4K and 5K displays as the previous generation. I/O also remains unchanged with two Thunderbolt 3 ports, four USB 3 ports, a SD card slot, a headphone jack, and Gigabit Ethernet.

While the ‌iMac‌ Pro and the latest ‌MacBook Pro‌, MacBook Air, and Mac mini models are equipped with Apple's T2 security chip, we've confirmed with Apple that the new ‌iMac‌ models do not have a T-series chip of any kind.

Unlike the ‌iMac‌ Pro in space gray, Apple says silver remains the sole color option for standard ‌iMac‌ models.

Pricing before upgrades remains unchanged. The new 21.5-inch 4K ‌iMac‌ models start at $1,299 and the new 27-inch 5K ‌iMac‌ models start at $1,799. Both are available to order starting today on Apple.com and the Apple Store app, with availability in Apple Stores and select resellers starting next week.

Apple's senior director of Mac product marketing Tom Boger:

Customers are going to love the huge boost in iMac performance. With up to 8-core processors and powerful Vega graphics, the iMac lineup is stronger than ever. With its stunning Retina display, amazing design, twice the performance, and macOS Mojave that our customers love, iMac is by far the best desktop in the world.

The non-4K entry-level model 21.5-inch ‌iMac‌ was not updated today and remains available from $1,099.

Related Roundup: iMac
Buyer's Guide: iMac (Buy Now)
Related Forum: iMac

Popular Stories

iOS 18

iOS 18.4 Coming Next Week With These New Features for Your iPhone

Friday February 14, 2025 6:18 am PST by
The first iOS 18.4 beta for iPhones should be just around the corner, and the update is expected to include many new features and changes. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman expects the iOS 18.4 beta to be released by next week. Below, we outline what to expect from iOS 18.4 so far. Apple Intelligence for Siri Siri is expected to get several enhancements powered by Apple Intelligence on iOS...
iPhone 17 Roundup Feature 2

iPhone Design to Change 'Significantly' This Year

Monday February 17, 2025 7:09 am PST by
Apple is set to "significantly change" the iPhone's design language later this year, according to a Weibo leaker. In a new post, the user known "Digital Chat Station" said that the iPhone's design is "starting to change significantly" this year. The "iPhone 17 Air" reportedly features a "horizontal, bar-shaped" design on the rear, likely referring to an elongated camera bump. On the other...
Apple Maps 2024

Apple Maps Might Start Showing Ads

Sunday February 16, 2025 7:22 am PST by
Apple is "exploring" the idea of showing search ads in the Apple Maps app, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Back in 2022, Gurman said software engineering was "already underway" to display ads in the Apple Maps app, but Apple did not move forward with the idea at the time. Today, he said Apple is "giving this notion more thought" again. This time around, he said Apple has yet to...
apple launch feb 2025 alt

What to Expect From the 'Apple Launch' Next Week

Thursday February 13, 2025 11:48 am PST by
Apple has yet to announce any new devices this year, but that could change starting next week. Apple CEO Tim Cook today said to "get ready" for a "launch" on Wednesday, February 19. "Get ready to meet the newest member of the family," said Cook, in a social media post. The post includes an #AppleLaunch hashtag, along with a short video featuring an animated Apple logo inside of a circle....
m2 pro mac mini

Apple is Now Selling a Refurbished Mac Mini for Just $319 (!)

Saturday February 15, 2025 9:58 am PST by
A few days ago, we reported that Apple's refurbished Mac mini pricing had a problem, and it appears that Apple has taken note. Apple was offering a refurbished Mac mini with the M2 chip, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage for $559, which was $50 more than a refurbished Mac mini with the M4 chip, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. All other key specifications were equal. That's no longer...
iPhone 17 Pro Render Front Page Tech

iPhone 17 Pro With All-New Camera Bar Design Allegedly Revealed

Thursday February 13, 2025 5:49 pm PST by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro will feature three rear cameras arranged in a familiar triangular layout, but the cameras will be housed in an all-new rectangular camera bar with rounded corners, according to YouTube channel Front Page Tech. iPhone 17 Pro camera design render created by Asher for Front Page Tech In a video uploaded today, Front Page Tech host Jon Prosser said the camera ...
Tim Cook Apple Park

10+ Announcements Apple Could Have Rolled Into a February Event

Saturday February 15, 2025 8:00 am PST by
Apple appears to have enough upcoming product announcements to justify a full event this month, yet all signs indicate these reveals will be handled through a series of press releases instead. There are a multitude of rumors from reliable sources about specific announcements in the coming weeks, so here's everything that Apple could have feasibly included in a hypothetical February event: ...
iPhone SE 4 Thumb 1

Apple's Next iPhone SE Launching on Wednesday - Here's What We Know

Friday February 14, 2025 4:04 pm PST by
Apple CEO Tim Cook teased an Apple announcement that's coming on Wednesday, February 19, and it's looking like that mystery announcement will be the next-generation iPhone SE. We've been hearing about the iPhone SE 4 for quite some time now, and we essentially know everything to expect. If you want a sneak peek at what's coming, read on. Naming Apple first introduced the iPhone SE in...

Top Rated Comments

oldmacs Avatar
77 months ago
Oh dear lord they've left the 5400RPM HDD.

I really don't get it. Either they leave really old slow 5400RPM drives in, or they go full blazing fast propriety SSD.... Why can't they put in SATA SSDs or fusion drivers where the SATA SSD is the small drive instead?

I have two clients with 2017 iMacs with HDDs and they're as slow as all get out.
Score: 101 Votes (Like | Disagree)
chrfr Avatar
77 months ago
What don't you get? Do you really think the average consumer cares or can tell the difference between 5400, 7200, Fusion, and SSD?
The average customer absolutely knows that their computer is way too slow when it comes with a 5400 rpm drive. I support a few people that have them and the experience using these computers is terrible.
Score: 84 Votes (Like | Disagree)
arggg14 Avatar
77 months ago
Wow this event in a few days is going to suck.
Score: 69 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jb-net Avatar
77 months ago
Still a HDD in 2019, can't belive it :confused:
Score: 63 Votes (Like | Disagree)
badatusernames Avatar
77 months ago
That 5400 rpm HDD needs to go. It makes a profectly fine computer crippled
Score: 45 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MacFather Avatar
77 months ago
Deleted.
Score: 41 Votes (Like | Disagree)