Apple Discontinues 512GB and 1TB SSD Configurations of 4K 21.5-inch iMac

[businessnumbersmoneypeopl]

No way I would buy a Fusion drive.

I will only buy one if they include a floppy disk drive too.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I will only buy one if they include a floppy disk drive too.

If you are going to mock me, at least have the decency to make a logical retort.

 

[businessnumbersmoneypeopl]

If you are going to mock me, at least have the decency to make a logical retort.

No intention to mock you! I was just seconding your point with a twist, but I guess it was a bit cryptical. I found it amusing that they're still selling machines with fusion drives.

 

[Apple_Robert]

No intention to mock you! I was just seconding your point with a twist, but I guess it was a bit cryptical. I found it amusing that they're still selling machines with fusion drives.

Thank you for the clarification.

 

[Marshall73]

Likely running down stock.

 

[Jetfire]

There’re not out of stock though. They’re discontinued, meaning Apple no longer intends to sell them.

It could be both. Chip shortage may not be resolved in time for new iMacs. So Apple just decided to kill it now.

 

[pdoherty]

With so many people locked down in home offices, now might be a good time to launch...

And now is also good because tax season is under way and stimulus checks are going out.

 

[wigby]

Exactly. Apple is optimizing its chips right now to prevent iPhone delays. We know this is getting updated this year, but Apple is choosing not to keep the old models in stock until the new one comes out. It’s unprecedented.

It's not unprecedented because they've killed off many products before with no replacement product immediately ready to go. If you had a new iMac ready to go in less than a month and were forced to choose between re-ordering a million components for a rebuild of an old product or just waiting a few weeks until you announce availability of a new product, you would do what Apple is doing too. Sometimes supply chain timing, pricing and quantities don't line up perfectly for Apple.

 

[Gasu E.]

I wonder if a M1 iMac will just be a quiet release?

I would think the M1 would be a good opportunity to introduce a new form factor; and if so, a quiet release would be out.

 

[TVreporter]

What could I fetch by selling a 2019 i5 27-inch iMac with 512GB SSD?

Time to save up for a new M1!

 

[padams35]

Yep. And it won’t be a high end. Which is why they are discontinuing both the iMac Pro and iMac 21.5.
I see an April launch of both Gen 11 Intel iMac 27” with only high-end chips for pro users who need eGPU, memory expansion, Intel chips, etc. and an M1 iMac 24” with same core specs as mini but higher clock speeds, with same ports and limitations. For a consumer level machine, it “just works.”

This, except without an accompanying new Gen 11 Intel iMac 5K. Apple didn't update the 16" MBP when the M1 launched, and I doubt the 5K will get updated either when the M1X appears.

 

[collin_]

I don't see any options besides 256 GB flash or 1 TB Fusion Drive (mostly just 256 GB flash) available on any iMacs except the mid-tier and high-tier 27 inch models.

 

[Bug-Creator]

This, except without an accompanying new Gen 11 Intel iMac 5K. Apple didn't update the 16" MBP when the M1 launched, and I doubt the 5K will get updated either when the M1X appears.

The only way will see any new Intel-Mac is if the AS replacement for that model was still waaaaaaay out, but given that there isn't really that much of their 2 year timeframe left I don't see that happening.

Not even a dropin specbumb.

 

[UK-MacAddict]

iMac is usually my Mac of choice, currently using a 2017 4.2GHz i7 model. But think I will wait a bit longer to see if that half size Mac Pro and Apple Display is real.

 

[Juicy Box]

I would think the M1 would be a good opportunity to introduce a new form factor;

Maybe.

I can see it going a few ways.

1. Keep the current form factor, just with a M1, and a quiet release.

2. Keep the current form factor, but with a M1X, and either quiet release or possibly an event.

3. A redesign, with the M1, and an event.

4. A redesign, with the M1X or M2, and an event.

I have a feeling it will end up being 1 or 4.

and if so, a quiet release would be out.

If it is a new form factor, I agree, I doubt it will be a quiet release.

 

[jonnysods]

Chip shortage. Can’t see it getting better anytime soon either.

Could be - but they have those options for other models still. So hopefully this means they are getting closer to new models!

 

[Basic75]

That is one way to move people towards an upcoming M series iMac.

Or a PC...

 

[hagar]

There’s a serious bug in Big Sur causing performance issues with Fusion Drives. My iMac is almost unusable because of it. I assume the bug does not play in these newer models.
While Apple Support has acknowledged the bug, they still haven’t fixed it, 6 months into Big Sur. Very disappointing.

 

[xraydoc]

Could be - but they have those options for other models still. So hopefully this means they are getting closer to new models!

Either that, or absolutely no one who buys a 21" iMac ever also orders an SSD upgrade.

 

[firewood]

Perhaps Apple wants to make sure the return period for almost all purchased iMacs has ended before the price and performance of any similar form-factor new products are announced.

 

[rp2011]

If it is M1 based, then a quiet release would make sense also. There is really nothig they can add to the story of an M1 based Mac.

My guess is a quiet release if it is M1 based, and with a more extravagant event for when all the new Macs get the more powerful chips later this year.

 

[SuperMatt]

Either that, or absolutely no one who buys a 21" iMac ever also orders an SSD upgrade.

I think there’s a bit of truth to this. There are some people who buy this model because they don’t want the big 27” screen on their desk, but I think most that buy it are trying to save a bit of money. If they are going to spend enough for the big SSD, they will likely get the 27” instead.

 

[Icelus]

M1 iMac? Nonsense. It will be an M-series like M1X or M2.

It has the same CPU as the Intel Mac mini 2018 and the Mac mini has a M1?

 

[SuperMatt]

If it is M1 based, then a quiet release would make sense also. There is really nothig they can add to the story of an M1 based Mac.

My guess is a quiet release if it is M1 based, and with a more extravagant event for when all the new Macs get the more powerful chips later this year.

I think they will have an event for the iMac as they did for the 13” laptops and the mini. The iMac is the machine that “saved” Apple back in the late 90s. Moving it to Apple silicon will not be a stealth launch. It will be quite public.

 

[xraydoc]

It has the same CPU as the Intel Mac mini 2018 and the Mac mini has a M1?

I could see a small iMac (21" or equivalent) being an M1 and the larger one (27" or equivalent) being an M1X or M2 or whatever.