Apple iMac Pro i7 4K Review – Great Display, But It Didn’t Age Well
Are you tired of seeing the same old Windows startup screen over and over again? Do you ever fancy yourself a powerful and sleek Apple iMac computer? Interested in buying one after reading this Apple iMac Pro i7 4k review?
Here, I have gone through the most important aspects of this powerful but old iMac computer. Read it to find out whether this computer is the right choice for you or not in 2022.
Apple iMac Pro i7 4K Specifications
The main specifications of the Apple iMac Pro i7 4k 21in the computer are
| Operating System | macOS |
| Display | 21.5-inch Retina 4K display (4096×2304 resolution) |
| Processor | 3.2GHz 6-core 8th-generation Intel Core i7 processor (Boost up to 4.6GHz) |
| Graphics Card | Radeon Pro Vega 20 with 4GB VRAM |
| Memory | 16GB 2666MHz DDR4 RAM |
| Storage | 256GB SSD |
| Connectivity Ports | 3.5mm headphone jack 4x USB 3.0 ports 2x Thunderbolt 3 Ports SDXC card slot |
| Dimensions | Height: 17.7 in Width: 20.8 in Depth: 16.9 in (with stand) Weight: 12.3 pounds (5.6 kg) |
| Price | $999 (Refurbished) |
Apple iMac Pro i7 4K Review
After using a refurbished version of the iMac Pro i7 4K that I got in top condition for two weeks, here’s what I found:
Design And Build Quality
The looks of this old (but gold) iMac made me smile like a kid who got a new toy for Christmas.
All of the ports are located on the rear of the all-in-one because the chassis’ borders are less than 0.2 inches thick, giving it a very slimline appearance. Although it causes some inconvenience, the ports on the rival Dell Precision 5720 that are concealed beneath the stand are far more troublesome.
Above the screen, there is a 1080p HD webcam, and there are four microphones in total for audio recording. Bluetooth 4.2, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and a 10GBps Ethernet connection are available as networking choices.
Display
The Apple iMac Pro i7 4k display has a very sleek 21.5-inch monitor. Upon first look, I really liked the look of the monitor. This comes as no surprise since Apple creates some of the best displays you can find on a computer.
This iMac has a 21.5-inch 4K Retina display. It has an odd 4096×2304 resolution. This may seem odd at first since the standard 4k resolution is 3840 x 2160 pixels. However, Apple here conforms to the “true 4K” resolution of 4096×2304 pixels. This is the size of the original DCI (Digital Cinema Initiatives) that 4k filmmakers use.
This is why all the colors on the screen seem life-like. The greatest moment comes from watching 4K movies, which all will look ultra-realistic. However, it will come as a boon for graphic designers. Due to its true 4k retina display, you will get the true color gamut son screen, which makes color correction easier and better than before.
Performance
Benchmark tests help to demonstrate the Pro’s theoretical advantages over its Windows rivals and the most recent 27-inch iMac. Our photographers and videographers also contrasted the turnaround times for their work on the tools they were using at the time, which included some Apple items from a few years ago.
I opened a collection of images he captured with the 100MP Phase One camera in Adobe Lightroom as the next stress test. Every time he moved on to the next image on the iMac, it took roughly 10 seconds to display a pixelated preview; in contrast, the iMac Pro completed the task in just 6 seconds.
Similar efficiency improvements were seen when the photographs were exported to Photoshop, and once there, it was simple to apply a resource-intensive treatment like radial blur. One of the Raw photos was blurred by the iMac Pro in just 7 seconds as opposed to 17 seconds for the 2014 iMac.
iMac Pro i7 4K Vs. iMac M3 2023: What’s New?
The iMac M3 2023 is the latest iMac released by Apple. It features the new super-fast M3 chip – which is an extremely powerful processor.
Therefore, in short – everything is new.
But first, have a look at the new iMac M3 2023 specifications:
| Operating System | macOS |
| Display | 24” 4.5k Retina Display (4,480 x 2,520 resolution) |
| Processor | Octa-Core Apple M3 Chip (4x performance cores + 4x efficiency cores) |
| Graphics Card | Apple M3 GPU (10x cores with hardware accelerated ray-tracing) |
| Memory | 8GB Unified RAM (can be configured to a maximum of 24 GB) |
| Storage | 256GB SSD (can be configured to a maximum of 2 TB) |
| Webcam | 1080p Facetime HD Camera |
| Connectivity Ports | 1x 3.5mm headphone jack, 2x USB 4.0 Thunderbolt ports, 2x USB 3.0 Ports, 1x Gigabit Ethernet port |
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 18.1” x 21.5” x 5.8” (46.1 cm x 54.7 cm x 14.7 cm) |
| Weight | 9.87 lbs (4.48 kg) |
| Colors | Silver, Blue, Yellow, Green, Orange, Purple, Pink |
| Price | $1,299 |
What’s New In The 2023 iMac M3 Computer?
The biggest change the 2023 iMac M3 has is using the new M3 chip. The iMac Pro i7 uses an Intel Core i7 processor with an AMD Radeon Pro Vega graphics card.
However, the new iMac 2023 is completely different since it uses Apple’s own Apple M3 processor.
Apple made iMacs and MacBooks like the MacBook Air M1 far better than the previous models with their M-series chips. These chips constitute both processor chips and graphics processor chips.
Therefore, no additional dedicated graphics card exists since the M3 chip has its own integrated 10-core graphics card.
However, unlike the new MacBook Pro M3, you don’t get any option to use the M3 Pro chip. While we might get this in future models, you are out of luck now.
But this doesn’t mean the performance of the M3 chip is bad. It’s still powerful and fast enough for all the tasks you would wish to do. However, like any previous iMacs, you still cannot play games here.
While it does have sufficient power, macOS supports very few games. Even Xbox Cloud Gaming isn’t supported here! Interestingly, the iPhone 14 Pro Max and the iPhone 15 Pro Max have better game support!
In addition to its processor and graphics card, they have also changed the screen size. They have now made it bigger with a 24” screen that has 4.5k resolution.
Therefore, it’s better than the iMac Pro i7 4k display in every way possible, with crisper and vivid visuals. This will benefit Final Cut Pro video editors since colors and details are now more accurate and sharper.
Best iMac Alternatives In 2024
Getting an iMac must be on everyone’s list. However, we at TND believe that you dont have to overpay for something with too many restrictions. Therefore, it is crucial to know all the alternatives. This section is all about that.
In this section, I will look at some ‘better alternatives’ and in the final section, I will list my top pick for better alternatives that you can go for.
However, this is not a ranking list. Instead, take this section as an informative list. It is meant to educate the readers about the better alternatives that you need to know.
Here we go!
Lenovo Yoga AIO 9i
Lenovo Yoga A10 9i is one of the rarest laptops I have reviewed. It is like everything at the same time. And this is one of the best things about the laptop.
Several critics claimed that this laptop is one of the best laptops that you can buy if you are looking at functionality over everything.
The flexible design and decent specifications have earned this laptop the moniker of iMac Killer. Honestly speaking, the massive 32-inch display that is capable of running videos at 4k is one of the biggest USPs of the device. However, the brand could have made the display touch-responsive.
Dell Inspiron 27 All-in-One
If a massive 32-inch screen sounds vain and unnecessary, then you could go for a smaller yet powerful Dell Inspiron 27 All-in-One.
Do not let the smaller size of the laptop fool you. It comes with a decent computational power that is at par with the current standards.
The Laptop comes with a sold Intel Core i7-1355U that is suited to deal with complex computational calculations.
Subsequently, the 32 GB RAM and an NVIDIA GeForce MX550 GPU make this PC suitable for light gaming and working at the same time. Hence, it serves as a great alternative to iMac.
IdeaCentre AIO I
Lenovo has mastered the art of building the entry-level laptop for years. The only reason it is still in business is because it creates affordable laptops that are suitable to take on any role you throw at them.
The balance between power and affordability in their laptop really makes them a class apart from other devices that the brand sells.
IdeaCentre AIO I is a laptop for people who are on a budget as well as size constraints. The 23-inch screen really makes this laptop a great companion for traveling.
The system is packed with a decent Intel Core i5-13420H. Hence, you will not have any problem getting your work done.
Microsoft Surface Studio 2+
Microsoft has been eyeing Apple’s position in the market for a while now. As a result, it is very natural for the company to come up with a device that does everything like a boss. The all-new Microsoft Surface Studio 2+ is a great laptop that can topple the supremacy of the iMac.
Unlike most other laptops that I have listed, this is the only device that comes with a dedicated touchscreen. This allows users to use the device with ease and comfort. Stay tuned to know what I pick as the best alternative to the iMac Pro i7 4K.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Some of the most frequently asked questions by Apple aficionados regarding the Apple iMac Pro i7 4k are:
Ans: No, you will not get a brand new iMac Pro i7 4k in 2024. This is because Apple has discontinued its production, with newer versions of this iMac taking its place.
Ans: No, the Apple iMac Pro i7 4k is not meant for gamers. This iMac is meant for people with productivity in mind who like to do office tasks and creative work. This includes tasks like video editing, sound production, and animations.
Final Verdict: Is The Apple iMac Pro i7 4K Worth It In 2024?
The burning question, of course, is whether the beefed-up components, which have gorgeous, one-of-a-kind Space Gray exteriors, justify the price for the premiums. The iMac Pro does not command over the regular iMac 2023 at present. As an old iMac, it’s outdated now.
This is a great laptop if you are interested in doing creative work like editing. Using Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Premiere Pro will feel a fascinating harem due to its amazing screen and tight responsiveness. Also, as a Mac user, you will get access to Final Cut Pro as well, making your video edits all the better!
However, there are other better options if you are looking for a gaming computer or laptop in this budget. Therefore, I recommend getting a Windows laptop like the Asus TUF Gaming F15 for gamers. In addition, I recommend spending a bit more to get the new 2023 iMac M3 instead, which is better in every aspect.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ➡ Intel i7 CPU and AMD Radeon Vega GPU provide serious power. ➡ Gorgeous design. | ➡ Pretty expensive. ➡ Performance gains depend upon temperature. ➡ Hard Keyboard ➡ Not-so-tactile keyboard ➡ Outdated now, with the new iMac 2023 being the best option |
Read Also:
