iMac With M2 and M2 Pro Chips Could Arrive Soon, Says Latest Conflicting Rumor

[JPack]

Given the cost of 3nm wafers, it's no surprise if Apple reserves those chips for Pro products for the next 12 months - iPhone Pro, iPad Pro, Mac/Book Pro.

There is this expectation that Apple must put the best chip in their entire lineup. Why? iPhone 14 already tells you that's not Apple's plan.

 

[guzhogi]

Somethings I wish for (but doubt will ever happen) in a new iMac:

• Lose the chin
  • Move any components from the chin behind the screen, or do a G4 iMac thing with the guts in the base
• Moveable screen a la G4 iMac
• Ability to add *additional* **internal** storage
  • M.2 or U.2 drives
• Touch screen / Apple Pencil support, at least as an option
  • Mainly for creatives

 

[guzhogi]

If it sells well, how come it does NOT get annual updates just like MBA and MBP? It clearly proves that iMac does NOT sell well.

I have to wonder, and this is just honest curiosity, if it's a chicken-and-egg problem to some extent (not ONLY reason,, of course)? Maybe it doesn't sell well because it's not updated often, and it doesn't get updated often because it doesn't sell well. Obviously, there can be be several other reasons it doesn't sell as well as Apple's other products/services. And here's the thing, there's probably multiple reasons why it doesn't sell, and doesn't get updated. I'm not every potential buyer, nor am I Tim Cook or any other executive who makes the decisions. I'm just some schlub on the street. What do I know?

 

[deevey]

Given the cost of 3nm wafers, it's no surprise if Apple reserves those chips for Pro products for the next 12 months - iPhone Pro, iPad Pro, Mac/Book Pro.

There is this expectation that Apple must put the best chip in their entire lineup. Why? iPhone 14 already tells you that's not Apple's plan.

History says they don't. The G3/G4 & G4/G5 co-existed and the 4 year old A13 all the way up to M2 is currently in use in their tablet lineup.

There's no reason their desktop/laptop lineup could/should not use the same strategy for different demographics and price tiers.

Honestly I'm surprised that they upgraded the MBA to M2 at all, rather than just re-design the chassis and keeping the (still fast as hell) M1 on board. IMHO it would have created a clear line in the sand between consumers deciding to upgrade to a MBP and given the 13" MBP some extra bragging rights to actually be called "Pro".

 

[Schizoid]

How about getting iMac on M2 asap, then M3 next year for everything?
Oh and can I have some more ram and storage please… thanks Tim.

Yours sincerely,
M. Nature

 

[Juicy Box]

it proves that the M1 sold well since they didnt updated with m2 and so on....

Not sure that what it means...

 

[Blackstick]

I have to wonder, and this is just honest curiosity, if it's a chicken-and-egg problem to some extent (not ONLY reason,, of course)? Maybe it doesn't sell well because it's not updated often, and it doesn't get updated often because it doesn't sell well. Obviously, there can be be several other reasons it doesn't sell as well as Apple's other products/services. And here's the thing, there's probably multiple reasons why it doesn't sell, and doesn't get updated. I'm not every potential buyer, nor am I Tim Cook or any other executive who makes the decisions. I'm just some schlub on the street. What do I know?

So few people even consider desktops these days.

It's not even on their radar, unless they're building a gaming PC. My wife (psychologist) and brother (attorney) just assume laptops are the sole choice these days. Apple knows this too. It's a MacBook Air and iPhone game, for the most part.

To quote my wife, "it's 2023, who would want a computer you have to plug in all the time? That's so 1990s." She's not stupid, she's got a PsyD... but she's the normal person in an Apple Store, not me.

iMacs are a niche, anything that depends on a permanent power cord plugged into the wall is, these days. The folks who do buy Mac desktops are extremely passionate, but we're also a very tiny audience. Fact of the matter is, most of us could get by on a MacBook Air and an external screen pretty happily. Which Apple is aware of.

 

[Juicy Box]

I find this hard to believe.

Why would they release an M2 iMac this late in the cycle?

No one is going to want it knowing M3 is around the corner.

It is strange.

My only thought is Apple trying to milk the M2 as along as they can, or maybe problems with the M3, or both.

 

[Unity451]

HOT: apple could do something at any moment

they also could not do something at any moment

That reminds me of this old Monty Python sketch...

 

[Juicy Box]

Or sells extremely well to certain demographics and is fast enough for these consumers in the current config.

This doesn't make any sense to me.

With this logic, the 2014 MM must have been one of Apple's best selling Macs ever.

 

[wallaby]

I really wish the AIO form factor would just die. The monitor will almost surely outlive the CPU and then it becomes useless. At the very least Apple, and others, should ensure the technology exists to use an outdated AIO as a second screen.

They make for very nice “appliance” computers. Historically it’s been a much better deal than buying separate desktop and monitor, and that’s especially true now with the overpriced ASD.

 

[Mac Hammer Fan]

I guess the M3 will be postponed for another year. A disappointment.

 

[orbital~debris]

I really wish the AIO form factor would just die. The monitor will almost surely outlive the CPU and then it becomes useless. At the very least Apple, and others, should ensure the technology exists to use an outdated AIO as a second screen.

What is it about the existence of this product form factor that affects you in any meaningful way? The way you phrase it, it does seem personal. There are many people who love this form factor.

I wouldn't say the display will outlive the CPU, as it's often treated much more as a computer that eventually becomes too slow for daily use – but only after many many years. The display gets well used as it's an integral part, and by the time the computer is too slow, the display is also old. I'd say your statement on the display outliving the CPU only really holds weight for the much smaller contingent of 'power users'.

 

[Chuckeee]

I came across a post a few days ago where someone turned their old 27" iMac into a 5K display, I wonder if that would be possible with the Mx iMac?

It would be difficult using the same approach (add a video driver card instead of the processor, GPU and memory) within the iMac case. There is significantly less volume available in the 24” M1 iMac case as compared to 27” Intel iMac case.

I guess you could kluge something onto the back of 24” iMac but how much effort is a 24” display worth?

 

[Chuckeee]

I'm sure anyone who bothered to read this story is wishing for iMac updates with better processors and bigger displays, but the cold hard truth is right here in this chart. Services pulls in triple the revenue of all Macs put together. The iPhone pulls in six times the revenue of all Macs. Let's all remember this when we start throwing around speculation about how much an updated iMac would or wouldn't impact Apple's bottom line. As much as I love my iMac, it's a footnote.


View attachment 2294939

A bit surprising the Mac revenue is still bigger than iPad revenue

 

[iZac]

iPads and Apple Vision Pro in Spring 2024?

First M3 products introduced at WWDC 2024?

Full M3 lineup filled out by Spring 2025?

 

[Adelphos33]

At this point all I want is some indication the current iMac will be updated at some point to be newest chips. Would love an M3 24 inch with 24 GB RAM

 

[BillyBurke]

I really wish the AIO form factor would just die. The monitor will almost surely outlive the CPU and then it becomes useless. At the very least Apple, and others, should ensure the technology exists to use an outdated AIO as a second screen.

Disagree…The AIO iMac is the perfect computer for most of us. A particular value in that it INCLUDES a color coordinated Mouse and Keyboard. I have been on the verge of pulling the trigger on a refurb iMac,but keep holding off for a “next generation” model. My 2019 very enhanced Intel iMac remains perfectly suitable, but I am in the “hobbyist” mode and would jump on a newer iMac even if the only improvements are wifi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3.

 

[Chuckeee]

It is strange.

My only thought is Apple trying to milk the M2 as along as they can, or maybe problems with the M3, or both.

Or this rumor is just not true

 

[BillyBurke]

32” 5k IMAC please.

Not happening.

 

[BillyBurke]

Its time for me to upgrade my iMac, but I was hoping for M3. Putting M2 when M3 is right around the corner is just bad. Don’t know if I will buy an M2 iMac…. Maybe just wait for M3.

I’ll buy the M2.

 

[mectojic]

I've been predicting this for a year now. iMac will definitely get M2. Apple isn't going to start launching M3 until long after the Vision Pro has been released.

 

[BillyBurke]

Somethings I wish for (but doubt will ever happen) in a new iMac:

• Lose the chin
  • Move any components from the chin behind the screen, or do a G4 iMac thing with the guts in the base
• Moveable screen a la G4 iMac
• Ability to add *additional* **internal** storage
  • M.2 or U.2 drives
• Touch screen / Apple Pencil support, at least as an option
  • Mainly for creatives

There are numerous hubs that add on storage ability and make a basic iMac into most anything you would like.

 

[Codeseven]

Ah, M2 is so last year.

 

[_Refurbished_]

I’m done buying expensive Macs, including the iMac. Get a Mini with upgraded RAM and a really nice monitor. Replace the Mini as necessary, keep the display. iMac displays are useless unless it’s being used as an iMac display. These newer Minis scream for most tasks and typically only need to be replaced to keep up with security updates.