Late-2013 iMac - Ready for Upgrade - Wait?

[insimbi]

I've been very happy with my Late 2013 iMac for 5 years now. I am ready though to get something newer and faster. And I really want the Retina display. I am hearing there may be an update soon in 2019. Do you recommend I wait or just go with the current model? I'm not sure if we will see an update or not - so not sure what to do!

Any recommendations would be great

 

[SecuritySteve]

If Apple keeps with pattern, there probably will be an iMac refresh soon. I would wait. But if any of Apple's recent releases appeals to you, such as the Mac mini, I would consider those.

 

[insimbi]

If Apple keeps with pattern, there probably will be an iMac refresh soon. I would wait. But if any of Apple's recent releases appeals to you, such as the Mac mini, I would consider those.

Thanks. I like the Mac mini but I'd rather get the iMac with the Retina display.

 

[SecuritySteve]

Thanks. I like the Mac mini but I'd rather get the iMac with the Retina display.

I'm not questioning your decision, and I think it's good to know what you want, but I am curious as to why you want to stick with the iMac. Is it specifically for the display? Why not pick your own 4k / 5k display, something like the LG Ultrafine?

 

[insimbi]

I'm not questioning your decision, and I think it's good to know what you want, but I am curious as to why you want to stick with the iMac. Is it specifically for the display? Why not pick your own 4k / 5k display, something like the LG Ultrafine?

Good questions. Yea, I really want a retina screen, but maybe an LG would be the way to go. I wonder if I went with a MacBook Pro and a nice 4k/5k screen. Do you recommend the LG Ultrafine then?

 

[Apple Mac Daz]

Good questions. Yea, I really want a retina screen, but maybe an LG would be the way to go. I wonder if I went with a MacBook Pro and a nice 4k/5k screen. Do you recommend the LG Ultrafine then?

Depends how much your gonna use the system. Daily it get a ball ache using a rMBP and a screen. I rather have a all in one

 

[SecuritySteve]

It really depends. I like the LG Ultrafine's pixel density, but pixel density isn't the only metric to measure a screen by. There are also things like refresh rate and color accuracy that matter as well. The LG Ultrafine has excellent pixel density, and great color accuracy, but lacks on it's refresh rate. This results in a slow response time on the monitor, which makes things like motion on the screen seem less fluid. If you intend to do things like gaming or watching anything with high amounts of motion, refresh rate is by far much more important than pixel density or color accuracy.

But, if all you are doing is editing a static picture, go for the LG Ultrafine. There is also a cheaper alternative to the LG Ultrafine, and an even more expensive 8k monitor available now.

Check this out:

https://www.creativebloq.com/buying-guides/best-8k-monitors

 

[insimbi]

It really depends. I like the LG Ultrafine's pixel density, but pixel density isn't the only metric to measure a screen by. There are also things like refresh rate and color accuracy that matter as well. The LG Ultrafine has excellent pixel density, and great color accuracy, but lacks on it's refresh rate. This results in a slow response time on the monitor, which makes things like motion on the screen seem less fluid. If you intend to do things like gaming or watching anything with high amounts of motion, refresh rate is by far much more important than pixel density or color accuracy.

But, if all you are doing is editing a static picture, go for the LG Ultrafine. There is also a cheaper alternative to the LG Ultrafine, and an even more expensive 8k monitor available now.

Check this out:

https://www.creativebloq.com/buying-guides/best-8k-monitors

Very good info - thank you. The more I think about it though, I think I will just wait for an updated iMac. I hope they are announced soon! I like the all-in-one design with the large 5k screen.
Thanks for your help though.

 

[Fishrrman]

The 2017 design iMacs are very nice, but it sounds like you don't really need anything right now.
So... "the choice" would be either "to wait" (I don't think it's going to be that long before new iMacs appear) or ... perhaps consider the 2018 Mini.

 

[JonMPLS]

I waited till last fall, but REALLY needed to replace my Macbook Pro. I will say the current iMac is pretty amazing. The screen is great, like the keyboard, and am happy with the design.

 

[EugW]

Definitely wait. It's already been over 600 days since the last update.

 

[JonMPLS]

Plus if you wait you get to find all the bugs in a new design! (Just kidding . . . mostly)

 

[padams35]

I've been very happy with my Late 2013 iMac for 5 years now. I am ready though to get something newer and faster. And I really want the Retina display. I am hearing there may be an update soon in 2019. Do you recommend I wait or just go with the current model? I'm not sure if we will see an update or not - so not sure what to do!

Any recommendations would be great

2019 yes, but 'soon' is subjective. The new iMacs will almost certainly have new GPUs, but AMD's new Navi cards aren't rumored for release until June/July.

If you are ok waiting another 6-months then keep waiting. When 2019s come you'll have your choice of new tech or a discounted 2017.

If you don't wan't to risk waiting that long then buy now. The 2017 seem to be aging well and are better on their 600th day than the 2015s were when they turned 600.

 

[Fishrrman]

padams35 wrote:
"AMD's new Navi cards aren't rumored for release until June/July"

If that's the case, then a fearless prediction:
The 2019 iMacs aren't going to come with them inside.

 

[UbuntuFu]

I've also got a late 2013 iMac that I'm itching to upgrade to a 5k screen. But I added an external SSD a couple of years ago so it runs pretty fast. I would wait.

I'm just hoping the base 2019 iMac won't increase in price due to adding something gimmicky that I don't really need.

 

[insimbi]

I've also got a late 2013 iMac that I'm itching to upgrade to a 5k screen. But I added an external SSD a couple of years ago so it runs pretty fast. I would wait.

I'm just hoping the base 2019 iMac won't increase in price due to adding something gimmicky that I don't really need.

Cool - yes, I can wait, just anxious is all I also have an external SSD which has been great. At this point I'm just itching to get that Retina screen. I have a 2015 MBP and when I use that and then go to my iMac I can see a huge difference. The 5K screen just looks so nice - especially for my old eyes
[doublepost=1548654698][/doublepost]

Plus if you wait you get to find all the bugs in a new design! (Just kidding . . . mostly)

Ha, yep! That's the part that sucks as an early adopter of the next gen/redesign.

 

[MandiMac]

I've also got a late 2013 iMac that I'm itching to upgrade to a 5k screen. But I added an external SSD a couple of years ago so it runs pretty fast. I would wait.

I'm just hoping the base 2019 iMac won't increase in price due to adding something gimmicky that I don't really need.

There will be raised prices. A T2/T3 security chip, an new cooling system probably, all-SSD options. It will be raised because the former base iMac is inferior to that.

 

[lowkey]

I picked up a late 2014 i7 iMac. Great machines. A 4.0GHz i7 which is not much slower than the current model. Plus the fusion drive has 128GB of SSD built in, rather than the 24GB that is in the current model.

They are cheap on the used market.

I’d get a late 2014 model or wait for the 2019 model. Don’t get the current model.

 

[EugW]

I picked up a late 2014 i7 iMac. Great machines. A 4.0GHz i7 which is not much slower than the current model. Plus the fusion drive has 128GB of SSD built in, rather than the 24GB that is in the current model.

They are cheap on the used market.

I’d get a late 2014 model or wait for the 2019 model. Don’t get the current model.

10-bit 4K HEVC hardware decode support requires a 2017 model iMac or later.
8-bit 4K HEVC hardware decode support requires a 2015 model iMac or later.

8-bit 4K HEVC hardware encode support requires a 2015 model iMac or later.
The hardware in the 2017 iMacs do support 10-bit encode, but macOS doesn't support it.

 

[lowkey]

I guess it depends on use case. As both a musician and architect I’ve never needed that.

I am looking forward to 6core CPUs in the next update if that’s what it is. I do hit the limit of the quad core i7s running Cubase with VST instruments and effects running in real-time.

 

[EugW]

I’ve not missed it once

If you don't use this feature then that's fine, but Apple has built HEVC support into macOS and iOS going forward. For example, recent all iPhones can record video in 4K HEVC. Personally I recommend using HEVC (+/- HEIC) on iPhones if you can since it saves a lot of space and it's all fully hardware supported in recent Macs. An older Mac can decode and work with HEVC, but it's really inefficient with it, and it will really tax the CPU and may cause the video to stutter. If you ever plan on recording and recording 4K HEVC video, anything older than a 2015 iMac is not recommended, and a 2017 iMac is preferred.

Now, for iPhone HEVC, it's not incredibly complex, but for more complicated HEVC video, the 2015 models will struggle. In fact, my 2017 12" fanless MacBook can smoothly play 10-bit HEVC 4K files with 25% CPU usage that even the top-of-the-line 2015 iMacs and 2016 MacBook Pros cannot with 100% CPU usage.

 

[BluefinTuna]

I picked up a late 2014 i7 iMac. Great machines. A 4.0GHz i7 which is not much slower than the current model. Plus the fusion drive has 128GB of SSD built in, rather than the 24GB that is in the current model.

They are cheap on the used market.

I’d get a late 2014 model or wait for the 2019 model. Don’t get the current model.

Not sure how much you got yours for but I just picked up a fully maxed out late 2015 21.5" iMac for slightly under $1,000 on eBay. This includes a 3.3 GHz i7, 16 GB's of Ram, and a 500GB SSD (Built to Order). Shipped and with two months of AppleCare remaining. Don't think that any 2017 iMacs will be this cheap with these kind of specs anytime soon.