iMac (2015)

iMac (2015)
Name	iMac (2015)
Developer	Apple Inc.
Family	Macintosh
Release	2015
Processor	Intel Core i5 and Intel Core i7
Memory	8–32 GB LPDDR3
Graphics	AMD Radeon R9 M380 / AMD Radeon R9 M390 / AMD Radeon R9 M395 / Intel Iris Pro Graphics
Storage	1 TB Fusion Drive, 256–1 TB PCIe flash storage
Display	21.5-inch 1920×1080; 27-inch 2560×1440

iMac (2015)

The iMac (2015) is a family of all-in-one desktop computers introduced by Apple Inc. in 2015, representing incremental updates to the preceding iMac (Retina 5K, 2014) and non-Retina lines. It combined redesigned internals with updated processors from Intel Corporation and discrete GPUs from AMD, while maintaining the unibody industrial design and display sizes associated with the iMac product line. The 2015 models targeted professionals and consumers competing in markets served by vendors such as Dell, HP Inc., and Lenovo.

Design and Display

Apple retained the unibody aluminum and glass enclosure first popularized by the iMac G5 redesign lineage, with slim bezels and an edge thickness similar to earlier 2012 and 2013 models. The 21.5-inch base model shipped with a 1920×1080 display resolution, while the 27-inch model offered a 2560×1440 panel; a separate 5K model remained available from 2014 for users requiring higher pixel density. The chassis echoed influences from Jony Ive’s industrial team at Apple Inc., reflecting design continuity with products like the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro (Retina). Materials and finish connected the iMac visually to iPhone 6 era aesthetics and the broader Apple product ecosystem.

Hardware and Performance

Internally, the 2015 iMacs used fifth-generation Intel Core "Broadwell" architecture in some SKUs and continued use of fourth-generation "Haswell" CPUs in others, pairing multi-core processors with 8 GB of soldered LPDDR3 memory expandable to 16 or 32 GB in factory configurations. For compute tasks, the machines supported workloads similar to those targeted by Adobe Systems creative applications such as Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Premiere Pro, and development tools like Xcode. Thermal design and acoustic performance balanced sustained performance for content creation against the thermal constraints inherent to an all-in-one enclosure, a consideration also found in systems from Microsoft's Surface Studio line years later.

Storage and Graphics Options

Storage options ranged from traditional 1 TB hard disk drive configurations to hybrid 1 TB Fusion Drive and pure PCIe flash storage SSDs with capacities up to 1 TB, mirroring storage strategies seen in MacBook Pro (2015) models. Graphics choices included integrated Intel Iris Pro Graphics for lower-end models and discrete AMD GPUs—Radeon R9 M380, M390, and M395—enabling accelerated rendering for applications such as Autodesk Maya, Final Cut Pro X, and Blender (software). These GPU options positioned the iMac to compete with dedicated workstations from NVIDIA-equipped manufacturers and to serve prosumers migrating from legacy Power Mac or Mac Pro systems.

Ports and Connectivity

External connectivity comprised multiple USB 3.0 ports, Thunderbolt 2 ports providing high-bandwidth interfaces for peripherals like external storage arrays and video capture devices from companies such as Blackmagic Design, Gigabit Ethernet for networked workflows, and an SDXC card slot favored by photographers using bodies from Canon Inc. and Nikon. Wireless networking utilized Wi‑Fi based on IEEE 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.0 for accessories like Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse, ensuring interoperability with the broader Apple ecosystem including iCloud services and mobile devices like iPhone and iPad.

Software and Operating System

The 2015 iMacs shipped with OS X El Capitan and supported subsequent updates through macOS Sierra and later macOS releases for several years, integrating features from iCloud Drive, Handoff, and Continuity that bridged macOS with iOS devices. Apple’s preinstalled suite included Safari (web browser), Mail (macOS), Photos (Apple), and professional apps such as Final Cut Pro X and Logic Pro available through the Mac App Store. Enterprise and educational deployments often used management tools from Jamf and VMware for configuration and virtualization, with support for software like Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion to run Windows for cross-platform workflows.

Reception and Reviews

Contemporary reviews from technology press compared the 2015 iMac to rivals from Dell and HP Inc., praising the display quality, aluminum construction, and expanded storage options while noting limited internal upgradability and the thermal trade-offs of the all-in-one form factor. Outlets such as The Verge, Wired, and Ars Technica highlighted performance gains for single-threaded tasks and multimedia editing, while reviewers referencing benchmarks from Geekbench and Cinebench discussed GPU performance relative to discrete GPU offerings in systems from ASUS and MSI. Consumer response balanced acclaim for design and display against concerns about repairability raised by groups like iFixit.

Variants and Upgrades

Apple offered configuration variants across the 21.5-inch and 27-inch models, with CPU, GPU, RAM, and storage options varying by SKU and country via Apple Store channels and authorized resellers such as Best Buy. The 27-inch line was favored for upgradeability when ordered with higher factory RAM, whereas third-party service providers and enterprises relied on AppleCare and authorized repair networks including ServiceNow-listed vendors for maintenance. Over its market life, the 2015 iMac lineage served as a transitional platform between earlier non‑Retina models and later Retina 4K/5K updates, influencing subsequent designs in the Macintosh family.

Category:Apple desktop computers