T3 - UK (2021-07)

70 T3 JULY 2021

Tested

combination, it means a lot of speaker
power,and Apple says it can create a
‘Spatial Audio’effect, which is Apple
speak for 3D audio.
Finally, let’s talkconnections.
Whichever version of the new iMac
you get, you only get USB Type-C/
underbolt 4 ports,plus a 3.5mm
headphone jack. No regular USB, no
SD cardreader, no regular HDMI port.
e reason appears tobe simple:
the body istoo thin for them. So if
you’re replacing an existing iMac with
this lovely new one, and you have USB
hard drives or other accessories,
you’ll also need to buy an adapter, and

you’ll definitely need one to connect a

second screen (up to 6K issupported).

In principle, we don’t mind Apple

moving ahead with itsall-USB-C

future, it’sjust frustrating thatthere’s

no solution to this problem that’s as

good-looking as the iMac itself.You

get a sleek computer, and then you

un-sleek it.

e iMacsupports Wi-Fi 6 for

wireless connectivity, and includes

Bluetooth5.0 too. In the box, you get

the keyboard and mouse or trackpad

(your choice)in acolourthatmatches

youriMaccolourchoice. Pleasingly,

the included USB-Cto Lightning

cable (for charging the mouse and

keyboard) iscolour-coded too, with

the same lovely braided finishas the

powercable.

Looking glass

e front chin ofthe iMac is actually

made of glass, and is seamlessly

integrated withthe whitebezelsand

actualscreen aboveit. is means

that there are effectively three

different tonesof the same colouron

the machine– the darkaluminium

colouron the sides andback, the

lighter aluminium onthe stand, and

then the lightest versionof the colour

LOGITECH MX VERTICAL MOUSE

This good-looking mouse sits at a 57 degree

angle to reduce wrist pressure, is ergonomist-

approved, and isseriously comfortable.

Speed is also on its side: it has advanced optical

tracking with a 4,000-dpi high-precision sensor.

£88.39, amazon.co.uk

BELKIN USB 3.0 4-PORT HUB

As we’ve already pointed out, continuing to use

a lot of your older, pre-USB-C devices is going

to require you to pick up a hub. This simple

option offers four USB 3.0 ports in a compact,

portable package, without costing the earth.

£59.95, belkin.com

APPLE AIRPODS MAX

If you don’t want to give up the iMac’s 3D audio

feature the second a glaring loved one makes

you don some headphones, you’ll want to pick up

some AirPods Max. Not only do theyalso offer

spatial audio, they sound and look stunning.

£549, apple.com

PRO ADD-ONS

There’s noregular

USB or HDMI port

• because the body
  is too thin for them

BRAND NEW HUES

The new iMac comes

in a rainbow of

different colours for

the first time since

original iMac G3. Is it

a key feature? No. Will

you drool over the

options? You bet.

OFF CAMERA

The 108 0p webcam is

decent, although it’s a

shame it’s missing the

Centre Stage feature

from the iPad Pro,

which uses AI to keep

you centre frame, even

when moving about.