Apple Says There Won't Be a 27-Inch iMac With Apple Silicon

[KnighsTalker]

News Flash... Steve Jobs rolls over in his grave! The Macintosh started as an all in one. Steve Jobs resurrected Apple with an all in one. The 27" iMac was the pinnacle all in one. Products from Apple have slowly lost their exciting luster over the years taking a near death blow when Jony Ive left. People use to wait several blocks down the street when a new iPhone was released. Now products are so boring that the "uber exciting" revelation of the new MacBook Pro is the new color of "Space Black?" Ooooh! Tim Cook is shucking less appealing versions of Apple's products such as the Macintosh to the masses like the uninspired CEO's tried to do before the pre-Jobs comeback in 1996! Now he wants to gaslight us into believing that the M3 24" iMac is actually better than a M3 27" iMac??? By doing this, he is shooting himself in the foot. Steve Jobs would be extremely disappointed that Mr. Cook has forgotten what he taught him. I want and I truly believe other people also want what we want. And what we want is a decent large screen iMac not the money grab solution of either the 24" iMac or the Mac mini and Studio Display. As for myself, I'll hold out with my 2019 Intel 27" iMac until hell or high water or until Apple pulls their head out of their derriere and gives us a large screen iMac!!!

 

[bobcomer]

I think they’re trying to tide/bait/entice us into buying Macintoshes this holiday season since sales were down the last quarter?! Many people were holding out for a larger updated iMac.

They might have enticed me into buying a Windows AiO, but probably not. I definitely wont be purchasing a Mac this go round. I really want a beefier Mac AiO. (but *not* a larger AiO, 24" is enough, or 27" -- no way I want a 32")

I'm actually mad, not about having a large iMac, but such a weak one as the only one they sell. 24G of RAM, I haven't had anything with that little RAM in a long time. And just so you know, that 24G version tops out at $2700 U.S. Ridiculously high.

 

[cmcbhi]

Would anyone be interested in modifying the 27" iMac electronics so it could be used as a screen for the Mac studio?

 

[KnighsTalker]

Why are you opposed to a Mac mini? Find you a used studio display for under $1,000 and a $500 Mac mini that you can upgrade several times before needing to replace your display.

Because we want a larger iMac! Capisce???

 

[Velin]

As I've already said, keyboard communities will oppose your opinion.
As touch typing becomes more and more popular many settle down on 68-key layout even for desktop use.

What is that, a few thousand people obsessing over "cherry" switches? It means very little.

If you code, develop, work with numbers, do any kind of real work -- you want that numpad, together with the arrow inverted-T, especially at your desktop machine. Not only for the numbers, but also for several high-use, single-strike symbols used in coding and development hundreds, if not a thousand or more, times per day (and you can remap them, too).

Absent the numpad and the top-row single-strike symbols, you simply are not as efficient as you could be.

 

[Rychiar]

How did you spend 3299 on an intel iMac? Was it the ssd? No way you paid the ram since that’s user upgradable. Was it an IMac Pro?

Right now if I wanted too they are selling the 2020 27 iMac for under 1500 brand new, that’s an actual computer with keyboard and mouse, 5k display etc for less than the price of the studio display which only adds 100 nits of brightness.

For the price the studio display is trash, if it had actual features worthy of its price tags one could make an argument for it, but just 100 nits brighter so its a poor excuse for its price tag.

my imac is a work computer… it’s very easy to spend that. And no no SSD… core i9 model with the highest graphics card. And of course they’re selling the intel ones cheap now but not when they came out. The base model with no power was 1800

 

[TIMO_737]

And they’re surprised Mac sales are 34% down. Who wants an iMac in 🌈 colours with a white bezel. Give us a space black iMac Pro in 30” or 32” and you have a winner. Or even a midnight/space black 24” imac without pastel finish would attract a lot more customers. Personally I use the studio display with a mac mini, but would be glad to buy a big iMac Pro instead.

 

[KnighsTalker]

Apple has the best bean counters in the world. I'm guessing they know more than you do and there is a reason there is no 27" coming -- like it was not the huge profit center YOU think it was.

Yeah but the bean counters almost killed Apple before Jobs resurrected Apple with exciting fresh new iMacs and MacBooks!

 

[JimmyG]

Now that the Covid "stay at home" buying spree is over and desktop computer sales are finding their "new normal" companies are having a look at their sales numbers and figuring their next moves.

A year ago Apple was in the chase to overtake Dell for being the #3 manufacturer of desktop solutions, today Apple finds itself, once again, staring at the prospect of single digit marketshare.

Source: Global PC Shipments Decline Again in the Third Quarter of 2023 Amid Signs of Market Improvement, According to IDC Tracker

Global PC Shipments Decline Again in the Third Quarter of 2023 Amid Signs of Market Improvement, According to IDC Tracker

IDC examines consumer markets by devices, applications, networks, and services to provide complete solutions for succeeding in these expanding markets.

www.idc.com

____________________

Looking at this in real dollar terms Apple finds itself, again, once again, returning to the pre-pandemic days of sub-$7.5B for desktop revenues...

Source: Apple Mac revenue by quarter 2006-2023 | Statista

Apple Mac revenue by quarter 2006-2025| Statista

In the first quarter of Apple's 2025 fiscal year, sales of Apple Mac computers generated around * billion U.S.

www.statista.com

____________________

What's a CEO to do?!

Answer: Send someone (read: underling) from that product division out on to the ice to make "their" case publicly. LOL

Enter into the spotlight, er, center stage..."Apple PR representative Starlayne Meza".

And what does the PR Department have to say in their media moment?!

Answer: "The company encourages those who have been holding out hope for a larger iMac to consider the Studio Display and Mac Studio or Mac Mini, which pair a 27-inch 5K screen with a separate computer, compared to the all-in-one design of the iMac."

Above quotes source: Apple has no plans to make a 27-inch iMac with Apple Silicon - The Verge

Apple has no plans to make a 27-inch iMac with Apple Silicon

No big screen all-in-one for you.

www.theverge.com

____________________

When Apple rolled out the Studio Display, Mac Studio and Mx-ified Mac Mini they did so while simultaneously removing 27" iMac from their product lineup. From an industry viewpoint, this would be viewed as a "floaty-cuff" product launch.

So, how did these products do?!

Well, Apple decided to (er, conveniently?!) remove actual unit sales numbers from their reports back in 2018 so one needs to look elsewhere for that reporting and it can be found behind pay-walled sites such as CIRP (Consumer Intelligence Research Partners. LLC). In an article citing such information Mark Ellis Reviews had this to report in January 2023...

Answer: Apparently, no so good. Says Mark, "Let’s turn our attention to the bottom of the table for a moment, where we discover that the Mac mini and Mac Studio grab just 1% of the Mac market share each."

Source: Apple’s Most Popular Mac Might Surprise You - Mark Ellis Reviews

Apple’s Most Popular Mac Might Surprise You - Mark Ellis Reviews

The most popular Mac in 2023 probably isn't what you think it is. Let's see if you're as surprised as many people will be!

markellisreviews.com

____________________

It would seem that the "floaty cuffs" were of zero help for these products and for this product launch strategy.

When it comes to product failures, what's a CEO to do?!

Answer: I expect that head-lopping in the PR Department and in the Mac Division will be among the various strategies employed. Haw!
____________________

The TL,DR:

But, how does Tim "right this ship?!

Answer: The solution is (IMHO, likely) right under his nose...Apple's AIO DNA.

Steve Jobs bought the AIO computer to the world with Macintosh and, then again, with iMac. The AIO, I'll posit, is both their cornerstone aaand their bread-and-butter when it comes to their desktop offerings. Apple can (and should, IMO) offer all sorts of desktop computer product choices, but when folks think of their brand they think...Macintosh, all-in-one.

In fact, Steve Jobs' AIO concept was such a grand idea that every other major PC manufacturer offers their own iMac-knockoff lineups! LOL

#2 desktop maker, HP, which saw the largest (and only positive) YoY growth in the above data of 6.4%, and is now in the hunt for taking the the #1 spot from Lenovo, offers no-less than 6 "AIO iMac knock-off" (chin and all! LOL) desktop choices (not including configuration variations!) in 6 different sizes...21", 23", 24", 27", 32" and 34".

Source: HP Desktop Computers and All-in-One PCs | HP® Official Site

HP Desktop Computers and All-in-One PCs

For work, play, gaming, or entertainment, there’s an HP desktop or all-in-one just for you. Learn more about our HP desktops and all-in-ones here.

www.hp.com

____________________

Larger iMacs are dead?!

Answer: Methinks, not. After some bloodletting in the PR Department and Mac Divisions, I expect that there will be ≥27" iMacs coming along some time sooner vs. later!

And, on to my wishlist items...32" 6K XDR and 42" 8K XDR iMacs please! HDR content creation and consumption is where the puck is going!

 

[KnighsTalker]

Larger iMacs are dead?!

Answer: Methinks, not. After some bloodletting in the PR Department and Mac Divisions, I expect that there will be ≥27" iMacs coming along some time sooner vs. later!

And, on to my wishlist items...32" 6K XDR and 42" 8K XDR iMacs please! HDR content creation and consumption is where the puck is going!

THANK YOU JimmyG... Now get with the program Apple and give us a a 40th anniversary Macintosh that is a large screen iMac in 2024. Proof IS in the pudding and that is what WE want to consume!!!

 

[oldmacs]

If only they made a 27" display which was the price of an iMac - the cost of a Mac mini... The Studio Display is nearly as expensive as a 27 inch iMac used to be, then you've got to add the Mac mini, and then spec it up - the 27 inch iMac didn't have base specs.

 

[Student of Life]

Now that the Covid "stay at home" buying spree is over and desktop computer sales are finding their "new normal" companies are having a look at their sales numbers and figuring their next moves.

A year ago Apple was in the chase to overtake Dell for being the #3 manufacturer of desktop solutions, today Apple finds itself, once again, staring at the prospect of single digit marketshare.

View attachment 2308608
Source: Global PC Shipments Decline Again in the Third Quarter of 2023 Amid Signs of Market Improvement, According to IDC Tracker

Global PC Shipments Decline Again in the Third Quarter of 2023 Amid Signs of Market Improvement, According to IDC Tracker

IDC examines consumer markets by devices, applications, networks, and services to provide complete solutions for succeeding in these expanding markets.

www.idc.com

____________________

Looking at this in real dollar terms Apple finds itself, again, once again, returning to the pre-pandemic days of sub-$7.5B for desktop revenues...

View attachment 2308609
Source: Apple Mac revenue by quarter 2006-2023 | Statista

Apple Mac revenue by quarter 2006-2025| Statista

In the first quarter of Apple's 2025 fiscal year, sales of Apple Mac computers generated around * billion U.S.

www.statista.com

____________________

What's a CEO to do?!

Answer: Send someone (read: underling) from that product division out on to the ice to make "their" case publicly. LOL

Enter into the spotlight, er, center stage..."Apple PR representative Starlayne Meza".

And what does the PR Department have to say in their media moment?!

Answer: "The company encourages those who have been holding out hope for a larger iMac to consider the Studio Display and Mac Studio or Mac Mini, which pair a 27-inch 5K screen with a separate computer, compared to the all-in-one design of the iMac."

Above quotes source: Apple has no plans to make a 27-inch iMac with Apple Silicon - The Verge

Apple has no plans to make a 27-inch iMac with Apple Silicon

No big screen all-in-one for you.

www.theverge.com

____________________

When Apple rolled out the Studio Display, Mac Studio and Mx-ified Mac Mini they did so while simultaneously removing 27" iMac from their product lineup. From an industry viewpoint, this would be viewed as a "floaty-cuff" product launch.

So, how did these products do?!

Well, Apple decided to (er, conveniently?!) remove actual unit sales numbers from their reports back in 2018 so one needs to look elsewhere for that reporting and it can be found behind pay-walled sites such as CIRP (Consumer Intelligence Research Partners. LLC). In an article citing such information Mark Ellis Reviews had this to report in January 2023...

Answer: Apparently, no so good. Says Mark, "Let’s turn our attention to the bottom of the table for a moment, where we discover that the Mac mini and Mac Studio grab just 1% of the Mac market share each."

Source: Apple’s Most Popular Mac Might Surprise You - Mark Ellis Reviews

Apple’s Most Popular Mac Might Surprise You - Mark Ellis Reviews

The most popular Mac in 2023 probably isn't what you think it is. Let's see if you're as surprised as many people will be!

markellisreviews.com

____________________

It would seem that the "floaty cuffs" were of zero help for these products and for this product launch strategy.

When it comes to product failures, what's a CEO to do?!

Answer: I expect that head-lopping in the PR Department and in the Mac Division will be among the various strategies employed. Haw!
____________________

The TL,DR:

But, how does Tim "right this ship?!

Answer: The solution is (IMHO, likely) right under his nose...Apple's AIO DNA.

Steve Jobs bought the AIO computer to the world with Macintosh and, then again, with iMac. The AIO, I'll posit, is both their cornerstone aaand their bread-and-butter when it comes to their desktop offerings. Apple can (and should, IMO) offer all sorts of desktop computer product choices, but when folks think of their brand they think...Macintosh, all-in-one.

In fact, Steve Jobs' AIO concept was such a grand idea that every other major PC manufacturer offers their own iMac-knockoff lineups! LOL

#2 desktop maker, HP, which saw the largest (and only positive) YoY growth in the above data of 6.4%, and is now in the hunt for taking the the #1 spot from Lenovo, offers no-less than 6 "AIO iMac knock-off" (chin and all! LOL) desktop choices (not including configuration variations!) in 6 different sizes...21", 23", 24", 27", 32" and 34".

View attachment 2308626
Source: HP Desktop Computers and All-in-One PCs | HP® Official Site

HP Desktop Computers and All-in-One PCs

For work, play, gaming, or entertainment, there’s an HP desktop or all-in-one just for you. Learn more about our HP desktops and all-in-ones here.

www.hp.com

____________________

Larger iMacs are dead?!

Answer: Methinks, not. After some bloodletting in the PR Department and Mac Divisions, I expect that there will be ≥27" iMacs coming along some time sooner vs. later!

And, on to my wishlist items...32" 6K XDR and 42" 8K XDR iMacs please! HDR content creation and consumption is where the puck is going!

Great post which is backed up with number and common sense.

"We discover that the Mac mini and Mac Studio grab just 1% of the Mac market share each."

This echos the sentiment many have here and clearly we are speaking with our wallets, NO INTEREST AT ALL in the Studio and a Mini combo.

 

[Bigalig2003]

LOL. Why can people not let go? IT'S. NOT. GOING. TO. HAPPEN.

Anyone with half a brain knew the iMac's future was going to be limited to the consumer-level iMac the moment Apple introduced the M1 iMac with no mention of the larger size or more powerful version.

There was never going to be another iMac Pro (Apple Silicon or otherwise), and yes, a larger screen iMac would be nice but that's not in their plans either. This was made abundantly clear when they introduced the Studio Mac and the Studio Display.

I said all of this years ago. I said it in almost all the "Gurman reports larger iMac, iMac Pro in the works" threads. I'm actually happy that Apple finally saw the benefit of saying what many of us had already figured out - even if they only did it to goose sales a bit.

Because people want a larger all in one and not multiple fragmented pieces strewn over a desk or the measly 24" masquerading as an iMac? - if it's not going to happen, and it looks like it won't, fine, but don't expect me a s a loyal Apple Customer of over 30 years, to go well that's ok then I'll downgrade to a 24" iMac or even better I'll spend 2 to 3x the outlay on a ridiculous screen and box combo that defeats the whole concept of an all in one. My god has design taken a back-seat under Cooke's reign - until he goes and somebody like Ive takes over I see no hope in replacing my iMac - with declining sales across the Mac range (way too fragmented) I thought they may just think again - but I just think the current Cooke attitude is largely one of contempt for the customer - as long as the bottom line is strong that's ok and I understand that but boy are they missing Jobs!

 

[Ankaa]

And here we go again in the comments. People are STILL conflating the 27" iMac and the 27" iMac Pro.

Not. the. same. thing.
Not. the. same. target. demographic.

 

[bobcomer]

Would anyone be interested in modifying the 27" iMac electronics so it could be used as a screen for the Mac studio?

Not me. It would have been nice if it were built that way (as in target display), but I'll be using my 27" iMac as a computer for a long time still. I hate the idea of taking it apart too, it's such a pain being glued together.

 

[Ankaa]

I wonder a) how much interest there is for a larger (27", 32", or other size) iMac, and b) how Apple gauges that interest?

There is pretty large interest, actually. Larger iMacs are widespread in academia. But... Apple caters to shareholders and knows they can make more money forcing everyone and their neighbor who wants/needs a larger display to spend more money.

The Mac Studio and Studio Display I bought cost about the same as a loaded iMac Pro, but it should be less expensive to upgrade just the computer moving forward while keeping the display longer.

Yes, maybe when compared to iMac Pro.

The 27" non-Pro was a thing.

I priced different compromises when my 27" 2015 iMac died at the beginning of the year. All of them were significantly more expensive and STILL fell short on a number of things/required noticable compromises.

There's a demographic who prefers all-in-ones for reasons and for whom 24" is simply too small. It's not a small demographic.

 

[Warped9]

Those complaining on MR for a 27in. iMac are a tiny vocal minority in the broader market.

If Apple thought a 27in. iMac were worthwhile it would be here already.

Evidently Apple doesn’t think it’s viable. And no degree of crying will change that.

 

[Ankaa]

This echos the sentiment many have here and clearly we are speaking with our wallets, NO INTEREST AT ALL in the Studio and a Mini combo.

Yep. I'm one of them. When faced with the decision "ok, what now" when our trusty 27" died earlier this year, as a prosumer I got the Studio Display for the size and quality and just use my loaded MBA. (and no, still not a fan of this set-up)

At the time a Studio Display + loaded mini was significantly more expensive than my loaded iMac in 2015 and STILL would've fallen short in terms of computing power I want/need.

A Studio Display + Studio combo was not only much too overpowered for my needs but at the same time magnitudes more expensive.

Apple will not see me get a Mini (let alone a Studio). Period. The Studio Display was a compromise for me. The only I'm willing to make.

 

[iluvnutella]

So no 27 means 28 or 29 or 30 or 31 or 32.... or 27.5

 

[VulchR]

I would go to the dollar store and just by a pair of glasses and leave them next to your desktop, maybe have a string to connect the glasses to the PC

Very funny.

 

[Neil J. Squillante]

If only they made a 27" display which was the price of an iMac - the cost of a Mac mini... The Studio Display is nearly as expensive as a 27 inch iMac used to be, then you've got to add the Mac mini, and then spec it up - the 27 inch iMac didn't have base specs.

That would help but what I don’t think anyone has mentioned yet is that the 27-inch iMac hides the waterfall of cables better than any other Mac. I once used a Mac mini and always hated seeing all those cables. Plus of course it gives you more desk space. My ideal setup would consist of an M3 Pro 27-inch 5K iMac that you could also use as a monitor for a MacBook Pro. I‘m pretty sure Apple‘s execs know that after using 5K for years there’s no downsizing to 4.5K. They want to drive people to separates.

 

[StudioMacs]

I priced different compromises when my 27" 2015 iMac died at the beginning of the year. All of them were significantly more expensive and STILL fell short on a number of things/required noticable compromises.

The 27-inch iMac released in October of 2015 came in three configurations: $1,799, $1,999, and $2,299.

Accounting for inflation, the $1,799 27” 2015 iMac would cost about $2,336 in 2023 dollars (equivalent purchasing power).

The 27-inch Apple Studio Display is $1,599, and the Mac Mini starts at $599 ($2,198 total), which accounting for inflation is priced relatively lower than the base 27” 2015 iMac.

The $1,999 iMac from 2015 would be the equivalent in purchasing power to about $2,595.89 today.

The $2,299 iMac from 2015 would be equivalent to about $2,985.47 today.

 

[Student of Life]

That would help but what I don’t think anyone has mentioned yet is that the 27-inch iMac hides the waterfall of cables better than any other Mac. I once used a Mac mini and always hated seeing all those cables. Plus of course it gives you more desk space. My ideal setup would consist of an M3 Pro 27-inch 5K iMac that you could also use as a monitor for a MacBook Pro. I‘m pretty sure Apple‘s execs know that after using 5K for years there’s no downsizing to 4.5K. They want to drive people to separates.

https://markellisreviews.com/apples-most-popular-mac-might-surprise-you/

" We discover that the Mac mini and Mac Studio grab just 1% of the Mac market share each"

Apple exes want to drive people to separates is going to be as effective as making Fetch happen.

 

[eropko]

What is that, a few thousand people obsessing over "cherry" switches? It means very little.

If you code, develop, work with numbers, do any kind of real work -- you want that numpad, together with the arrow inverted-T, especially at your desktop machine. Not only for the numbers, but also for several high-use, single-strike symbols used in coding and development hundreds, if not a thousand or more, times per day (and you can remap them, too).

Absent the numpad and the top-row single-strike symbols, you simply are not as efficient as you could be.

I don't know what "single-strike" symbols are, but for software development, if you are touch-typing, you don't really need numpad. Arrows are present in 68keys layout.

If you work with numbers aka Excel tables, yeah, you probably need a numpad.

 

[briloronmacrumo]

I mean…who in their right mind would expect them to say anything other than this?

Breaking news: Apple PR recommends customers purchase products that exist right now

Apple plans ALL their marketing announcements carefully. It's smart to assume Meza's statement follows the same discipline.