So they're now going to have a 30 iMac, while the studio display is still at 27 and screw over all of us who bought the Studio Display & Mini or Studio combo?! Of course they're not going to release a 30 inch Studio display because then it would compete with this new iMac.
Apple already sells a >30 display
Pro Display XDR. A new 32-inch Retina 6K display with extreme brightness, contrast, color accuracy, and HDR that transforms the way you work.
www.apple.com
so that was an option for a mini or Mac Studio . How many XDR displays a Mac can run is a standard part of Apple’s tech specs. In the ‘can iMac > 30“ be a decent monitor alternative’ to the XDR, the XDR is somewhat due for a replacement ( < 600 dimming zones for a $6000 display is weak in 2023-24 ) , so Apple will likely still be selling a > 30” dispaly when/if this new iMac comes out. Doubtful Apple is going to walk away from selling $6000 displays .
They could simply take current XDR display panel and modify the old iMac Pro chassis to accept the larger panel . If in 1-2 years Apple comes out with a ‘XDR 2’ then they would have an older, more affordable panel to toss in that has proven track record . ( and still create spare parts for the 1st Gen XDRs )
[ someone also mention there is a mainstream LG IPS black panel that also should be cheap ( for Apple ) in 1-2 years if they were shooting to drive down costs further. ]
So Apple hasn’t screwed anyone. Nobody ‘has to’ buy a Mac Studio Display. There other more than decent 3rd party options out there .
Additionally, I think there is a running assumption here that Apple is going to price an “over 30 inch “ display back at old 27” iMac like prices ( where large chunk of line up ends up in the $1,700-3,000 range ). [ 21.5 —> 24” mild increase so 27 —> 30 would also be mild increase . problem there os rumors is > 30” ; not that it is 30” ]. This new > 30” option is likely priced no where near what a mini+ studio display is priced at. pretty good chance this is a > $4k priced system more so priced so that it is cheaper than a mini + ‘XDR 2’ but doesn’t cut into much of the sales market for that more expensive screen.
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there have been some rumors of another 27” dispaly from Apple that would sit between Studio Display and XDR.
Wish Apple would release their desktop Macs at the same time so buyers know all the options. Buying a Mac these days is about making a compromise and then regretting your decision a couple months later when Apple releases a new Mac that you would have purchased if you knew was coming out.
the $6,000 Mac Pro (MP) and $1,000 Mini are in no way shape or form a direct interchangeable substitute options for the overwhelming vast number of buyers .
I think you have been conditioned by the warped approach Apple made from about 2005-2020 to herd most desktop users into the iMacs ( with semi crippled Mini’s and rising MP pricing ) . The doeskyop should span about 5 different SoCs ( plain Mn , Mn Pro , Mn Max , Mn Ultra , Mn Biiger-than-Ultra ) . Absolutely zero good reason to release all those SoCs at exactly the same time.
Apple used to force the iMac to be “king of the desktops . Now Apple has opened the door to more fratricide on the desktop and more placement for 3rd party displays .
I waited years for a new iMac to replace my 5K and then finally gave in and bought a Studio Display/Mini Pro option when it seemed like a new iMac was never coming out.
First, Apple came out with a 2020 Intel iMac 27” after they announced the transi start. That should have been a huge clue that the 27” replacement was
NOT coming soon . Minimalky a year after that if not more due to the pandemic . ( that system probably should have before WWDC 2020 , but it did not . So slide on timeline already very evident )
When in 2021 the smaller screen model turned into ‘iPad on a stick’ that also should have been a clue the 27” model was in trouble. If Apple opens the door to huge reconceptualizationof the iMac and that opens the door to maybe not doing it. ( if the Mini gets the same SoC .. how many are going to buy an iMac ? Yes some folks like All-in-one but lots of folks do not . Apple used to make lots of folks buy an iMac when they didn’t want to . So an open question of how many folks would be left )
When Apple came out on stage in 2022 and said transition was done for iMac , should have ended hemming and hawing able maybe more iMac coming ‘real soon now ‘ . It wasn’t . Apple basically said so .
Apple has some problems with the trend lines on ‘right to repair‘ and super sealed iMac . Also screen panel tech in major flux ( sold 27” scrreb for about 8+ years with basically now change )
