Is the iMac 5k screen worth upgrading for?

[Tjmckay4]

I've got a mid 2011 27" iMac (3.1ghz i5) that is using an 120gb Samsung 850 evo external SSD for the OS and apps (very quick!). Last September year I got the video card and LCD screen replaced and took the opportunity to upgrade to a 3TB seagate internal (now storing my home directory).

This is how I/we use the mac:

• Productivity - Office apps, Google drive, etc I'm a secondary ICT school teacher
• Occasional use of photoshop CC
• Lightroom CC to view and manage 52k images
• Spotify listening
• Viewing 4k home videos (obviously not at full 4k and they're a bit choppy...)

Now the iMac is rocking along ok and performing well for most of what we use it for. There's no real reason to upgrade other than it's age and being able to view 4k videos and photos.....

OK, the question... should I upgrade? Is that 5k screen worth it???

 

[CWallace]

Personally, once I went Retina on an Apple device (Mac, iPhone, iPad) I cannot ever comprehend going back.

So for me, the 5K iMac was a given the moment they launched it in 2014.

 

[jerwin]

obviously not at full 4k and they're a bit choppy...

Well, as long as you don't use Safari, and have sufficient bandwidth, 4k is possible on a 5k iMac. Not choppy at all.

but text is perhaps the biggest improvement. it's Crisp. Great for viewing old illuminated manuscripts.

 

[epca12]

I think with the latest versions there's a lot more to like other than the 5K display. And the new ones are better value, so I think it's worth it to upgrade

 

[redheeler]

"Is that 5k screen worth it?" is a very subjective question. But in my opinion, the answer is yes.

In addition to viewing high-res photos/videos at crisp native res, which in itself is a big plus, text, icons and the UI of MacOS/apps are a lot more crisp, strain the eye less than a standard pixel density screen.

You have to see the difference on a Mac to appreciate it, and once you do, I guarantee the screen on your 2011 will look and feel out-of-date immediately.
[doublepost=1497466554][/doublepost]

Personally, once I went Retina on an Apple device (Mac, iPhone, iPad) I cannot ever comprehend going back.

So for me, the 5K iMac was a given the moment they launched it in 2014.

I also bought the 2014 Retina iMac as soon as it was available; the reason being I was used to a Retina MacBook Pro and wanted a desktop, but a standard pixel density screen was/is quite a downgrade.