The First Experience with the New iMac and MacBook: Conventional Performance Upgrade

Apple released a series of new products on this WWDC, including the MacBook, MacBook Pro and iMac. This latest product upgrade is related to cyclical performance upgrade, and now the new products are available for pre-order. Apple equips Mac product line with faster Kaby Lake processor, faster SSD, and makes the Fusion Drive hybrid drive a standard iMac configuration, at the same time, the iMac is equipped with a larger memory capacity, and an improved graphics card.

A lot of media have already tested the MacBook and iMac in advance, and given a preliminary assessment. Here’s a summary of the media reviews, and it’s important to note that the new iMac Pro won’t be available until this December.

The sample device Apple sent to the media is configured with 1.2 GHz Core m3, and the price is $1,299. CNET is satisfied with the new device and the overall speed is improved to some extent. But the most complimentary of all is the new 2nd generation “butterfly structure” keyboardio. The new keyboard comes from the MacBook Pro released last year.

The performance of Core m3 processor is very conventional, web browsing, video playback could be performed easily and well. But Core m3 has some difficulty for multi-task and advanced video editing. The upgrade option of 12-inch MacBook includes 1.3GHZ dual-core Intel Core i5 ($1599) and dual-core Core i7 ($1,749), with a memory choice of 16GB ($200). All versions of the MacBook weigh 2.03 pounds.

As with the MacBook, both The Verge and CNET express some disappointment because the device has only one USB-C interface. For daily use, a 12-inch MacBook is a good choice if you don’t mind the interface and performance.

21.5-inch and 27-inch iMac

For the new iMac, Apple’s test device for Engadget is equipped with a top-level 4K 21.5 inch iMac, which carries a 3.4-GHZ Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 4GB Radeon Pro 560 graphics card, and the total cost is $1,499. When it comes to apps like Slack and Chrome, the new iMac has been faster than the previous generation. Of course, the Fusion Drive of the iMac is far from enough, and the speed is not as high as SSD.

The new iMac has a maximum screen brightness of 500 nit, and is configured with two Thunderbolt 3 interfaces. If adding $30, you can choose a Magic keyboard with a small keyboard. For mainstream users, the iMac is a very reliable device.

The Verge tests a 27-inch iMac, which is configured with: Intel Core i7 4.2 GHz processor, 500GB SSD, and 16GB of RAM, and the price is $2,899. Compared with the previous generation of iMac, the new iMac’s 4K video and large-capacity photo file editing speed is significantly improved.

Mashable has a low-level 27-inch iMac tested, which carries an Intel Core i5, 3.4 GHz processor, 8GB DDR4 memory ($1,799), and the color and brightness of the screen is all that could be desired.