iMac Pro Launched Five Years Ago Today

[MacRumors]

Apple's iMac Pro launched five years ago today, offering a high-end all-in-one desktop machine to bridge the gap between new Mac Pro models.

In April 2017, Apple uncharacteristically apologised for its approach to the Mac in recent years and pre-announced it was working on a "completely rethought" Mac Pro with a modular design, a new pro-level iMac, and a new high-end external display. At WWDC that year, Apple unveiled the iMac Pro, after years of rumors about a "Pro" iMac. The iMac Pro sought to placate many of Apple's discontented professional Mac users, coming around four years after the launch of the controversial "trashcan" Mac Pro, but two years before the current Mac Pro, which returned to a modular tower design.

Apple presented the iMac Pro as "the most powerful Mac ever made." It featured 8-, 10-, 14-, or 18-core Intel Xeon processor options, a 5K display, AMD Vega graphics, ECC memory, and 10 Gigabit Ethernet, with a starting price of $4,999. It was also the first Mac to contain a custom T2 chip, as well as the first desktop Mac to be available in Space Gray. While it did not have a slot to easily access the memory like the 27-inch iMac, the processor, memory, and storage were not soldered in place and could easily be removed if the display was disassembled.

In March 2021, Apple announced that it was discontinuing the iMac Pro. By that time, the machine had been surpassed by the 2019 Mac Pro, a significant final update for the 27-inch iMac, and the first Apple Silicon Macs. The iMac Pro's position in Apple's product lineup is now effectively held by the Mac Studio and the Studio Display.

Yet after the launch of the 24-inch Apple silicon iMac in April 2021 and the discontinuation of the 27-inch iMac in March 2022, interest in an iMac Pro with a larger display has again spiked. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman believes that Apple is still "working on a larger-screened iMac aimed at the professional market," a rumor supported by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Yet other reports claim Apple has no plans to release a new high-end iMac at all.

Article Link: iMac Pro Launched Five Years Ago Today

 

[mabaker]

The thermal design is still unmatched.

 

[stocklen]

thats just it though...

IF apple ever *need* to release a bigger screen iMac, it will always be for the "pro" market and with a price tag to match.

I think theres a very significant reason that the 24" iMac wasnt launched in conjunction with a bigger screen model... and those who are *still* waiting (nearly 2 years later) I think will be disappointed that it just isnt coming... at least one aimed for the "home" market.

As the article states... apple very much cater for the "pro" market with the Mac Studio and Studio display. "home" users who want the bigger screen also have the option of the studio display paired with a mac mini.

I think its fair to assume by now that a "27"+ version" just isnt coming.

 

[frou]

Very nice machine. Looking back, I should have just got one of these, because I ended up creating a frankenstein version consisting of a maxed out Intel Mac Mini, Vega64 eGPU and 27" 5K monitor.

I wonder how many more supported macOS releases the iMac Pro will get.

 

[cicalinarrot]

Very nice machine. Looking back, I should have just got one of these, because I ended up creating a frankenstein version consisting of a maxed out Intel Mac Mini, Vega eGPU and 27" 5K monitor.

That's what I would have done, actually, just for the much better repairability. A "pro" machine you can't open to blow dust away and change the thermal paste is a joke.

 

[TwoBytes]

It's still a powerhouse. Apple needs to revive this iMac Pro concept

 

[Leon Ze Professional]

Wow, a long time between drinks?

 

[MacRS4]

This is probably my fave apple MacOS machine I've ever owned. It was just so capable.

 

[BvizioN]

The fabric of time is a scary stuff. Feels like yesterday!

 

[DMG35]

I loved mine for the 4 years I owned one. They are still crazy expensive in the Apple refurbished store.

 

[Pezimak]

The computer Apple made to fill a hole in the market they created, and it proved to be very popular. Only to now seemingly be scrapped. Shame.
iMac Pro is still very capable even today, probably the best next option next to the current Mac Pro and old cheese grater machine if you need boot camp.

 

[Unggoy Murderer]

I was hoping to see a new iMac sometime soon, however having had time to play and stress out the new MacBook Pros with the M1 Pro / Max chips, I don't see myself buying a Mac desktop again.

Pretty set on my next personal Mac being a MacBook Pro 14" with a couple of large, good quality 4K monitors and a docking station.

 

[kyjaotkb]

Apple is great at creating lovingly designed and very powerful (on release date) pro machines that are expensive, never get updates, are hard to upgrade and get replaced by another entirely new concept a few years later. Cube, Mac Pro 2013, iMac Pro... Mac Studio? Despite their lack of upgradeability (the Powermac G4 and first gen Mac Pro are exceptions that will forever be cherished) these machines all offered a few good years of solid performance and kept their owners happy.

 

[ascender]

The thermal design is still unmatched.

I loved that machine. I ended up putting a new CPU in it and it was all I needed for my work until Apple Silicon came along.

If Apple did a new version with a 32" screen, I'd ditch my Mac Studio in a heartbeat.

 

[Unggoy Murderer]

Apple is great at creating lovingly designed and very powerful (on release date) pro machines that are expensive, never get updates, are hard to upgrade and get replaced by another entirely new concept a few years later. Cube, Mac Pro 2013, iMac Pro... Mac Studio? Despite their lack of upgradeability (the Powermac G4 and first gen Mac Pro are exceptions that will forever be cherished) these machines all offered a few good years of solid performance and kept their owners happy.

You forgot the current Mac Pro which is highly serviceable.

 

[diggy33]

I started a new job last October, and was walking through our warehouse late December and spotted one on the shelf. It had a cracked screen, and the stand was slightly bent. The screen damage was actually in the bezel, not on the display, so I took it and powered it on. Come to find out, it had about 2 weeks left of AppleCare+ warranty coverage. I called Apple and scheduled the repair, and for $99 they replaced the screen and stand; I've been using it for work ever since and its still a beast. 14-core, 64GB of RAM. I'm going to use it until I cant anymore.

 

[ColdShadow]

in terms of design they should have continued that amazing design..refinement was all they needed to do..
the new iMacs are such inferior, step-down designs..I don't know who came up with the new boring , educational, class room theme I really don't like it.

 

[philcourage]

Very nice machine. Looking back, I should have just got one of these, because I ended up creating a frankenstein version consisting of a maxed out Intel Mac Mini, Vega64 eGPU and 27" 5K monitor.

I wonder how many more supported macOS releases the iMac Pro will get.

I actually would have done what you did. You can always update only the Mac Mini as you need a better one. The iMac Pro was really nice, though.

 

[philcourage]

in terms of design they should have continued that amazing design..refinement was all they needed to do..
the new iMacs are such inferior, step-down designs..I don't know who came up with the new boring , educational, class room theme I really don't like it.

Honestly, to me the iMac G4 will always be peak Apple design. No iMac after that one look good to me. Just my opinion, not a fact or anything.

 

[flottenheimer]

And here we are. Once again waiting for Pro desktop hardware.

I seriously hope they get it right this time (🔥 M-series chip + a slot and real support for any stock NVIDIA/AMD graphics card 🔥 sounds like the only real solution to me). Not getting my hopes up, though.

 

[fiatlux]

The iMac 5k and, to a lesser extent, the iMac Pro were pretty good deals in Apple’s lineup. I am afraid Apple thinks it might be more profitable to sell you a Mac Studio and the matching Studio Display rather than cannibalise its sales with a new large iMac.

 

[flottenheimer]

Honestly, to me the iMac G4 will always be peak Apple design. No iMac after that one look good to me. Just my opinion, not a fact or anything.

4th gen iPod Shuffle is peak Apple design to me. Each to his own : )

 

[kyjaotkb]

You forgot the current Mac Pro which is highly serviceable.

Yeah, it's powerful and serviceable but the base model costs a lot more than what the Mac Pro (2006) or the Powermac G4 cost, and it has seen very few updates from Apple since its release ~3 years ago. It's in its own category

 

[Unggoy Murderer]

Yeah, it's powerful and serviceable but the base model costs a lot more than what the Mac Pro (2006) or the Powermac G4 cost, and it has seen very few updates from Apple since its release ~3 years ago. It's in its own category

$5000 USD in 2022 is about $3400 in 2006, so not too far off.

 

[R2FX]

if the new iMac Pro doesn’t change automatically color based on chosen pronouns for that day it’s a fail

/s