iMac (Mid 2017)
Kaby Lake, Thunderbolt 3 and brighter, wider displays.
Overview
The Mid 2017 iMac was a spec bump that arrived with a design that Apple kept for years. Kaby Lake processors replaced the 2015 chips, DDR4 memory arrived, and storage could now be a fast PCIe flash drive up to 2 TB.
Two Thunderbolt 3 ports on USB-C replaced Thunderbolt 2, enabling dual 5K displays and connection of external graphics enclosures. The 21.5-inch model came in a Retina 4K model at 4096 x 2304 and a 1080p base at $1,099; the 27-inch had a 5120 x 2880 Retina panel from $1,799, with Radeon Pro 570 graphics as standard.
The chassis itself was unchanged from the 2012 design.
Why it mattered
It brought Thunderbolt 3 and external GPU support to the iMac family.
At a glance
- Announced
- June 5, 2017
- Released
- June 5, 2017
- Launch price
- $1,099
- Chip / processor
- Intel Core i5 (Kaby Lake)
- Display
- 21.5" or 27"
- Storage
- 1 TB hard disk, Fusion Drive or flash
- Status
- Vintage
Highlights
- Kaby Lake processors and DDR4 memory
- Thunderbolt 3 over USB-C
- Brighter P3 Retina displays
- Radeon Pro 500-series graphics options
Tech specs
Specifications as published at launch. Some values (like battery life) are manufacturer estimates.
Display
- Size
- 21.5-inch or 27-inch
- Type
- LED-backlit IPS (Retina on 4K and 5K models)
- Resolution
- 1920 x 1080, 4096 x 2304 or 5120 x 2880
Chip
- Chip
- Intel Core i5 2.3 GHz dual-core (21.5-inch) up to Core i7 quad-core
Memory
- RAM
- 8 GB DDR4, up to 16 GB (21.5-inch) or 64 GB (27-inch)
- Storage options
- 1 TB hard disk or Fusion Drive; flash up to 2 TB
Graphics
- GPU
- Intel Iris Plus 640 (21.5-inch); Radeon Pro 555 or 570 (4K and 5K models)
Ports
- Ports
- 4 USB 3.0, 2 Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C), SDXC, Gigabit Ethernet
Connectivity
- Wi-Fi
- 802.11ac
Camera
- Camera
- 720p FaceTime HD
Software
- Launch OS
- macOS Sierra 10.12
Availability
- Announced
- June 5, 2017
- Released
- June 5, 2017
- Launch price
- $1,099
Colors
- Finishes
- Silver
How it compares
More in the iMac family
iMac (Early 2006)
The first Intel Mac, in the familiar white iMac G5 body.
iMac (Mid 2007)
The all-aluminum, glass-front iMac arrives.
iMac (Late 2009)
The first 27-inch iMac and the first Magic Mouse.
iMac (Mid 2011)
Quad-core Sandy Bridge and Thunderbolt in the iMac.
iMac (Late 2012)
Five millimeters thin at the edge, with no optical drive.
iMac with Retina 5K Display (Late 2014)
Fourteen and a half million pixels in one 27-inch screen.
iMac (Late 2015)
A 4K Retina display comes to the 21.5-inch iMac, plus wide color.
iMac (2019)
Up to 8 cores and Vega graphics in the familiar iMac body.
iMac (27-inch, 2020)
The last Intel iMac, with a 1080p camera and a nano-texture option.
iMac 24-inch (M1)
Seven colors, 11.5 mm thin, and an M1 chip behind a 4.5K screen.
iMac 24-inch (M3)
Same colorful slab, now with the 3-nanometer M3 chip.
iMac 24-inch (M4)
M4, 16 GB of memory and a nano-texture glass option.