Apple’s new iMac with 5K Retina Display delivers many more pixels for a few dollars more

APPLE’S new computer screen goes one better than the best 4K standard, though it might be too good for your existing photographs.

iMac delivers a crisper Apple

Apple iMac with Retina 5K Display / 4.5/5 / from $2999 / apple.com/au

FIRST, the good news.

Apple is an overachiever. Faced with expectations it would create a 4K screen, the company went one better.

Its newest desktop computer instead features a 5K screen sporting 14.7 million pixels.

That’s 67 per cent more pixels than a cutting-edge 4K screen, and a density of 218 pixels per inch, making in the world’s highest resolution display.

Second, the bad news.

If you buy this computer, you will want to update every digital SLR, every smartphone, and every video camera you own, in addition to every video you download from the internet.

If any of your photos are even a smidgen out of focus, just a shade off sharp, you will notice it instantly when viewing this impressive screen.

Such is the detail on the iMac’s upgraded 27-inch monitor, errors are noticeable even in professional 4K footage.

It is, perhaps, the ultimate first world problem.

Apple’s iMac refresh comes two years after its last major update that thinned down the all-in-one computer’s sides.

The 5K screen is an obvious boon for video aficionados, particularly those who want to use the new technology or future-proof their work. Keen amateur photographers are also likely to appreciate its screen that takes high-resolution images a step closer to real life.

To power the display, and ensure its pixels are refreshed at 60Hz, Apple has added a new timing controller with four times the bandwidth of the old model, and it ditched a Nvidia graphics processor for a model from AMD.

Keen users can add a more powerful model capable of 3.5 teraflops for an extra $300.

But while the iMac refresh is an important update, it’s by no means a complete overhaul.

The desktop computer looks the same as the last model, with all ports hidden behind its slim screen, a simple aluminium stand delivering vertical adjustments, and a top storage capacity of three terabytes.

It does come with more power inside, however. Entry level models now feature a 3.5GHz Intel i5 quad-core chip, 8GB RAM, and 1TB Fusion Drive, as well as two Thunderbolt 2 ports that promise transfer rates of up to 20 gigabits per second.

Those who want more power can add a 4GHz i7 chip, 32GB RAM, 1TB flash storage, and the extra graphical processing, though the faster package will deliver a price tag over $5000.

Given the specifications of the entry-level model, and the high-powered demands of its typical audience, this is probably a more realistic budget.

It’s also worth noting those who prefer the smaller, 21-inch iMac, will not get the chance to consider an upgrade as that model is yet to receive its 5K close-up.

Though you will need a bigger budget to accommodate this 5K iMac, and perhaps a 4K camera to feed it, it could be an investment well made.