Neat, presumably the current model would at least get a CPU refresh when this happens? I really want an iMac but I figure it's been long enough that I may as well wait it out at this point.
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Apple Rumored to Launch 27-Inch Mini-LED iMac With ProMotion in Early 2022 [Updated]
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They did slim down the smaller iMac and take away discrete graphics cards - wonder what they’ll do with the 27, screen size, bezels - FaceId would be high-end. They’ve also set up eGPU support, and power users with desktops have an easier time rigging those up..
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
The ultrawide screen has completely enamored me... so much so I've been thinking Mac Mini + Ultrawide instead of new iMac. In my work, I can defiantly see the benefit of the wider-than-iMac real estate. Had Mac Mini M1 Max launched with those MBs, I'd probably be halfway to making that happen. The trick of course is WHICH ultra-wide? It would be nice if an iMac M1 Pro/Max M2 Pro/Max rolled with an ultra-wide option.
This hypothetical Mac Pro Jr might be another way to get to that destination. That Mac seems ideal- in the realm of the long-term X-mac rumor- and separates monitor from system.
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HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
If Apple brands one, I bet it will look much better... much like phablets were (up to) "abominations" before Apple went there. And I'm still looking for all these people in pants with bigger pockets.
At this point, I really hope by the summer they launch the new iMac's, new MacBook Airs, and new mini's and hopefully an external display. That way I can budget out exactly what I want. I think I could end up with a new beefed up mini with an external display and the low end 14 inch pro, but it feels great that I was able to stay out of the lemon period of apple tech products. (I have a work 27 5K from 2015, and a 2015 MacBook Pro 13 inch). Honestly, with how these machines are still running pretty well, I may end up keeping one for another year. The only issue with my iMac is that it has a fusion drive, which makes me nervous (yes I clone it to be on the safe side, but still).
The reality is, especially with never ending apple care, these machines can all in theory run for 5-7 years no problem. Probably closer to 10 if you can get a build and keep it running smoothly. I really, really like that. As long as every so often apple is happy to replace the battery on the laptops and the keyboard if it needs it (and for 10 years of daily use that would need to happen) and as long as they software keeps going that's great for everyone. Then spending $3 grand or even $6 grand over ten years isn't so bad.
The reality is, especially with never ending apple care, these machines can all in theory run for 5-7 years no problem. Probably closer to 10 if you can get a build and keep it running smoothly. I really, really like that. As long as every so often apple is happy to replace the battery on the laptops and the keyboard if it needs it (and for 10 years of daily use that would need to happen) and as long as they software keeps going that's great for everyone. Then spending $3 grand or even $6 grand over ten years isn't so bad.
I doubt many people will be upsold from an iMac to a $6,000 display that still needs a computer.
How about: Current 24-inch with multi colors for fresh and funky homes. 27-inch with silver color for prosumers. And then 32-inch Pro version in space grey. That would make sense to me.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
I don't think this will happen.
The MacBook Pro M1 Pro and Max in Europe has barely gone up in price (120€ for the 14" and 50€ for the 16").
The MacBook Air will also have mini-LED and will be cheaper than these.
I think that if now starts from 1999€ in Europe, it is perfectly possible that this supposed iMac 27", with the M1 Pro 10 cores and GPU 16 cores and 16GB of unified memory would cost about 2469€.
I still think this 27" mini-LED 120hz model will be the high-end version of the "standard" iMac.
Is it possible that a 32" iMac Pro with the processor of a MacPro and costing around 4000-5000€ will be released later on? I wouldn't rule it out, but I don't think this model will directly replace the iMac Pro, just as the MacBook Pro couldn't even match some of the iMac Pro's power at the time.
My 27-in iMac is 2012 and if the best Apple can do nine years down the line is to refresh it with an Mx-based 27-in then I won't be buying. 32-in is the minimum I would accept and I would prefer wider screen. If I can't have that then I'll buy a Mac Mini and hook up my own (non-Apple) monitors.
This is why Apple won't make a consumer level standalone screen. To give it a matching notch would be even too weird for them.
Ah, if you do that you will have even larger side boxing than you would with a 16:10 display. If 4:3 format is your primary use case, an ultra-wide is probably not a good choice.
27”? Ouch. If true, hard pass. I even ordered the M1 Max 16”. I’m sure it’ll be colorful and have the Max, but who cares?! At 32”, yes.
This is the first year I haven’t upgraded phones, and I have the annual upgrade. It’s literally not worth my effort moving it all.
Apple really needs to innovate. I’m still upset about the notch, I’m hopeful the experience will mitigate it or it’s back to Apple.
I posted earlier that the Ultra-wide aspect ratio is glorious for my work. As Apple doesn't make one I went with a Samsung ultra-wide model with Thunderbolt for single cable convenience. I personally would not buy an iMac because of the integrated display, I'm just not the target market. A Mac mini or MBP in clamshell mode is my cup of tea.
There was a rumor that Apple was going to try and keep the new "iMac 5K" in the same price range as the old one. To me, this would mean a price close to the $2299 of the Intel i7/8GB/512GB/5500XT model as M1 Pro is just too advanced to compare to the cheaper $1799 and $1999 models with their Intel i5 CPUs and 5300 GPUs.
Apple kept the 16" ASi model within $100 of the Intel one while adding ports back and moving to MiniLED ProMotion. Yes, they dropped the TouchBar, but that was probably a $100-150 part for Apple.
I am assuming M1 Pro is designed to have 16GB of base memory. So I think Apple could introduce the new "iMac 5K" at $2499 with the M1 Pro, 16GB of RAM and 512GB SSD. This would be the same price as the Intel i7 model upgraded to 16GB.
The latest rumors of a 27-29" iMac makes me believe that Apple wants a screen smaller than the 32" XDR for both the iMac and the Apple Thunderbolt Display.
A 32" MiniLED ATD would make the already limited use case for the Pro Display XDR that much more limited, if not negate it entirely. And considering that 32" 4K MiniLED displays are currently all in the $4000 or more range, if they did add it to an "iMac Pro", it might very well start at $4999 again or even the $5999 of the Mac Pro.
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HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
This hunt for a perfect ultra-wide is harder than it seems. I've been at it for a good while myself, anticipating replacing my primary iMac with perhaps a Mini M1 Max + Ultrawide. Why? The all-in-one bummer is that I still have a sharp, beautiful monitor in the iMac that gets retired with old "guts" now outside of macOS upgrades... not because it is failing but because old guts and monitor are inseparable. Yes, I'm aware of some target display mode options but it seems every one has issues with sleep/wake and M1 mac setups.
So I find myself back to my original Mac purchase thinking of wanting to separate monitor screen from computer. I was pretty much ready to buy MacMini M1 Pro or Max had that shown up (too) while still not having a solid sense of WHICH ultra-wide to marry to it.
Research implies lots of challenges between ultra-wides and M1 but the new chip seems to be trying to address monitor and monitors gripes. Hopefully so. There's some with various levels of "hubs" built in which seems very nice (and iMac-like) but apparently the front-facing camera built into the top is a rarity for some reason. Yes, could get an external that simply wraps over the top but that's like a reverse notch to me... after all these years of having one hidden in the iMac bezel at the top.
There seems to be a real opportunity for SOMEONE to make a high-resolution, ultra-wide with quality front-facing camera and iMac-like port hub... basically iMac screen + camera + ports made about 1.5X-2X wider. If this exists and works well with M1 Macs, someone please point me to it. Thinking about 36-42" or so.
I am 100% confident that the new "iMac 5K" is not going to have a notch and neither will a new Thunderbolt Display using the same MiniLED panel as the "iMac 5K".
I believe the laptops are getting the notch because Apple needed to mount the 1080p camera lower than the former 720p camera and the option was either thick bezel - which everyone would complain about - or the notch to allow the remainder of the bezel to be thinned which less than everyone would complain about.
And considering the significant majority of people likely do not have a full row of icons across their status bar (if they did, they likely went to Bartender or some other management util) like on the iPhones, the icons will be on either side of the notch.
And for those running an app in full screen mode, macOS already takes that into account by lowering the top of the screen below the notch so that the entire menu bar is visible.
Hm, a 16" x 17 mm device can handle one of them and this also includes a huge battery. I think they could easily fit two M1 Max in an 27" iMac. I mean they could put in two humongous fans because they don't need that space for not much else, just a SSD a logic board and some speakers, the rest could be cooling.
You mean the bigger iMac is the iMac Pro and costs 5000$? I'm sure that will not be the case. There will be an iMac in the price range 2000$ - 3000$. And I doubt it will be called iMac Pro. based on the current rumours I would expect a ~2200$ iMac with a 27" 5K ProMotion display and a M1 Pro with 16 GB as a base model. Going up to an M1 Max with 64 GB. Maybe there will be an iMac Pro later on together with the Mac Pro with the Jade2C-Die (2 x M1 Max) as some users mentioned before.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Apple just made a handkerchief
, priced it at $20 and immediately sold out of launch supply. I think anything with a fat profit is not too weird for them anymore. I expect Apple socks 2, tissue paper, dog chews, oven mitts, salsa, etc just anytime now......followed by proclamations/pledges to never use any other socks, just let their nose run if they don't have..., scald their hands if they don't have..., etc.
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I would not rule that one out. I mean a standalone display which has the same panel as the iMac would make sense for Apple because it would bringt the cost for the panel down because they could order higher volumes. Also a 27" dispaly would be enough differentiation to the 32" SXD display.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
After YEARS of making my living mostly on iMacs, I think I'm right behind you in giving up on it... not because something is wrong with it but because an "all-in-one" at the end is basically throwing baby out with the bathwater.
Since they didn't update Mac Mini or roll out the rumored Pro Jr or Mac Mini Pro this week, I guess I wait & see for the Spring launch. It's not impossible that Apple might "one more thing" an ultra-wide iMac. That might make me all-in-one it one more time.
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