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Retina 5K iMac Models Now Available From Apple's Online Refurbished Store

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Apr 12, 2001
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Apple recently started selling the 27-Inch iMac With Retina 5K Display in the refurbished section of its online store, as first noticed by MacGeneration and 9to5Mac. These refurbished models offer customers the chance to save up to 15 percent off the retail price of a brand new model.

retina-imac-refurbished.png
Several 27-inch Retina iMac models are available, including the entry-level model which is availablee for $2119 and includes a 3.5GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of memory and a 1TB Fusion Drive. Other available Retina iMacs include a $2,419 model with 16GB of memory and a 3TB Fusion Drive and a $2,549 unit with 16GB of memory and 512GB flash storage. All three models are in stock and available to ship today.

After months of speculation, Apple unveiled the 27-Inch iMac With Retina 5K Display during its October media event. The consumer desktop features a 5120 x 2880 pixel display with improved contrast, viewing angles, and color accuracy. Early impressions of the machine were favorable with reviewers praising the "stunning display" and noting that it is a "huge step up" from Apple's notebook Retina displays.

Article Link: Retina 5K iMac Models Now Available From Apple's Online Refurbished Store
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2015/01/16/refurbished-retina-imac-now-available/
Last edited:
gizmo84 said:
because the return rate is probably high. there is a a lot of variance between screens. Apple QC stinks these days....

Proof:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1831739/

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1814524/

I would have bought one already. but Apple continues to use crap LG LCD modules that have defects. just like the LG LCD's that had ghosting issues on the rMBP's..... should have just used samasung or sharp....
Click to expand...


You're less likely to get a defective model through Apple refurbished
 
Mess said:
5k display!? 4K isnt event the norm yet! :eek:
Click to expand...

Providing a proper amount of screen real estate for a 27" display while maintaining pixel perfection is far more important than following a meaningless norm.

4K would be a good fit for a Retina 21.5" iMac though.
 
I hear the low end retina imacs struggle pushing all those pixels during demanding tasks. Personally, I'm waiting for the 2nd or 3rd gen before I take the retina imac plunge. I saw the screen at the Apple Store tho, and it is stunning. I'm just gonna wait. I was also bummed that unlike the previous gen 27" imac, you cannot use the retina iMac as an external monitor, which decreases its future value in my opinion. I'd like to be able to extend its usefulness in the future.
 
MacDarcy said:
I hear the low end retina imacs struggle pushing all those pixels during demanding tasks. Personally, I'm waiting for the 2nd or 3rd gen before I take the retina imac plunge. I saw the screen at the Apple Store tho, and it is stunning. I'm just gonna wait. I was also bummed that unlike the previous gen 27" imac, you cannot use the retina iMac as an external monitor, which decreases its future value in my opinion. I'd like to be able to extend its usefulness in the future.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't worry about that. It is probably a good enough computer that its resale value will be high enough as a computer that you won't want to just use it as a monitor. Buy it, use it for 3 to 4 years, sell it. You should be able to get at least $1,000 for it by then. Maybe even $1,500.
 
I think the only way to win with a retina iMac - and I badly want one - is to go high-spec. I imagine the only reason the i5 powered variants exist is to allow Apple to hit that 'magic' $2500 price target. The refurbs are pretty tempting until you realize the power required to pump to all those pixels. It just isn't there with an i5 and 290.
 
That didn't take long

Great chance at a good price, but I can't help but reflect on how quick refurbs hit the store. Makes me wonder about the return rate - quality issues, etc.? Maybe just too many pixels for the average joe? haha
 
gizmo84 said:
because the return rate is probably high. there is a a lot of variance between screens. Apple QC stinks these days....

Proof:
Click to expand...

You are taking a thread on MacRumors as _proof_? Seriously?

slayerizer said:
There is a good chance it was returned for a poor screen. But should be fine for most buyers.
Click to expand...

Could be one of those people who automatically spot non-existing faults if the display is made by the "wrong" company. Those that could be kept happy if Apple put a "Samsung display" sticker on the monitor.

extricated said:
Great chance at a good price, but I can't help but reflect on how quick refurbs hit the store. Makes me wonder about the return rate - quality issues, etc.? Maybe just too many pixels for the average joe? haha
Click to expand...

Apple has a fourteen days return policy. The Macs returned cannot be sold as new. So every single Retina iMac sold on the first day could have been returned 14 days later. Since Apple won't like to keep these iMacs in a warehouse for a long time, this means that the return rate must actually be quite low.
 
gnasher729 said:
Apple has a fourteen days return policy. The Macs returned cannot be sold as new. So every single Retina iMac sold on the first day could have been returned 14 days later. Since Apple won't like to keep these iMacs in a warehouse for a long time, this means that the return rate must actually be quite low.
Click to expand...

What you said contradicts itself. If refurbs have hit the store sooner than other devices typically do, it means more of them have been returned, not less.
 
Seriously, you'd get a better deal on a new model through B&H. I don't get it.
 
MacDarcy said:
I hear the low end retina imacs struggle pushing all those pixels during demanding tasks. Personally, I'm waiting for the 2nd or 3rd gen before I take the retina imac plunge. I saw the screen at the Apple Store tho, and it is stunning. I'm just gonna wait. I was also bummed that unlike the previous gen 27" imac, you cannot use the retina iMac as an external monitor, which decreases its future value in my opinion. I'd like to be able to extend its usefulness in the future.
Click to expand...

agreed. shame that nothing supports 5K right now, so we'll have to wait another year or so until the skyline chips + updated displayport/thunderbolt ports are updated to support 5K displays. will definitely wait until then.
 
Refurbished for a reason

While some of my clients have had tremendous success with refurbs more have had serious issues. Remember, it was refurbished usually for a SERIOUS problem to begin with and it really is a crap shoot in the end. Good luck if saving a few bucks up front is worth the potential headaches you might get with a refurb.
 
MacDarcy said:
I hear the low end retina imacs struggle pushing all those pixels during demanding tasks. Personally, I'm waiting for the 2nd or 3rd gen before I take the retina imac plunge. I saw the screen at the Apple Store tho, and it is stunning. I'm just gonna wait. I was also bummed that unlike the previous gen 27" imac, you cannot use the retina iMac as an external monitor, which decreases its future value in my opinion. I'd like to be able to extend its usefulness in the future.
Click to expand...

the way apple quality has been lately you are always better waiting for the 2nd or 3rd iteration of anything they do and even then...
 
zemoleman said:
While some of my clients have had tremendous success with refurbs more have had serious issues. Remember, it was refurbished usually for a SERIOUS problem to begin with and it really is a crap shoot in the end. Good luck if saving a few bucks up front is worth the potential headaches you might get with a refurb.
Click to expand...

Not entirely true. Some of these units may be units that failed cosmetic OQC, or be build to order units that were cancelled prior to shipment. Some may be units that were sent back from partners/shows/demonstrations/etc. The last two Macs I've bought (a 27" late 2013 iMac and a mid 2014 13" MacBook Pro) have both been as good as new out of the box, and come with the same level of consumer protection by law as a "new" unit. I've saved £300 across the two purchases. It amazes me that more people don't go this route. All the refurbished units will have been through a full quality check that they work as they should. It's a no-brainer as far as I'm concerned
 
gizmo84 said:
because the return rate is probably high. there is a a lot of variance between screens. Apple QC stinks these days....
Click to expand...

People have been commenting on Apple's QC "these days" since I got interested in the Macintosh SE.
 
MLMcMillion said:
If refurbs have hit the store sooner than other devices typically do, it means more of them have been returned, not less.
Click to expand...

In your research, what is the typical time it takes a current release iMac to show up in the refurbished store?
And where did you get that information?
 
My advice for anyone who doesn't want to shell out the relatively big bucks for a Retina iMac: Don't give one a test drive, it'll make your existing iMac seem inadequate by comparison (not that it will be, but it sets a very high bar in your mind).

That said, I'm holding out until the next Thunderbolt update. I'll want to be able to use a Retina iMac as a second monitor long after the computer inside has been lapped by future technology (CPU and graphics horsepower, storage/memory/bus speeds, etc.)

YMMV, but probably not.
 
Mess said:
A Bargain!!

And 5k display!? 4K isnt event the norm yet! :eek:
Click to expand...

Was just reading over the holiday 4K will be short lived, taken over by 8K. Most 4K pro cameras record in 8K to allow for cropping.

----------
gizmo84 said:
because the return rate is probably high. there is a a lot of variance between screens. Apple QC stinks these days....

Proof:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1831739/

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1814524/
Click to expand...

I think the term you're looking for is "Evidence" that "Apple QC stinks these days".... not proof. Maybe we'd have higher QC is everything was produced in the US by high paid, skilled labor?! /s
 
John.B said:
I'll want to be able to use a Retina iMac as a second monitor long after the computer inside has been lapped by future technology (CPU and graphics horsepower, storage/memory/bus speeds, etc.)
Click to expand...

Apple will have moved on to 8K no, I mean 9.3K (just to be different) calling it something like "super duper ultra magical retina" or similar. After all if "retina" was supposed to be the limit of what human eyes can resolve, going way beyond that is important for the superior-eyed Raptors that buy iMacs... or a higher resolution number just sounds better.

And waiting for thunderbolt 3 will just bump up against rumors of thunderbolt 4.

;)
 
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