Apple Developing iMac Pro With M5 Max Chip

[avro707]

iMac Pro with a 32" 6K screen might be even more attractive.

But even 5K 27" is good, I have two of those (1x Apple Studio display, the other LG Ultrafine 5K). I cannot complain about either of those screens. I don't need to upgrade for a while, I have Mac Pro 2019 (a pair of them) that are running beautifully.

I've looked at the 6K Apple screen a few times and just cannot justify the expense over the Apple Studio display which is excellent. The build quality is far superior to the LG 5K as well. I've looked at non Apple 6K screens and just have my doubts on them. Either don't have Apple finish and quality, or do have the nice looks but doubtful post-sales support, etc.

I'd buy an M5 iMac Pro in a hurry!

That depends on how quickly they decide to make it obsolete with newer OS versions. Theoretically they could keep most of the M type Macs supported, but that's not good for Apple's finances - they have to have a pretty quick turn over to make people buy new devices for lots of $$$.

But WHY? Surely a Mac Studio with a nice display is more "pro" than an iMac?

It is more, but not more Pro. Just more $$$ in Apple's proverbial wallet.

 

[bigglow]

My 2012 iMac 27" lasted 13 years. THIRTEEN YEARS. I say lasted because I finally gave up using it after 5 years of lack of macOS upgrades. But the thing still works, the screen still works! Best computer I ever had (have). I'd buy an M5 iMac Pro in a hurry!

I have the same iMac and replaced it last month with a 2025 ASUS 32" 6K display + 2019 MBP 16" Core i7.

Going back to the iMac Pro/iMac 32" 6K my observation is that, as a desktop, the iMac is cheaper to buy than purchasing the components separately.

The last base model large iMac was the 2020 iMac 27" 5K, with a Core i5, 8GB RAM, and 256GB SSD, priced at $1.8k. This price point has been consistent for earlier base model large iMacs.

Meanwhile, the 2022 Apple Studio Display 27" 5K is $1.6k.

For the $200 difference, you effectively get:

• $600: Base Mac mini equivalent
• $150: Magic Keyboard with Touch ID (no numeric pad)
• $80: Magic Mouse
• $830: Total value of included extras before accounting for the $200 price difference
• $630: Net value of extras when choosing an all-in-one iMac

To put this into context, the first base model iMac G3 (1998) sold for $1.3k, which is the same as the small 2024 iMac 24" 4.5K base model.

For every generation, Apple and other OEMs targets SKU price points that are largely fixed. Unless a product meets its design target, Bill of Materials target, and MSRP target, it is not released.

Returning to the $1.8k large iMac base model: if a 32" 6K iMac were to be released, it would need to hit a similar price point. Since 2019 the limiting factor has been the price of 32" 6K display components. The Pro Display XDR that starts at $5k turned 6 years last week.

This quarter, ASUS has reached that price point with their 32" 6K display, pre-tariff MSRP of $1.2k. I bought it last month based on that logic.

I interpret that price point as an indicator that a large iMac is likely to be released next year.

Preferring an iMac versus a Mac mini/Mac Studio + Display only works if your use case remains largely unchanged until the Mac’s end of life (EoL), typically year 9 or 10.

Expected replacement cycles are:

• Macs: ~4 years
• Intel PCs: 5–6 years

End of Life:

• Windows: 122 months (excluding Windows XP)
• Macs: ~9 years, depending on the model

I typically follow the Windows & Mac End of Life schedule when replacing my organization's and personal devices.

This works for us because we aren't in the tech industry and our use case hardly changes. So replacing every decade is more of a wear & tear concern.

 

[257Loner]

I want Apple to develop Mac OS X Pro, Professional Operating System for those who don't want Mac OS X to be awful anymore. Take me back to Aqua, please...v_v

I've been using the new System Settings, and it's all horrible and indecipherable.

 

[bigglow]

I want Apple to develop Mac OS X Pro, Professional Operating System for those who don't want Mac OS X to be awful anymore. Take me back to Aqua, please...v_v

I've been using the new System Settings, and it's all horrible and indecipherable.

It's taking cues from iPadOS & iOS

 

[azpc]

Yea!!

Up to this point Apple silicon has not been kind to those of us who like large screen iMacs.

I see at least five iMacs for every Mac mini or Mac Studio. The loyalty to the design aspect of the iMac also seems to be much higher than for Apple’s other desktop computers. I see a lot of iMacs on business executives desks. They hate a cable mess that ruins first impressions when someone enters their office.

These people are not techies. They want a large screen computer in a compact, clean, elegant design with as few cables as possible. MacOS did not bring them to the Mac. Their iPhones did not bring them to the Mac. It was the clean design of the iMac that brought them to the Mac.

Many have expressed a desire to upgrade but back away when they see the current designs. In fact, many express shock that Apple could walk away from such a good design. A 30 inch iMac with similar power to a 16 inch Macbook Pro with a M max series chip would be perfect.

For pro customers or hobbyists being able to connect to multiple (probably non Apple displays) is an advantage. But for those who just want a powerful, elegant computer with a large screen Apple has nothing to offer.

I know several people and family members who would buy a larger iMac if it was available. Twenty four inches is just too small for a machine that is used for more than a couple hours a day. I am still using my Intel based 2019 27 iMac while holding out hope for a new large screen iMac. - Hope dies hard, what else can I say.

 

[mjs916]

Between this and the Mac Studio, the prospects for another Mac Pro keep dimming.

I feel like Apple Silicon SOCs hamstrung the Mac Pro more than anything.

 

[IlluminatedSage]

Finally! This is great news

 

[frozen220]

Ok cool whatever but can you please bring back target display mode for all iMacs??

Apple is developing a high-end iMac featuring the M5 Max chip, according to information from leaked internal software.

The finding comes from leaked kernel debug kit files used by Apple engineers. These kernel debug kit files enumerate unreleased Apple hardware by internal identifiers, such as codenames and platform names, and they can also include separate references that map platform identifiers to chip codenames and marketing names. Secondary summaries and screenshots referencing the same internal code have also circulated in the Chinese tech community over the past week, including posts on Weibo and BiliBili.

The software contains references to an iMac with the identifier J833c running platform H17C. H17C is associated with the codename "Sotra C," which relates to the expected marketing name "M5 Max." This suggests that an iMac with the M5 Max chip is in active testing.

The software refers to a number of devices believed to be used exclusively for internal testing, such as iPad minis running tvOS and MacBooks with the A15 chip, so there is a chance that the M5 Max iMac is used for testing only. However, since the M5 Max chip is expected to be introduced next year and there have been rumors about Apple reintroducing a high-end "Pro" iMac for several years, it may well be destined for launch. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman believed that Apple was still "working on a larger-screened iMac aimed at the professional market" following the launch of the Apple silicon iMac, a rumor supported by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Beyond the iMac entry, the kernel debug kit lays out several additional future Mac configurations. It lists 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro variants with the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, a 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M6 chip, and 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with the M6 Pro and M6 Max chips. There are new 13- and 15-inch MacBook Air models with the M5 chip, Mac mini models with the M5 and M5 Pro chips, and new Mac Studio models with the M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips. The leak also lists a MacBook with the A18 Pro chip, which is widely believed to be an all-new, low-cost model.

Article Link: Apple Developing iMac Pro With M5 Max Chip

 

[whitby]

Is this an admission that the current Apple Studio/ Apple Studio Display model is not working? By the time this comes out we will all have moved on and own a Mac Mini or Mac Studio with either an Apple Studio Display or some other more realistically priced display from Samsung, Asus or BenQ. Too late, Apple, you missed your opportunity. What has happened to Apple? They used to lead and now they only follow.....

 

[leifp]

32” 6K, Max chip, sold.

I keep vacillating between a MBPro and a Mac Studio and am ready to pull the trigger during the M5 generation. This could be ideal for me…

 

[sleeptodream]

Prior to Apple Silicon, an iMac was pretty much the only viable Mac desktop for getting work done (Mac Mini lacked a discrete GPU, while the Mac Pro was way too expensive). It also boasted an excellent display (way better than what you could reasonably find on the market), and I liked that it was a complete experience out of the box (ie: came with speakers, webcam, keyboard + trackpad, no need for cable management).

My 5k iMac saw me through the entire pandemic period (2020 to 2022). Today, it no longer receives software updates, but chrome still runs fine on it, and my dad continues to use it happily as a browsing / YouTube machine. I still haven't gotten around to replacing it, because the screen still works fine.

Now that you have the Mac mini and Mac Studio with very capable processors, I feel Apple really just needs to update the studio display and keep the cost affordable. The whole point of Apple Silicon is that you get great performance and low power consumption and don't need a lot of room for cooling, and the Mac mini tucks underneath the monitor just fine, and that's really 90% of what people are asking for in an iMac.

They need to bring the cost down on the Studio Display, but even then I miss the simplicity of having an iMac, honestly

The Mini and Studio Display setup just isn’t quite as magical :/

 

[Dirk Pieters]

I will never buy an iMac unless the screen can be re-used as an external display when the computer inside dies or becomes obsolete.

It’s a disgrace to put a beautiful functioning screen like that in a landfill.

“Mother Nature” (I still cringe when I think about that movie) would not approve.

 

[Dirk Pieters]

They need to bring the cost down on the Studio Display, but even then I miss the simplicity of having an iMac, honestly

The Mini and Studio Display setup just isn’t quite as magical :/

There’s a few people on Etsy that print Mac Mini holders which clip around the base foot of the Studio Display. You can tuck away that Mini behind the screen, hide the cabling etc.

It’s a combo that can be made to look simple and minimalistic.

 

[Dirk Pieters]

Is this an admission that the current Apple Studio/ Apple Studio Display model is not working? By the time this comes out we will all have moved on and own a Mac Mini or Mac Studio with either an Apple Studio Display or some other more realistically priced display from Samsung, Asus or BenQ. Too late, Apple, you missed your opportunity. What has happened to Apple? They used to lead and now they only follow.....

I don’t think Apple can fit the top-spec M chips of the Mac Studio in an iMac and keep it as thin as the current iMacs are. The Mac Studio is cooled by a fan, which won’t fit in an iMac.

If an iMac Pro happens, it will be a completely different beast compared to the current iMac.

 

[Runaway Train]

I will never buy an iMac unless the screen can be re-used as an external display when the computer inside dies or becomes obsolete.

It’s a disgrace to put a beautiful functioning screen like that in a landfill.

“Mother Nature” (I still cringe when I think about that movie) would not approve.

Bingo. This.

I will never, ever again buy an all in one. I have a (now) old 2020 Intel that is a dinosaur but I cannot use the display as an external stand alone monitor. So this beautiful 5K screen is sitting there chained to a 50lb rock that is withering on the vine. The iMac is a locked, dead end platform with zero opportunity to leverage long term. I still have an old Thunderbolt Display that I bought in 2011 - that’s 14 years ago. Still works!. Meanwhile, probably 3 or 4 Macs that I paired that with have ended up in the dumpster since then.

For entry level or units for my kids, sure still valid. I’ve moved on to component-based Apple Silicon and couldn’t be happier. Will never look back.

 

[baconcat_8964]

Never understood why someone would buy an all-in-one. Why would you toss the entire thing if the display died. I don't imagine they're cheap to replace.

I think AIO desktops only makes sense in two case, for a company reception, and for an entire family when sharing one single desktop computer.

 

[TwoBytes]

An iMac Pro with a larger screen is going to be priced extortionatly

 

[MacFarmer]

Good news. I would like new all-in-one. But probably I will pass, because now the screens are already expensive, add mac mini pro top of that, and I guess 500-1000 Apple premium, then this iMac Pro will not look so compelling. I would like apple to make 27 iMac with pro chip inside. That would be my go-to.

 

[sleeptodream]

There’s a few people on Etsy that print Mac Mini holders which clip around the base foot of the Studio Display. You can tuck away that Mini behind the screen, hide the cabling etc.

It’s a combo that can be made to look simple and minimalistic.

Only from the front, unfortunately. It sounds nice in theory, but in reality it doesn’t look much better than the Mini just sitting on your desk. It’s tough when you’re starting off with 3 cables instead of 1, before adding any peripherals

 

[bigglow]

Only from the front, unfortunately. It sounds nice in theory, but in reality it doesn’t look much better than the Mini just sitting on your desk. It’s tough when you’re starting off with 3 cables instead of 1, before adding any peripherals

It does address the power button.

 

[TechRunner]

A 32" iMac Pro would be a wonder. So will the $5K starting price. Still, would love to see Apple do something like this for those who could make good use of it.

 

[theluggage]

They’re both sealed boxes

You can download a service manual from Apple that shows you how to dismantle the Studio, clean the fan, replace the SSD (albeit, officially, only like-for-like) replace the daughter boards holding most of the connectors, etc. Fiddly, but it’s a screwdriver and spudger job. You can’t do anything to an iMac without cutting through the adhesive holding the screen on & buying a set of replacement adhesive strips. (the handy hatch that let you upgrade the RAM isn’t coming back).

 

[sleeptodream]

It does address the power button.

It may be harder to reach around the screen and find the power button than lifting the corner of the mini? But idk really, I have an M2 mini myself

 

[theluggage]

...27" imac was great, probably in sales right behind the mac mini and ahead of the 21" imac

Trouble is, for much of the 27” iMac’s life - certainly 2014-2021- there was no viable mid/high end desktop Mac to compete with the iMac/iMac Pro. We don’t know how many people went iMac because it was the only choice.

2013 Trashcan - ‘nuff said. Abandonware long before any successor appeared.
2014 Mac Mini - worst Mini ever, dropped most of the higher end options and didn’t see an update until 2018.
2018 Mini - knobbled by weak Intel integrated GPU.
2019 Mac Pro - unaffordable for most & the base model was no more powerful than a much cheaper iMac.

So we really don’t know how a new “large” iMac would sell alongside Apple’s now much stronger range of Minis and Studios (& soon-to-be-updated displays)…

Also, the Intel iMacs had significant performance advantages over the MacBook Pro. Apple Silicon iMacs would run exactly the same chips - and wouldn’t even have much thermal advantage unless Apple got over their obsession with thinness. So a lot more potential iMac owners will now be happy with laptops.

On top of that, the 24” iMac has a better screen and a relatively more powerful processor than the old 21” - which will eat into potential low-end 27” sales.

If some people want a new “big” iMac then I don’t begrudge them that - the concern is that Apple will do that instead of keeping the Mini/Studio line fresh - which is what has happened in the past.

 

[svish]

Wow! For me a larger screen is enough. Hopefully Apple is not planning a 24" iMac Pro. That will be a huge disappointment. Don't need the power of the Pro/Max chip. Think there should be a Mx Pro chip version also. Expecting a minimum of $1999 with a non Pro chip. With a Pro or a Max chip it will start at $2499 easily. Highly unlikely that this Pro iMac will come in colors. Think there should be a 24" M5 iMac too if there is going to be a Pro version.