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

[Ankaa]

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.

Yeah, not how this works. You can apply inflation all you want, but it's not as simple. For example, Apple sold the base 4k 21.5" iMac for $1,499 in 2015 (with the base base iMac at $1,099). The base 24" iMac today starts at $1,299, so not quite as big of a jump as you claim.

Also, you try to account for inflation, but do not account for evolution/change in base modifications. The base 27" iMac in 2015 already had much higher computing power than the equivalent base Mini. So in order for a fair comparison, you would have to upgrade components in your Mini pricing.

I paid $2,374 in 2015 with edu discount. Upgrades included the better processor and maxed out SSD/HDD (fusion drive). I also upgraded the memory with third-party RAM (no longer an option, hence forced to pay the Apple tax).

When I priced the Mini+Studio late last year with future-proofing in mind (I use my macs 7+ years), aka going high for such things as RAM and large SSD, the configuration I wanted/needed wasn't even offered! And it was still $2,500. Add in a keyboard, a mouse, ... and we're scarily nearing $3,000.

As I said then and saying now: If Apple in the year 2023 can offer a base 24" iMac at $1,300, they could easily offer a base 27" iMac at $2,000

People don't want a 27" iMac Pro. They want a larger iMac. Period.

 

[gagaliya]

Damn apple, a m3 pro / max 27” at 2-3k range would be perfect. 32” iMac Pro will be $5k+ and way too expensive.

 

[eropko]

Apple knows better, they have all the analytics. They will not make something that has little REAL demand. If they discarded the lineup then most probably not all people stating they want iMac are converted into actual buyers. Or there's 3.5 of them.

 

[Dc2006ster]

I have a 2017 27” 5K iMac and initially was disappointed that there is no upgrade to 27” 5K M3 iMac. But recently I connected an old (2006) 24” Dell to it and have come to appreciate having that second display. I am now wondering if a 24” M3 iMac with a second , new, 24” display or a mini with two 24” displays is a better option than a single 27 or even 32 inch .

 

[Bobby Smallwood]

Not sure that’s a fair assumption, given that Apple has created a bigger gap between the performance of the Pro and the Max. Which I don’t have a real problem with actually, the M3 Max looks like a huge leap. The Pro chip used to be the bargain and I guess the Max used to be the “well if you really need a lot of GPU” option (at least in the M1). Now the Pro is just the “better” of a well-differentiated good-better-best lineup.

At this point few people really need the power of the Max line, so Apple can make them pay for it.

So I bet the M3 Max studio starts at $2500. The M2 Max studio is just too good a deal, really, to expect from Apple 😂

Did they increase the price of the base M3 Max MBP $500? If what you said was true they would have raised the price $500

 

[Bobby Smallwood]

For pros and prosumers who want an iMac Pro, well, Apple has made it very clear where to go. The iconic iMac is now just a toy computer for a child's bedroom.

As it should be

 

[Bobby Smallwood]

I have a 2017 27” 5K iMac and initially was disappointed that there is no upgrade to 27” 5K M3 iMac. But recently I connected an old (2006) 24” Dell to it and have come to appreciate having that second display. I am now wondering if a 24” M3 iMac with a second , new, 24” display or a mini with two 24” displays is a better option than a single 27 or even 32 inch .

One of the issues with AIO is that it would drive me nuts having two different displays in front of me. I remember people buying a second iMac to use in target mode to have dual display iMacs. What a waste of money and energy. When the M1's came out I jumped on the Mac mini to use with my dual monitor setup. When my job needs changed and I needed a laptop, I went back to windows since I was not going to pay 2K for MBP when all I needed was a MBA.

I'm pretty sure Apple knows what customers want, if they thought there was demand for a 27" iMac, it would have been released already.

 

[StudioMacs]

The base 27" iMac in 2015 already had much higher computing power than the equivalent base Mini.

iMac (27-inch Retina Late 2015) Benchmarks
1239 CPU Single-Core Score
3432 CPU Multi-Core Score

Mac mini (2023) Benchmarks
2649 CPU Single-Core Score
14257 CPU Multi-Core Score

I paid $2,374 in 2015 with edu discount. Upgrades included the better processor and maxed out SSD/HDD (fusion drive). I also upgraded the memory with third-party RAM (no longer an option, hence forced to pay the Apple tax).

When I priced the Mini+Studio late last year with future-proofing in mind (I use my macs 7+ years), aka going high for such things as RAM and large SSD, the configuration I wanted/needed wasn't even offered! And it was still $2,500.

Accounting for inflation, $2,374 in 2015 has the same buying power as $3,072.22 in 2023.

Also, you can upgrade more often than every 7 years for less since you can keep the display (unlike an iMac which is more expensive to upgrade).

 

[fathergll]

And you would be wrong, it can be both 5k and 1440p at the same time. View attachment 2308356

Exactly. Apple didn't invent the term 5k. It doesn't mean retina or anything like that.

I don't think we will be hearing from @ProfessionalFan fan anymore on this topic. Classic case of person writes diatribe why someone is wrong then disappears to the next thread when you post the information correcting them.

 

[ProfessionalFan]

I wish those who constantly disparage the Studio Display and try to say it is on par with cheaper displays that can't hold a candle to it -- would actually try the Studio Display in person. Then maybe they'd see the difference.

 

[ric22]

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!

Revenue is dropping, but are their profits? RAM/storage have substantially dropped in price, while ditching Intel also boosted profits. Combine that with price increases on most of the range. They could sell more devices, but they seem happy selling less but with higher margins.

 

[Litcoins]

Apple has confirmed to The Verge and some other publications that it has no plans to release a new 27-inch iMac with Apple silicon.

Apple discontinued both the Intel-based 27-inch iMac and iMac Pro over the past two years, and it has yet to launch a larger-screen iMac with an Apple silicon chip as a replacement, leaving the recently-updated 24-inch iMac with the M3 chip as its only all-in-one desktop computer. For customers who want a larger or higher-end desktop, Apple recommends pairing the 27-inch Studio Display with a Mac Studio or Mac mini.

From the report:Apple has only ruled out a new 27-inch iMac, so a larger-screened iMac is still possible. Last month, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple was still developing an iMac Pro with a 32-inch display for release in late 2024 or in 2025. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also expects a 32-inch iMac with mini-LED display backlighting to launch in 2025.

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

I’m looking for the 2017 iMac Pro. Where would be a reputable site that I can buy one?

 

[Neil J. Squillante]

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.

Separates can also consist of a MacBook Air/Pro with a Studio display.

 

[Tomasulu]

What is shocking is it will take Apple several years to come up with the new iMac Pro. I mean come on stop being lazy.

 

[TVreporter]

Canadian prices kill me for a Studio Display - $2,000 for the base model.

Dread what Apple would charge for a 32-inch iMac.

For now I'll stick with my 2019 i5 and probably hold onto it until it dies.

 

[Ankaa]

iMac (27-inch Retina Late 2015) Benchmarks
1239 CPU Single-Core Score
3432 CPU Multi-Core Score

Mac mini (2023) Benchmarks
2649 CPU Single-Core Score
14257 CPU Multi-Core Score

You're completely missing the point (not sure if deliberately) as you need to compare the specs of the 2015 27" iMac with the specs of the 2015 Mini. Obviously a 2023 Mini has better specs than a 8 year old Mac, duh...

Accounting for inflation, $2,374 in 2015 has the same buying power as $3,072.22 in 2023.

You keep talking about buying power. I don't think it means what you think it does. For a whole lotta people, salary has NOT kept up with inflation even remotely.

Also, you can upgrade more often than every 7 years for less since you can keep the display (unlike an iMac which is more expensive to upgrade).

Could. But don't want to. Is that really this hard to accept? Not every decision is a financial one.

We get it. You prefer a Display + Mac solution. A lot of us prefer AIOs.

 

[Ethosik]

Well, apart from the Mac Studio.

This was in 2019.

 

[Ankaa]

Separates can also consist of a MacBook Air/Pro with a Studio display.

I've been using this setup since February of this year, and coming from 15 years as an iMac user (who's always had an additional macbook), I am just not a fan even after months. At the end of the day it remains a compromise. One I can live with. But not one I've really gotten used to or am happy with.

 

[Mrkevinfinnerty]

This lineup has joined the iPad in being a convoluted mess.

This iMac is a very odd product, I think when the M1 model launched the consensus was that the colors would make their way to other products.

This just seems so out of place in the middle of a load of Silver and Grey Macs.

 

[mlayer]

I’m looking for the 2017 iMac Pro. Where would be a reputable site that I can buy one?

You can occasionally find some refurbs on Woot.

 

[Bobby Smallwood]

We get it. You prefer a Display + Mac solution. A lot of us prefer AIOs.

Obviously not enough, if there were Apple would make one.

 

[bobcomer]

This lineup has joined the iPad in being a convoluted mess.

This iMac is a very odd product, I think when the M1 model launched the consensus was that the colors would make their way to other products.

This just seems so out of place in the middle of a load of Silver and Grey Macs.

I like colors, green would be my choice . I absolutely HATE grey and black, and would rather anything else. My iMac is grey and black -- oh well, can't have everything.

 

[bobcomer]

Obviously not enough, if there were Apple would make one.

Obviously, you don't know that with certainty, since Apple didn't say that was the reason.

My guess is it was just for more profit -- they can make more off of a studio display + Mac Studio. More profit is a darn good reason if people fall for it.

 

[Bobby Smallwood]

Obviously, you don't know that with certainty, since Apple didn't say that was the reason.

My guess is it was just for more profit -- they can make more off of a studio display + Mac Studio. More profit is a darn good reason if people fall for it.

Or Apple is taking their green initiative seriously and they want their customers to be less wasteful. There are also so many non apple alternatives to the Studio display that apple could be leaving money on the table, that's what I did when I bought my M1 Mac mini

 

[bobcomer]

Or Apple is taking their green initiative seriously and they want their customers to be less wasteful. There are also so many non apple alternatives to the Studio display that apple could be leaving money on the table, that's what I did when I bought my M1 Mac mini

Could be, but that doesn't say that not enough people bought the 27" iMac before. I kind of doubt it though, as they always seem to do things for more profit to me. Anyway, we really can't know unless they tell us, and even then it might not be the truth. Short term bottom line is what most companies look for above all else...

In any case, I like AiW's and I almost purchased a HP AiO to replace my iMac today -- almost. Cheaper than a Studio/studio display by far. I'd still like to see a beefier AiO from Apple for home...