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

[eropko]

27-inch is the perfect size computer monitor.

Apple is obsessed with making their displays larger in size. That’s not progress.

In 2023 if it's single display, I'd vote for something ultrawide.

 

[PsykX]

TLDR : There will most likely be a bigger iMac, but with a different size than 27-inch. Got it.

 

[Return Zero]

The problem with a bigger iMac is the same as with a mini iPhone. It’s the ideal product for some people, but the market overall just doesn’t have enough critical mass (especially looking forward as desktops continue to slowly go out of style). Many pros want to choose their own displays or have a more modular setup. Many consumers don’t want to spend that much or care about a larger screen size after they bumped the base model from 21.5 to 24”. It’s sad because a 32” 6K iMac with M3 Max would truly be a kick-butt product, but I don’t think we’ll ever see it.

 

[TheLastUserName]

You can get a Mac mini for $599 and a 27" Apple Studio Display for $1,599. That's $2,198. Apple would never sell a 27" iMac for less than that. Anyone who ACTUALLY wants a 27" Mac can get one. The rest of you are just complaining for the sake of it.

 

[skillwill]

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

Exactly this. In fact the statement doesn't say "there won't be a 27-inch iMac" at all. All it says is customers with those needs should consider these *current* products.

If you asked Apple right now "What should customers holding out for an iPhone 16 Pro do?", Apple PR would say "buy a 15 Pro". That doesn't mean there won't be an iPhone 16.

 

[0423MAC]

The iMac is a niche product at this point so having 2 display sizes doesn't make much sense.

The Mac Mini + Display combo is a much better option anyway.

 

[Orange Bat]

All-in-ones are SOOOO 2015.

A Mac Mini with a decent monitor and non-lightning keyboard or mouse is the way to go. The only reason to get an iMac is as a casual machine in a den or family room.

 

[Student of Life]

For a comical reminder, the Studio display has just 100 nits more than the 27 iMac. Also remember the 24 iMac is actually 23.5 so it's over a 15% screen size reduction coming from the 27 iMac. Not coincidental remember Mac sales are down.... Common sense would suggest the demand for a screen bigger than 23.5 and at the same time those consumers have no inclination of getting such a sub par display. If the studio display had 1000 nits, if it had pro motion, HDR I could see the argument for it, but when we are talking about just 100 nits more, it's a comical hard pass. Thats not even touching the simple notion that one got a whole computer vs just a display for the same or cheaper price.

 

[eropko]

You can get a Mac mini for $599 and a 27" Apple Studio Display for $1,599. That's $2,198. Apple would never sell a 27" iMac for less than that. Anyone who ACTUALLY wants a 27" Mac can get one. The rest of you are just complaining for the sake of it.

And then they would be like "What???!!! 2700 for an iMac?!!! I could build one for 2200!!!! Apple bla bla greed bla bla price gouging"

 

[EugW]

Please, Apple, release a non-Pro 32-inch standalone display with no webcam and no speakers. Oh, while we're at it, no notch and no rounded corners, either.

I’d prefer a non-Pro ~30” 5K but I’d consider a non-Pro ~32” 6K too.

 

[Cape Dave]

I want a 29 inch. 32 is TOO BIG. Would sure be nice if they had a stand alone 24 inch that matched the iMac but was a monitor only. That would be sexy.

 

[Trusteft]

I am confused. Does the article suggest that any possibility of having a larger than 27 inch iMac is based on what the G man thinks? Because if that is the case RIP larger than 24".

Could it be (Apple's) play on words? I don't know, do they do this? Or any optimism about any such release is based on wishes of people who mention it?
Have they done this before?

If I take this at face value, meaning no 27 or larger screen iMac, then...I really don't see me ever buying a new iMac. That definitely don't mean I would buy a Studio Display because LOL, but still a shame.

I hope this is a play on words.

 

[trusso]

Apple: “We’re not releasing a 27-inch iMac.”

MacRumors readers: “So you’re saying there’s a chance?”



Sometimes a no means no.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Apple never has, they have famously been the ones to tell customers what they need.

And unfortunately, customers reward this and some of them then jump on forums to try to persuade others that their personal wants & wishes should be set aside to buy what the company wants all to buy NOW too... as if Apple Inc needs the free marketing help.

 

[Trusteft]

makes sense, current design does not allow any other chip except base M*, and why would anyone buy a 27 iMac to use base M*

so until pro and max are fanless, i don't see any other iMac happening

When the M1 iMac was released I was definitely considering getting one, if they had a 27 inch version. 24 meant no go for me. Perhaps there are more like me.

 

[icemantx]

I moved on from the iMac in March 2023. I had the 2009 24" iMac and late 2014 27" iMac and enjoyed them both and upgraded them both internally while I owned them (RAM & SSD). That is the #1 reason I moved on from the iMac and any possible M series version. Being you get what you get and you have to sell the whole thing if you want to upgrade anything at any time you own it led me to move on.

So what did I get? What Apple likely expected. An M2 Pro Mac mini + Apple Studio Display. With this setup my desk still looks like I have an iMac with my Mac mini mounted behind my desk. I can always swap the mini out for a new version one day or even upgrade to the Mac Studio at some point and keep the ASD. This is likely what Apple expected hold outs from the 27" iMac era to do.

Even if Apple came out with a 27-32" iMac I would still choose the separate setup simply because the M series machines are non-upgradeable which was not the case with Intel Mac models. I extended the life of my two iMacs where I could not do that with an M series iMac.

 

[zombierunner]

Because it's going to be 30" or 32".

I really hope so. They better do it in spring 2024. I can't wait years.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

I think this means they can't make the thermals work on a larger iMac, and people aren't going to want just a larger screen with an M3. They can't make it that thin, they don't want to revisit the old design.

So they make a new design for iMac 27" that works. It doesn't have to only be a thin, super-sized iPad on a stick. iMac "bigger" has a history of all kinds of form factors. If Apple was motivated, they could easily do it.

I actually expect an iMac "bigger", branded PRO with PRO & MAX chips within the next 2 years. If iPad on a stick form factor won't support that, they can thicken it a bit, wedge shape it, etc.

 

[Trusteft]

I think this means they can't make the thermals work on a larger iMac, and people aren't going to want just a larger screen with an M3. They can't make it that thin, they don't want to revisit the old design.

Are you saying Apple can make the thermals work on a thin laptop, but not on a 27 inch AIO? Really?

 

[Rodney Dangerfield]

Of course there won't be - because they'll most likely release a 32" 6K iMac Pro (effectively a Pro Display XDR with an M3 Pro/Max/Ultra inside.

It's not 27"... and that's what was asked.

Agree...32" 6K iMac Pro, Space Grey, please!...LOL

 

[Rychiar]

havent most of us moved on and bought a studio display at this point? The greatness of an imac in the past was its value. Now a studio display alone costs as much as An imac. If they do this 32” thing it’s gonna cost like 6grand.. and then you’re stuck with a great monitor ya can’t upgrade the computer on ever. Doesn’t make sense anymore

 

[Fishrrman]

 

[Trusteft]

Jobs: "Why would anyone want an iPod with a color screen?"

Jobs when asked about an iPod that could play videos: "You know, one of the things that I say around Apple, I paraphrase Bill Clinton when he was running long ago when he said, 'It is the economy, stupid' — I say, 'It is the music, stupid. We have to stay focused on the fact that people are buying these devices to listen to music..."

Less than 6 months later, Apple revealed iPod Photo- the color screen iPhoto.

The next year, Apple rolled out fifth generation iPod with video playback.

In the iPhone introduction, Jobs made it perfectly clear that any developers wanting to offer third party apps for it should do so as web apps to run inside of Safari.

Later that year, Apple announced the SDK and the App Store rolled out the next year.

For YEARS, Apple ridiculed Phablets: where did "one handed use" come from? 3.5" was the "perfect" size screen... until 4" was deemed the new "perfect" size screen... until...

Jobs on the concept of an iPad mini: "This size isn't sufficient to create great tablet apps, in our opinion. It is meaningless, unless your tablet also includes sandpaper so that the user can sand down their fingers to around one-quarter of the present size. Apple's done extensive user-testing on touch interfaces over many years, and we really understand this stuff. There are clear limits of how close you can physically place elements on a touch screen before users cannot reliably tap, flick or pinch them. This is one of the key reasons we think the 10-inch screen size is the minimum size required to create great tablet apps.”

2 years later, iPad mini was launched... without the sandpaper.

Shall I go on?

This statement appears to put an iMac 27" fully to bed (for now). But like the above examples, something stated in Nov 2023 may be something released as little as months from now.

However, let's take them at their word for a different consideration. Since one could say that iMac 21" become iMac 24", if iMac 27" becomes iMac 30"-32" this statement about no new iMac 27" is still true. Even an iMac 28" screen would still make this statement true.

Apple has a long history of saying things that don't support their upcoming product launch plans in short-term interests of pushing what is for sale RIGHT NOW. Since an iMac "Bigger" not yet launched can't make them any money now, such statements go with the usual flow of supporting the current offerings that CAN make them money now.

Business as usual. I wouldn't be surprised to see an iMac "bigger" revealed in 2024. Else, someone needs to followup to this statement asking if ANY iMac bigger than 24" will be released by Apple and see how they dance around that one.

I wonder if there is any tech journalist still alive to ask such a question.

 

[timmodugdale]

1,0000,000 UNLIKES

 

[Trusteft]

27-inch is the perfect size computer monitor.

Apple is obsessed with making their displays larger in size. That’s not progress.

I have owned and/or used computer monitors from 8 inches up to 40 inches. For me at least the perfect size so far is the 27 inch monitor. But that's just me.