Mac · Retina & Beyond · 2014
iMac (Retina 5K, 27")
Apple put a jaw-dropping 5K panel — more pixels than a 4K TV — into the iMac before standalone 5K monitors even existed. The dream machine for photographers.
iMac (Retina 5K, 27"): key facts
When was the iMac (Retina 5K, 27") released?
The iMac (Retina 5K, 27") was released in October 2014. Apple discontinued it in October 2015.
How much did the iMac (Retina 5K, 27") cost?
The iMac (Retina 5K, 27") launched at $2,499 in 2014 — about $3,382 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What are the iMac (Retina 5K, 27")’s specs?
The iMac (Retina 5K, 27") used a Intel Core i5 running at 3.50 GHz, with 8 GB of memory and 976.6 GB of storage. It ran OS X 10.10 Yosemite.
Why does the iMac (Retina 5K, 27") matter?
First 5K display in any computer — 14.7 million pixels.
Full specifications
| CPU | Intel Core i5 · 3.50 GHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 4 |
| Memory (RAM) | 8 GB (up to 32 GB) |
| Storage | 976.6 GB |
| Display | 27" Retina 5K, 5120×2880 |
| GPU | AMD Radeon R9 M290X |
| Ports | USB 3, Thunderbolt 2, SD |
| Weight | 9.5 kg |
| Dimensions | 5 mm-edge all-in-one |
| Operating system | OS X 10.10 Yosemite |
| Released | October 2014 |
| Discontinued | October 2015 |
| Launch price | $2,499 |
How the iMac (Retina 5K, 27") compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 2.0× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 3.50 GHz, the clock is roughly 0.9× slower than a single performance core of a 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro — and that is before counting cores, width and IPC.
This held about 250,000 modern phone photos — a respectable library even today.
Launched at $2,499 in 2014 — about $3,382 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Cross-architecture speed figures are clock-only and approximate; inflation figures use US CPI.
Did you know?
Driving 14.7 million pixels required a custom Apple timing controller chip.
Related Mac models
Open the iMac (Retina 5K, 27") in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-06-25