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Apple iMac 21.5-inch Retina 4K (Late 2015)

Apple iMac 21.5-inch Retina 4K (Late 2015)
alaScore 92

915 reviews

Dec, 2024

alaTest has collected and analyzed 915 reviews of Apple iMac 21.5-inch Retina 4K (Late 2015). The average rating for this product is 4.5/5, compared to an average rating of 4.1/5 for other Desktops for all reviews. People are impressed by the reliability. The size is also mentioned favorably, whereas some have doubts about the usability and price.

design, size, reliability

price, usability

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other Desktops the Apple iMac 21.5-inch Retina 4K (Late 2015) is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 92/100 = Excellent quality.

Review analysis

(Based on 915 reviews)

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Showing 1 - 76 of 766 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (147)

Consumer review (amazon.com)

Amazon.com review summary for Apple iMac 21.5-inch Retina 4K (Late 2015)

 

alaTest has collected and analyzed 66 user reviews of Apple iMac 21.5-inch Retina 4K (Late 2015) from Amazon.com. The average user rating for this product is 4.2/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.0/5 for other Desktops on Amazon.com.

88% of the reviews on Amazon.com give this product a positive rating.

Dec, 2024

Expert review by (engadget.com)

Apple iMac review (21.5-inch, 2015): 4K is optional, faster hard drives shouldn't be

 

The iMac is still the all-in-one to beat, with an optional 4K display on the 21.5-inch versionand improved color accuracy. Creative pros will gravitate toward the 5K27-inch model, which offers better specs, while casual users will appreciate that the...

4K resolution is now an option ; Improved color accuracy ; Attractive design ; Input devices are now rechargeable ; Robust audio

Faster Fusion Drives are an up-sell, even on more expensive models ; Slow start-up with the entry-level 5,400 rpm hard drive ; Discrete graphics no longeroffered on the 21.5-inch iMac

The iMac is still the best all-in-one, with an attractive (if predictable) design, near-standard 4K and 5K screens, and even better color accuracy than before. The 21.5-inch version is in some ways the more interesting of the two models, as this is the...

Oct, 2015

Expert review by : Dan Ackerman (cnet.com)

Apple iMac with 4K Retina display review: Apple packs more pixels into its smallest iMac

 

The 21.5-inch Apple iMac all-in-one steps up to a 4K display.

Apple upgrades the 21.5-inch iMac with a stunning 4K-resolution display, along with faster processors and Thunderbolt 2. The redesigned keyboard, mouse and trackpad all have rechargeable batteries and lightning connectors.

The new processors are still one generation behind Intel's latest and there are no discrete graphics options. No HDMI input means it can't double as a TV monitor.

The smallest Apple iMac trades up to a 4K display, and jumps to newer, but still not the latest, processors. While the design hasn't changed, newly crafted accessories with rechargeable batteries and Lightning connectors add flair and convenience.

Oct, 2015

Expert review by (cnet.com)

Apple iMac with 4K Retina display 21.5-inch, 2015

 

The flagship device in Apple's just-updated late-2015 iMac line is the configuration reviewed here, stepping up to a gorgeous 21.5-inch 4K resolution display and starting at $1,499 in the US (£1,199 or AU$2,099). Two other base models, at $1,099 and...

Apple upgrades the 21.5-inch iMac with a stunning 4K-resolution display, along with faster processors and Thunderbolt 2. The redesigned keyboard, mouse and trackpad all have rechargeable batteries and lightning connectors.

The new processors are still one generation behind Intel's latest and there are no discrete graphics options. No HDMI input means it can't double as a TV monitor.

The smallest Apple iMac trades up to a 4K display, and jumps to newer, but still not the latest, processors. While the design hasn't changed, newly crafted accessories with rechargeable batteries and Lightning connectors add flair and convenience.

Oct, 2015

Expert review by : Joel Santo Domingo (pcmag.com)

Apple iMac 21.5-Inch With 4K Retina Display (2015)

 

With a new Retina display, the latest Intel Core I CPU, and faster memory, the latest 21.5-inch Apple iMac is a very attractive option if you're creatively inclined and have limited space and/or funds.

Bright 4K Retina display. DCI-P3 color gamut. New rechargeable wireless peripherals. Includes Lightning cable.

No discrete graphics option. Base hard drive is only 5,400rpm. Headset jack and SD card slot are on back panel.

Conclusion If you make your living through the lens of a camera, or you're a serious creative type, the 21.5-inch 4K Retina iMac belongs high up on your short list —especially if you want the hi-res display but don't want to pay for the 27-inch 5K iMac...

Oct, 2015

Expert review by (cnet.com)

Apple iMac (21.5-inch, 500GB)

 

The massive 27-inch version of the iMac starts at a hefty $1,799 (£1,449 or AU$2,199), but the smaller 21.5-inch version was, until recently, a serious-but-reasonable $1,299 (£1,049 or AU$1,599). Rather than cutting the price of its base model, as...

The new entry level 21.5-inch Apple iMac is now only $100 more than the (already discounted) 13-inch Macbook Air. The display, design, and build quality remain top-notch, and it includes high-end features such as Thunderbolt, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and...

This lower-cost model has a small hard drive and laptop-like CPU and graphics performance compared to the more-expensive iMac configurations. It lacks even basic user upgradability.

While it includes some performance and graphics concessions on the lowest priced model, the 21.5-inch iMac brings Apple's iconic design and top-notch bundled accessories and software to a wider audience.

Jun, 2014

Expert review by : Stephen (4k.com)

A Review of the Apple 21.5 inch iMac with 4K Retina Display

 

Superb color rendering with DCI-P3 color space ; Fast, powerful machine for most uses ; Beautiful design ; Wonderfully quiet, cool running ; Decent price tag ; 9.4 million pixels ; El Capitan OS X works great with 4K display

No HDMI connectivity ; Uses slightly older Intel processing chip architecture ; No discrete Graphics card technology ; Storage memory could have been more advanced

While we consider Apple’s 5K Retina iMac to be the superior machine overall, the new 4k iMac has plenty going for it and comes at a relatively reasonable price for a piece of Apple technology with such a superb integrated True 4K display. On the whole,...

Oct, 2015

Expert review by : Cliff Joseph (zdnet.com)

Apple 21.5-inch iMac with Retina 4K Display (2015) review: Display dazzles, but options are fewer

 

The 4K display might be something of a luxury for business users who simply want to run Microsoft Office, but the latest top-end 21.5-inch iMac will be an attractive option for users who need a fast and versatile desktop computer.

Bright, colourful 4K display ; Broadwell update provides strong processor performance ; Slimline, all-in-one design

Slow hard drive ; No longer includes discrete GPU ; Limited upgrade options

Nov, 2015

Expert review by : Jason Snell (macworld.com)

iMac with 4K Retina display review: A high-resolution desktop Mac for the masses

 

The Mac is a small fraction of Apple's total business, and of that, roughly three-quarters of the Macs sold are laptops. Apple could probably be forgiven if it put the entire iMac line into maintenance mode: after all, sometimes it seems like that's...

Gorgeous Retina screen ; Thunderbolt 2 support

Fast flash-storage available as an option ; Hampered by slow 5200 rpm hard drive ; Discrete GPU available only as configuration option ; Uses previous generation Intel chipset

The 5K iMac is an incredible computer, one of the best Macs ever made—but it’s also just too much for many people. A 27-inch display can dominate a desk or a room, and though the price tag has come down a lot in the past year, it’s still on the pricey...

Oct, 2015

Expert review by : Andrew Cunningham (arstechnica.com)

Same design, new insides, better screen: 21.5-inch 4K Retina iMac reviewed

 

Fusion Drives desperately need to be standard, but otherwise this is a nice Mac.

Gorgeous screen with an improved color gamut ; Retina scaling modes let you use the 21.5-inch iMac to display as much information as the 27-inch iMac, a nice feature for people without much space ; Quad-core Broadwell CPUs aren't the newest on the...

No dedicated GPU options, and the integrated GPU chugs if you increase the resolution or hook up another 4K display ; No user-accessible RAM (or any user-accessible parts, really) ; No Thunderbolt 3 or USB Type-C ; No Target Display Mode ; Putting all...

The best thing about the 4K iMac is that you don't have to use a gigantic 27-inch model if you want to get a Retina display. There are plenty of people who prefer the larger screen, but for those who find it intimidating or just too big for their...

Oct, 2015

Expert review by : Jason Snell (goodgearguide.com.au)

iMac with 4K Retina display review: A high-resolution desktop Mac for the masses

 

The transition of the iMac into the Retina display era is now complete—and worth upgrading to.

Oct, 2015

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