Gurman: Apple Still Working on 'Pro' iMac With Larger Screen

[Mac Fly (film)]

Decent size SSD in an iMac with an SD Card slot built-in will now cost you $8K. Bring back ports, Apple. Regular iMac should have all them ports. Pro iMac should have additional USB4 ports. Stop port-gimping your machines.

 

[Realityck]

The 'gigantic gap’ remains. It's between the undersized (relatively) underpowered 24-inch M1 iMac 8CPU/8GPU/8GB RAM ram for £1650 and the M1Max Studio (10/24/32) for £3500, inc. display. (In reality it would be around £4000 to include keyboard, mouse and 1TB SSD.) The ideal machine for me lies in the middle – a 27-inch 10/16/32 (16GB RAM, at a pinch) 1TB M1 Max 27-inch iMac for around £2650. I don’t need massive processing power (I just need to manipulate chunky RAWs in Photoshop), but I do need a bigger monitor than the 24-inch iMac. I’d pay more for pro-motion and HDR, significantly more for a 32-inch screen. So let’s say:
£2000 for decent spec 24-inch M1 iMac
£3000 for 27-inch M1 Max iMac ❤️
£4000 for Mac Studio + monitor

I get that we may have to wait for a cooler-running chip to squeeze into a faster iMac, but my point is that everyone’s mileage varies. My dream machine lies bang in the middle of that gap. Let’s see what specs the M2 Mini has.

You are right, there is a large gap in desktop pricing versus performance. It was worse before, you had only mini -> small/large iMac - > Mac Pro. The problem is the Mac Studio + Monitor is approx double what a 24" iMac represents. Apple has yet to show any of us anything but a tiered pricing for minimum amount of desktop solutions. There hasn't been really anything representing performance variations between M1 and M1Max/Ultra with desktops. Introducing a multiple M something in a Mac Pro is only helpful for a a few consumers and mostly business. Apple has heavily played the laptop suite in this card game with consumers, desktops is still a gamble especially with their poor trade in valuations lately IMHO. 🙂

 

[DotCom2]

I just want a large iMac Amateur.

LOL! I hear ya!

 

[HazardousT]

This completely flies in the face of what was reported when the 27" iMac was discontinued. Of course if Apple would have listened to users they wouldn't have gotten rid of the larger iMac in the first place but I digress.

 

[Lioness~]

I guess this guy has never heard of the Mac studio.

How would there be room for both a Mac Studio and iMac Pro in apple's lineup?

One can wonder? I doubt it. But who knows maybe just M2 base and/or pro chip 27" iMac's - we won't see any max or ultra.

I waited for a new larger iMac after my 2013 went downhill. Mac Studio and Studio Display is greater than any 27" iMac for me. It was a lot better that they released the Studio instead of a larger iMac first, at least for me. I can add another display later, and keep them with next Mac upgrade as well.

 

[JacquesleMac]

In my case I want a desktop mac, because I have a 27" iMac "late 2013" and I do not need a M1 Max or Ultra, but a normal M1 is insufficient for a Mac. The M1 Pro seems to me to be the ideal intermediate term for my use.

But there is only one computer that is equipped with the M1 Pro processors, and that is the MacBook Pro. But I don't want a laptop, and the desktop doesn't offer any with that processor.

It is rumored that the Mac mini will come out with the M2 and M2 Pro. It could be an option, although I find the Studio Display very expensive for what it offers (in Europe 1799 euros).

The iMac 24" M1 is insufficient in power and screen size. I would love to see a 27" (or 30") iMac with the M1 Pro, because it is just what I need, just as I bought the 27" iMac at the time with medium/high specs to have a powerful computer that, after 9 years, is still running with very decent performance.

I like the aesthetics and simplicity of the all in one, but I was already giving up on the launch of a larger version of the iMac. With this, I don't know whether to wait any longer or jump into buying the Mac mini M2 Pro and the Studio Display when it comes out.

My sentiments exactly (see comment #150). But I might get over my yearning for an all-in-one desktop if the next Mini proves powerful enough. If an M(x) powered 27-inch iMac is ever made, I hope the display gets the spec it deserves (mini-LED, variable dimming/refresh, HDR, etc). Apple only get away with selling the Studio Display for £1500 because there’s no competition.

 

[reyesmac]

An iMac that is as fast as the MacBook pro is the real m series 27 in imac, that one will come in at $1,000 more than the Mac Studio. The first few larger iMacs will just be macbook pros in an imac case, allowing those to be priced similar to macbook pros. The Mac Studio speed iMacs Pro's will start at the studio price and tack on extra for screen and whatever else they put in it so that means you are looking at a $4,000 and up imac pro. 3 tiers of iMac at the end of the day, covering all price points.

 

[Realityck]

Guess we all have to continue to wait for all the possible updates to faster AS processor based desktops manifest themselves.

 

[amartinez1660]

There are a lot of “Studio Display” vs “XDR” vs MacStudio setup and it all being a ripoff…
It makes me wonder, for those, have you given it a try? Do you have other similar apple products? Refurbished, used or otherwise?

The Studio Display isn’t exactly the same 5K panel from 5 years ago, it is great, brighter, solid, sturdy (minus the webcam, granted, even with the firmware upgrades… but at least it works ok now).

Those LG Panels that get pink or weird pixels all around? Never with the apple displays… I got 2 TB Displays, those are 10+ years old, still going insane strong as the day they were bought. Yes they were beyond expensive but worth it. Now I also got a Studio Display next to an 5K iMac 27” 2020 (plus one of those TB Displays) and it feels 3x better built (and leaner) than said TB Displays.

I have a friend with 2 XDRs, what a marvel to work with… sadly it is seriously out of my budget. And the overpriced stand? It’s built like a tank, it holds those things to life… I can see why they aren’t $100.

But that’s what it is, I’m too broke for 2 XDRs, that’s my problem… not that they are a ripoff, badly made, not enough value, etc.

Buy an M1 iMac if that’s what you can afford, it will be great, or an M2 Air and a normal-ish screen if that’s what you need, that will probably make people happy for their own needs.
Want and can afford a Mac Studio with a couple studio displays? Don’t look too hard on it, it will be an incredible setup for years to come.

I have come to the conclusion for my own purposes, if there’s a lot of overthinking then maybe there’s a lot of overshooting… happened for my mobile setup, wanted an 14” M1 Max, spent weeks thinking and waiting for availability. Came to terms with myself, went 14” M1 Pro, beyond happy with it.

M3 iMac Pro or M3 Mac Studio + displays? Sign me up for whatever appears by then.

 

[Tagbert]

Who knows what the iMac Pro would even be now. If they released a larger version of the M1 iMac, but with the M1 Pro chip in it (for argument's sake), that might take away a lot of potential customers for an iMac Pro.

Not to mention the Mac Studio and Studio Display/XDR combo has also taken away some of those customers for whom an iMac Pro might have been an option (I count myself as one of them).

How could they differentiate a standalone iMac Pro from the rest of their lineup - other than it being an all-in-one machine obviously?

The iMac Pro was a much-loved machine by those of us who bought it, but it was a short-term fix until the Mac Pro came along and the M1 chips have since addressed a lot of the other shortcomings in the Intel-based lineup which made people buy the iMac Pro.

That old iMac Pro was a different beast intended to either bridge customer until a new Mac Pro was ready or (if you listen to some) replace the Mac Pro before they changed direction.

If they do a larger iMac in the age of M-series, it may get an M# base model and it certainly will get an M# Pro and probably an M# Max. I don’t know if they will go all the way to an M# Ultra. It depends on where they want to place this in their line. Even if they call it an iMac Pro, I would not expect them to position it too close to the Mac Pro.

Some people have called for Apple to put a mini-LED promotion display in this hypothetical iMac Pro. Apple may but if they do, expect them to charge a significant premium for that display beyond what they are charging with the Studio Display.

 

[theorist9]

Tell me the job where you need 32" (and 27" won't cut it) and you don't make enough money to justify the purchase.

It's not an all or nothing thing where you simply couldn't do your job on a 27". Rather, it's about the fact that there are lots of jobs where the work would be much nicer on a 32" than an 27", yet you can't justify the cost of Apple's 32" (or there's no way your employer would buy you one).

That includes accountants working with large spreadsheets, coders (in both industry and academia) working with lots of lines of code, grad students creating scientific visualizations, engineers viewing CAD drawings, etc. Indeed, many of these could probably make full use of a 3 x 32" setup.

 

[CPx]

If we're talking a $5000 iMac Pro, then I'm not looking for that. But an iMac that goes where the regular 27-inch used to be priced? I'm in.

 

[mrr]

I just rather have a regular 27” iMac without the additional Pro cost. Coming from an Intel 27” iMac a regular M series iMac would be plenty fast for me.

 

[shinkansenwarrior]

In this case it may be justified, but Apple has so completely worn out the 'pro' moniker that I don't even know what the heck that means to them anymore.

I worked it out.....Apple have been hiding the fact that it actually stands for PROfit.

 

[_Spinn_]

I’m not sure I buy this rumor. Seems like the Mac Studio fills this niche.

 

[newyorksole]

If we're talking a $5000 iMac Pro, then I'm not looking for that. But an iMac that goes where the regular 27-inch used to be priced? I'm in.

yeah that’s my thought. because I use my 2019 27” so little, I definitely don’t want to spend more than $2K on a new one.

really leaning towards a notebook / monitor combo.

 

[Realityck]

I’m not sure I buy this rumor. Seems like the Mac Studio fills this niche.

A 27" 5K iMac was a complete kitted setup for $1800 to $2300 for standard models, no options. Studio Mac baseline is $1999, add keyboard $199, mouse $99, Studio Display $1599. (USD prices) No AppleCare, total $3896 USD before taxes.

 

[pappkristof]

I have the 2019 iMac 27” and really don’t know what my next computer will be. the new 24” is too small, but I’m also thinking of just doing a notebook and monitor combo.

anyone else in a similar boat? I barely use my iMac now and when I do it’s just for internet, music and photos.

maybe the future 15” MBA and Studio Display combo?

I think a 16” MBP would be overkill for me.

Same here with a 2020 iMac. I’ll probably wait for M2 or M3 Studio and buy the base model. However I really don’t know what display to use with it.

 

[JanoschR]

It's not an all or nothing thing where you simply couldn't do your job on a 27". Rather, it's about the fact that there are lots of jobs where the work would be much nicer on a 32" than an 27", yet you can't justify the cost of Apple's 32" (or there's no way your employer would buy you one).

That includes accountants working with large spreadsheets, coders (in both industry and academia) working with lots of lines of code, grad students creating scientific visualizations, engineers viewing CAD drawings, etc. Indeed, many of these could probably make full use of a 3 x 32" setup.

Yes, it's always nice(r) to have a large(r) display. It's also nice to get free lunch.

However, the rumored 32" iMac Pro also won't be cheap. If the XDR is completely out of your budget, this won't be an option either. I don't think there will be a casual 32" option from Apple anytime soon.

 

[theorist9]

Yes, it's always nice(r) to have a large(r) display. It's also nice to get free lunch.

However, the rumored 32" iMac Pro also won't be cheap. If the XDR is completely out of your budget, this won't be an option either. I don't think there will be a casual 32" option from Apple anytime soon.

Nothing you write contradicts my reply to your post, in which I explain you can be someone whose work strongly benefits from a 32" XDR, yet either not be in a position to afford it, or not have an employer who wants to spring for it. You asked for examples, and I supplied them. How about just acknowledging that?

Nor did I ever say anything about a free lunch. That's just a straw man, since I was saying pretty much the opposite: That because the 32" XDR's cost is high (i.e., about as far as you can get from a free lunch), it's out of reach of many who could benefit from it. That's not an argument for or against Apple's pricing. It's simply a statement of fact.

 

[gpat]

There are a lot of “Studio Display” vs “XDR” vs MacStudio setup and it all being a ripoff…
It makes me wonder, for those, have you given it a try? Do you have other similar apple products? Refurbished, used or otherwise?

Maybe they can't give them a try because the products are out of their budget. Duh.

 

[TightLines]

Apple certainly isn’t gaining anything by this delay… and most people aren’t going to just settle for a 24” if they have always been in the market for a 27”… they will just wait until a new 27” becomes available. And same goes fo people who already have a pro iMac… they aren’t going anywhere until the new version is/becomes available them… so no refresh/upgrading for those people.

IMHO -Apple needs to renew their focus on getting their “Pro/Advanced level” machines updated and to the market for reasonable attractive prices for that segment of their customer base… I don’t think its a supply chain issue, unless you consider the brain power that is supplied by the human as being part of that… they are lacking the quality minded people that once graced the hallways of this innovative company… and its starting to show. Not to leave without mention, they are listening way to much to the demands of the dark sided Wall Street elements within the company and not enough to the actual money makers (creative element) of Apple.

 

[theorist9]

I could see Apple doing this, but I think anyone expecting a pricing benefit to this over a Max Studio + Studio Display or Pro Mini + Studio Display might be up for disappointment.

We already know that Apple charges $1100 more for a 16" Max MBP than a Max Studio with identical specs (CPU/GPU/RAM/SSD). And they may want to charge ~ $500 more for an iMac than for a comparably-equipped 16" MBP (that's roughly what they did in 2019 for the iMac vs the 16" MBP). So right there you're at ~$1500 more for an iMac than for a Studio, comparably-equipped. I.e., $ iMac ~ $ Studio + $ Studio Display. By the time 2023 comes around they may have figured out how to produce a 30" display for what the 27" costs them now, so there's that.

As to who would buy this over a Max Studio + Studio Display or a Pro Mini + Studio Display (if the 2023 Studio Display has the same size and specs), I'm not sure—maybe those who like the clean look of an AIO? But once you attach peripherals, an AIO really isn't that much more Marie Kondo than a separate box + monitor.

 

[amartinez1660]

Maybe they can't give them a try because the products are out of their budget. Duh.

😅
But maybe if there’s a bit more from the rest of the reply in the quote it might not look to be such a duh moment.

But fair point, let me reiterate from the missing parts:

• Testing on someone else’s setup things that I don’t have or can’t buy, i.e. friends, coworkers, test in retail store (alluded to in “used, refurbished or otherwise”): said Studio Displays and XDRs didn’t feel like rippoffs at all. Premium? Yes. Ripoff? Heck no.
• Previous experiences can sway to pay for that premium price: 10+ years of -still strong as new- pair of TB Displays, plus tons of other devices old and new, personally.
• Granted, some people do and will hit bad luck, myself have returned devices big and small. But it has been easy and hassle free, always.
• It’s hard for me to call something I haven’t even seen in real life a bad, overly expensive, useless, “this cheaper option B is better” product. Even the Mac Wheels: maybe those people in movie studios or mobile-first setups need to be rolling their expensive gear around so much that the $600 wheels for their $10K+ machines is a no brainer? If they are built as a tank too, I could get the appeal for some.

Anyways, it is what it is… another opinion in a sea of opinions (about a completely random incoming iMac Pro rumor to boot).

 

[ascender]

That old iMac Pro was a different beast intended to either bridge customer until a new Mac Pro was ready or (if you listen to some) replace the Mac Pro before they changed direction.

If they do a larger iMac in the age of M-series, it may get an M# base model and it certainly will get an M# Pro and probably an M# Max. I don’t know if they will go all the way to an M# Ultra. It depends on where they want to place this in their line. Even if they call it an iMac Pro, I would not expect them to position it too close to the Mac Pro.

Some people have called for Apple to put a mini-LED promotion display in this hypothetical iMac Pro. Apple may but if they do, expect them to charge a significant premium for that display beyond what they are charging with the Studio Display.

Their lineup is so much more flexible now, catering to many different needs. There's still the odd strange model (Touch Bar M2), but overall its much better than it was, so there's no easy way to tell what this iMac Pro will be.

Could it be marketed as an iMac Studio? Or will it just be a larger screened iMac but with the Pro chip as an option?

I agree, anything with mini-LED, ProMotion etc will put the price way up. Would your average customer for this sort of machine pay that premium? I'm not sure, especially now that there's the XDR and Studio Displays available which can be connected to any of the current Macs.

I still think some customers looking to replace their iMac Pro may be tempted by a Mac Studio with external monitor (whether its Apple or one of the 5K ultrawides).