28 MACWORLD JUNE 2019
MACUSER REVIEW: 21.5-INCH IMAC RETINA 4Kmmmm
21.5-inch iMac Retina
4K (2019)
PROS- Excellent multi-core
performance. - Elegant all-in-one design.
CONS - Unimpressive single-core
performance improvement
over comparable 2017
model. - RAM is not user
upgradeable.
PRICE
$1,849
COMPANY
Apple
Other features that remain
unchanged: A FaceTime HD camera,
stereo speakers, a built-in microphone,
802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.2, a Magic Mouse 2,
and a Magic Keyboard.
Finally, the design of the
iMac itself hasn’t changed since
it was introduced in 2012. (The
aluminum design was actually
introduced in 2007, but the
thinner shape came in 2012.)
While the design is definitely
iconic, it may be starting to
show its age. Seven years (12
years if you count the thicker
version) is actually the longest
stint for an iMac design.
What especially stands out
like a sore thumb about this
design is the bezel, the
black boarder that
surrounds the display. It’s
about an inch wide, and if
you use modern-day
MacBooks, iPads, or
iPhones with thin bezels,
the iMac’s bezel looks
huge. Overall, there’s
nothing functionally wrong
with the current design,
but a new design would
breathe new life into the
line. Macworld has a list of
improvements we’d like to
see in the iMac (go.macworld.com/9imp).BOTTOM LINE
Faster is always better, and the 2019 iMac is
much better than its predecessor,
especially with multi-core tasks.
The model that we tested stands
out as a possible price alternative
to the iMac Pro, thanks to its
6-core processor and Radeon
Pro Vega 20 graphics—
components that professional
users will appreciate. You don’t
have to be a pro, however, to
consider this iMac. At $1,849,
(regular price of $1,499, plus
$350 for the graphics card
upgrade) it’s certainly priced right
for the family or business. ■In a world where bezels are shrinking, the iMac’s has stayed the
same width for years. And relatively speaking, it’s pretty thick.