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Apple iMac 21.5-Inch (2014) Review

4.0
Excellent

The Bottom Line

Apple's entry-level 21.5-inch Mac is a solid, basic OS X-equipped all-in-one. It's priced like a midrange desktop, however, and the competition is tough at that level.

MSRP $1,099.00
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Pros

  • Least expensive iMac.
  • Same display and chassis as higher-end Mac desktop models.
  • Two Thunderbolt ports and four USB 3.0 ports.
  • Thin construction and design.

Cons

  • Configuration options limited to storage.
  • System effectively sealed.
  • RAM is not upgradeable.
  • Target display mode only supports Thunderbolt.

The Apple iMac 21.5-inch ($1,099), the entry-level model for Mac desktops that's priced to compete with midrange systems, shares the same sleek design aesthetic as its larger iMac counterparts, and has the same OS X operating system. It's a good choice if you're looking for a Mac desktop with basic computing capability, including general office tasks, student work, and surfing the Web on a big screen. This new iMac( at Amazon) is set to bring new users into the Apple fold.

Editors' Note: This review is for an old version of the 21.5-inch Apple iMac. Read the review of the current Apple iMac 21.5-Inch With 4K Retina Display.

Design and Features
The iMac's looks remain unchanged from its 2012 model. This is a good thing, since you're getting the same aluminum chassis and glass-covered 21.5-inch, 1,920-by-1,080 resolution, In-Plane Switching (IPS) screen that Apple uses for its higher-end $1,299 and $1,499 configurations. The system is about 18 inches high and 20 inches wide, but the compact base minimizes its desk space. The $1,099 base configuration we reviewed came with a wireless keyboard and Magic Mouse, but the Magic Trackpad and wired keyboard can be substituted as no-cost options.

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This midrange system is effectively sealed, but even if you have the tools and the talent to get into the chassis, there really aren't any upgrades you could perform. This is the complete opposite of the easily serviceable HP EliteOne 800 all-in-one PC, which has a back panel that's removable without tools. Permanently attached to the iMac's motherboard are 8GB of system memory, along with the Intel Core i5-4260U processor, so those can't be upgraded. Apple's sole configurable choices from the factory for the $1,049 iMac are a set of four storage options: the base 500GB hard drive that we have in our review unit; a 1TB hard drive upgrade ($50), a 1TB Fusion Drive ($250), and a 256GB Flash Storage module ($250). We recommend deciding if any of these choices are worth the extra expense before you order the system, since they can't be added later.

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Apple iMac 21.5-Inch (2014)

Port selection is generous, with an Ethernet port, a headset jack, two Thunderbolt ports, and four USB 3.0 ports. You can use the Thunderbolt ports to extend the screen to mini DisplayPort monitors or Apple's Thunderbolt Display. However, HDMI or mini DisplayPort-in ports are missing from an otherwise well-connected desktop. This is a bummer, since it means you can't hook up a Blu-ray, cable box, or other PCs to the iMac to stretch the life of the display once the internal components are obsolete. That blow is softened for Apple fans, because if you have a MacBook Air or Pro, Mac mini, or other Thunderbolt-equipped Mac, you can connect it via a Thunderbolt cable and use Target Display mode. Still, other midrange PC desktops like the Dell Inspiron 23 (2350)( at Amazon) and Lenovo ThinkCentre E93z are more flexible since they come with a HDMI-in port.

OS X 10.9 Mavericks is installed on the iMac, and it is easy to use without a touch screen, as well as a more mature operating system than Windows 8.1. You'll be able to load OS X Yosemite on the system when Apple releases that update later this year. Preloaded apps are one of Apple's strengths. All new Macs come with iLife and iWork, which means that home users may not need to download any additional software. iWork's Keynote, Numbers, and Pages can work with documents for Microsoft's PowerPoint, Excel, and Word, respectively. Now, you'll still need a copy of Office if you use more esoteric functions like third-party macros or scripting, but many home users will be just fine with the included apps. iLife includes apps like GarageBand, iMovie, iPhoto, and iTunes, which enhance photo and music management for iPads and iPhones. The system comes with a standard one-year warranty and 90 days of phone-based technical support.

Performance
The iMac is equipped with a 1.4 GHz Intel Core i5-4260U processor with Intel HD Graphics 5000, 8GB of system memory, and a 500GB, 5,400rpm hard drive. This combination of components gives the iMac 21.5-inch the performance of an ultrabook PC, like the latest Apple MacBook Air 13-inch, which shares the same CPU. The system performed well on all of our cross-platform benchmark tests. Its Adobe Photoshop CS6 run time was good, at 4 minutes 30 seconds. To put this in perspective, the quad-core iMac we tested in 2012 took 3:52 on the same test. This is to be expected, since the pricier iMacs are faster clocked and have more cores to work on your tasks. Core i7-powered systems like the HP EliteOne 800 can shrink this time to just over three minutes, and budget processors can stretch the time to 10 minutes and beyond.

Our other benchmark tests showed that the iMac is good for daily tasks, with enough power for light multimedia work, like photo editing and video rendering. A general user should be happy with the entry-level iMac, but a power user like a graduate-level graphics art student should think about one of the higher-end configurations.

The hard drive helps the system boot up in 50 seconds, though users who want a bit more speed rebooting and launching apps will want the Fusion or Flash Storage options. The 500GB capacity is plenty for an average user, particularly one who intends on using the iMac as a base for an iPad or iPhone.

The entry-level Apple iMac 21.5-inch is a good starting point for the budding Apple fan or a person who wants a desktop base station for their iOS devices. It's easy to set up, powerful enough for basic tasks plus a bit more, and comes with an excellent set of preloaded software. The problem is that it's too pricey to compare with entry-level, Windows-based, all-in-one PCs. Also, for a relatively slight bump in price, the midrange Editors' Choice Dell Inspiron 23 (2350) has many more features that would appeal to a power user, including an HDMI-in port, an Intel Core i7 quad-core processor, 12GB of memory, discrete AMD Radeon graphics, a 1TB hybrid hard drive, and a dual-hinge tilt mechanism that complements its touch screen.

Apple iMac 21.5-Inch (2014)
4.0
Pros
  • Least expensive iMac.
  • Same display and chassis as higher-end Mac desktop models.
  • Two Thunderbolt ports and four USB 3.0 ports.
  • Thin construction and design.
View More
Cons
  • Configuration options limited to storage.
  • System effectively sealed.
  • RAM is not upgradeable.
  • Target display mode only supports Thunderbolt.
View More
The Bottom Line

Apple's entry-level 21.5-inch Mac is a solid, basic OS X-equipped all-in-one. It's priced like a midrange desktop, however, and the competition is tough at that level.

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About Joel Santo Domingo

Lead Analyst

Joel Santo Domingo joined PC Magazine in 2000, after 7 years of IT work for companies large and small. His background includes managing mobile, desktop and network infrastructure on both the Macintosh and Windows platforms. Joel is proof that you can escape the retail grind: he wore a yellow polo shirt early in his tech career. Along the way Joel earned a BA in English Literature and an MBA in Information Technology from Rutgers University. He is responsible for overseeing PC Labs testing, as well as formulating new test methodologies for the PC Hardware team. Along with his team, Joel won the ASBPE Northeast Region Gold award of Excellence for Technical Articles in 2005. Joel cut his tech teeth on the Atari 2600, TRS-80, and the Mac Plus. He’s built countless DIY systems, including a deconstructed “desktop” PC nailed to a wall and a DIY laptop. He’s played with most consumer electronics technologies, but the two he’d most like to own next are a Salamander broiler and a BMW E39 M5.

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Apple iMac 21.5-Inch (2014) at Amazon
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