iMac 27" 5K Review 2025: Is the Refurbished Model Worth the Money?
The iMac 27 continues to impress with its Retina 5K display, which delivers an incredible resolution of 5120 x 2880 pixels and support for a billion colors. Despite originally launching in 2017, this desktop computer still attracts attention with its sharp image quality and wide color gamut.
But the question remains - is a refurbished iMac 27 5K still worth the investment in 2025?
Below we review an iMac 27” 5K 2017 model to see how it stands up in today's digital landscape. This Apple computer can be configured with up to a 4.2 GHz Intel Core i7 processor and a whopping 64 GB of RAM, making it a potentially powerful workstation even today. The impressive Apple screen, which is 27 inches with 500 cd/m² brightness, also provides a visual experience that many newer models still struggle to match. During our test period, we investigated whether this older but environmentally friendly computer (made with 60% recycled plastic) could be a wise choice for those looking for quality at a more reasonable price.
What is the iMac 27” 5K (2017) and why is it still relevant?
When Apple launched the iMac 27" 5K in 2017, it marked an important milestone in the company's history of all-in-one computers. This model represented a perfect balance between performance and visual quality that, surprisingly, still has relevance eight years later. Let's examine what makes this model interesting even in 2025.
Retina 5K Display: Visual Experience 2025
The iconic Retina 5K display remains at the heart of the iMac 27's appeal. With exceptional pixel density and panel quality that has aged surprisingly well, it delivers a visual experience that many modern displays struggle to match. In fact, the Apple 27-inch display offers a color gamut that covers the full DCI-P3 spectrum, making it ideal for graphics-intensive work even today.
The color reproduction is also professional-grade, with the option of 10-bit color depth supporting over a billion colors. This gives photographers and video editors a display that, despite its age, still delivers a professional level of color accuracy. The 500 nits brightness also means the display remains usable even in brighter environments.
Processor and graphics performance in today's context
While the 2017 iMac certainly can't match the raw computing power of the latest models, it surprises with its ability to handle many modern workflows. Configurations offering 4.2GHz Intel Core i7 processors still handle everyday tasks without a hitch, and models with updated RAM in particular perform well when multitasking.
Graphics-wise, there are variants with Radeon Pro 570, 575 and 580 graphics cards that, while not optimal for modern 3D rendering or demanding gaming, still handle 4K video editing and photo editing with the Adobe suite satisfactorily. In fact, with enough memory, the iMac 27 5k can still serve as a reliable workstation for creative professionals with moderate needs.
Who is the reconditioned model suitable for?
A refurbished iMac 27 is particularly suitable for several user groups. First of all, it is an excellent fit for students and creative people on a limited budget who need a quality display for graphic work. In addition, it is ideal for the home office where you mainly work with document management, web browsing and video meetings.
Small business owners who need reliable workstations without investing in the latest models will also find value in these refurbished units. Additionally, the iMac 27 2017 is an attractive choice for environmentally conscious consumers who value sustainability - extending the life of existing hardware reduces digital waste.
In conclusion, the Apple iMac 27 from 2017 is still relevant thanks to the exceptional screen quality, sufficient performance for many uses, and an attractive price-to-value ratio when purchased refurbished.
Performance and user experience in everyday life
In everyday use, the iMac 27 2017 still shows remarkable capabilities, despite being an older model. We've tested how this computer performs in various scenarios that modern users face on a daily basis.
Multitasking and office work
When it comes to common tasks like web browsing, email, and streaming, the iMac 27 performs without a hitch. Our review model with a Core i5 processor handles these tasks quickly and efficiently. However, we found that the base model with 8GB of RAM quickly becomes a bottleneck, especially with many Chrome tabs open at once. For everyday use, we highly recommend upgrading to at least 16GB of RAM, which can be easily done via the back cover and saves you a significant amount of money compared to Apple's prices.
Image and video editing
The iMac 27 5K continues to surprise with its ability to handle creative work. For photo editing with Photoshop, it works well with medium-sized files (around 30MB). When editing video in 4K, our test model with Radeon Pro 580 8GB was able to render in the Final Cut X test in just 15.5 seconds, which is 75% faster than the previous model.
For professional users, it's worth noting that performance varies greatly depending on the task. In some cases, the 2017 iMac 5K performs almost as well as professional Mac Pro models, while in others it falls far behind.
Sound level and heat generation
During intensive use, the fan noise becomes noticeable. Measurements show sound levels of 67.4-72.9 dB near the fan on the back. Interestingly, the 2017 model has a fan that spins slower (2700 RPM) than previous models, with a noise that is actually less annoying.
Under prolonged load, the processor quickly reaches 99°C and needs to throttle from 4.4GHz to 4.2GHz to prevent overheating. This mainly affects CPU-intensive tasks such as video encoding.
macOS support and updates
A major limitation of the 2017 iMac 27 is its software support. It supports macOS Ventura (13) as its latest version, but is not compatible with newer versions such as:
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macOS Sonoma (14)
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macOS Sequoia (15)
However, Ventura will continue to receive security updates for a while, making the computer usable well into the future. For users who need to run older 32-bit applications, Mojave is the last compatible version, as support for these was removed in later versions.
Value for money: Is a refurbished iMac 27” 5K a smart buy?
The price difference between new and older iMac models creates an interesting value proposition for tech buyers. But the question remains – is a refurbished iMac 27 5K really worth the money in 2025?
Comparison with new iMac models
When we compare the 2017 iMac 27 to newer models, there is a clear difference in both price and performance. While new iMac M3 models start at $1,999 for the 24-inch version, you can find refurbished 2017 iMac 27 5K models for $8,000-$1,200 depending on specifications. Performance-wise, the M3 chip offers about 2.5 times the multicore performance of the 2017 model's Intel i7 processor.
However, newer 24-inch models actually have worse screens than the 27-inch model – despite the technology being newer. The older iMac 27 still offers higher resolution, larger screen area and better color reproduction compared to smaller models, making it competitive for visual work.
Benefits of reconditioned
Refurbished Apple products undergo extensive testing and receive new parts as needed before being sold with a standard one-year warranty. In addition, Apple Care can be extended in some cases.
The price savings are of course the main benefit – you can save up to 70% compared to when the computer was new. The environmental aspect is also significant as each reused computer reduces electronic waste and carbon footprint.
Available configurations and price levels
The price range for refurbished iMac 27 5K from 2017 varies based on processor, memory, and storage:
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Base model (3.4 GHz i5, 8GB RAM, 1TB HDD): SEK 7,900-9,500
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Mid-range model (3.8 GHz i5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD): SEK 10,000-12,500
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Top model (4.2 GHz i7, 32GB+ RAM, 1TB SSD): SEK 13,000-16,000
For the best value, the mid-range model with SSD is recommended, as HDD models feel noticeably slower in everyday use, while the most expensive configuration primarily benefits professional users.
Note that unofficially refurbished units from third-party retailers are often 15-25% cheaper but come with limited or no warranty, increasing the risk of long-term ownership.
Limitations and what to consider before buying
Despite the many advantages of the iMac 27 model, there are important limitations to consider before investing in a refurbished 2017 model.
Limited future protection
The biggest challenge with the 2017 iMac is its limited software support. macOS Ventura (13) is the last officially supported version, meaning this model won't get newer operating systems like Sonoma or Sequoia. When Ventura falls out of Apple's "last three versions" support cycle, security updates will cease, potentially increasing vulnerabilities. Additionally, newer versions of applications from Adobe and Microsoft may stop working when they are updated to require newer macOS versions.
Graphics performance for gaming and 3D
While Radeon Pro 500 series graphics cards were impressive in 2017, they show clear limitations in 2025. Gaming performance tests show that the iMac 27 5K can handle pre-2018 games at high settings, but newer titles require medium/low settings. At HD resolution, the model achieves playable speeds (over 30 fps) in demanding gaming tests, but the massive 5K resolution is "a bridge too far" for the hardware.
For VR content, Apple originally recommended the highest configuration with the Radeon Pro 580, but even this configuration is insufficient for modern VR use. During intensive graphics tasks, the processor quickly reaches 99°C and has to reduce speed from 4.4GHz to 4.2GHz to prevent overheating.
Memory and storage upgrades
A significant advantage of the iMac 27 2017 is its upgradeability. Unlike smaller models, the 27-inch version offers easy user access to the RAM. With four available memory slots, you can upgrade to a maximum of 64GB of RAM, which dramatically improves performance for heavy workloads like Lightroom with large image libraries.
For storage upgrades, there are several options. Internal SSD upgrades are possible but technically challenging. A more practical option is external Thunderbolt 3 drives, which provide modern SSD speeds without interfering with the computer. Switching from Fusion Drive to SSD provides noticeably better performance, especially for everyday tasks.
While smaller iMac models have integrated memory that can't be upgraded, the 27-inch model's flexibility makes it a more sustainable choice for long-term ownership—an important factor to consider when buying an older computer.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the 2017 iMac 27" 5K still stands strong in several areas despite its age. The display quality remains exceptional and actually surpasses many newer models in terms of resolution and color space. I was particularly impressed with how well it handles creative work when equipped with sufficient memory.
The price difference compared to new models also makes it an attractive option. For about half the price of a new computer, you get a machine that, while it doesn't match the M3 chip in pure performance, still delivers an excellent user experience for many workflows.
The limitations are clear, however. The lack of support for newer operating systems than Ventura will inevitably limit the computer's usability over time. Likewise, the graphics card will not handle modern games or heavy 3D rendering satisfactorily.
For whom is the refurbished iMac 27" 5K worth the money? Students, home offices and small business owners with moderate performance requirements undoubtedly get a lot of computer for the money. The large screen and the ability to easily upgrade the RAM make it a viable choice. Professional users with a need for the latest software or high graphics performance, however, should consider newer options.
Ultimately, the decision comes down to priorities - if screen quality, upgradeability, and price outweigh software support and absolute top performance, then a refurbished iMac 27" 5K is still a wise buy even in 2025.