Is a New 24-Inch iMac Coming in 2023? What We Know So Far

[MacRumors]

Apple in 2021 introduced the 24-inch iMac, with the redesigned machine featuring an array of bright colors and the new-at-the-time M1 chip. Since its 2021 debut, Apple has not refreshed the smaller iMac and the iMac line has all but been forgotten, but rumors suggest there is a new 24-inch iMac in the works.

This guide highlights everything that we know so far about a future 24-inch iMac.

Design

We are not expecting any external design changes to the 24-inch iMac, with rumors indicating it will use the same 24-inch display and the same bright color options. The iMac comes in green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, blue, and silver, and so far, there hasn't been an indication that Apple plans to add new colors.

The iMac features a brightly colored back with a softer color of the same shade for the front, along with a matching stand. All models have matching accessories, including mice, keyboards, and cabling. There are thick bezels around the iMac's display, including a thick chin, which has been an iMac design staple for years.

While there are no external changes expected, Apple could tweak the internal design somewhat to accommodate updated chip technology. There may also be a new manufacturing process for the stand, which could be indicative of minor design changes to the stand's look or functionality. The Studio Display, for example, has a height and tilt-adjustable stand, so Apple could perhaps add a height adjustment option to a future iMac.

For more on the current iMac, we have a dedicated roundup.

Chips

A refreshed 24-inch iMac is expected to use the next-generation M3 chip that will follow the current M2 chip. The M3 chip will be built on TSMC's 3-nanometer process, bringing notable power and efficiency improvements.

An iMac with an M3 chip would see significant performance improvements over the 2021 M1 chip model, both in terms of the CPU and GPU.

Launch Timing

A new 24-inch iMac is in an "advanced stage of development," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. It could come in the second half of 2023 at the earliest, and given that there are no design changes, it's likely ready to go and waiting on Apple to have new M3 chips ready.

A Larger iMac

Along with a refreshed 24-inch iMac, Apple may have plans for a larger-screened iMac Pro, but rumors about such a machine have been mixed. The 27-inch iMac was discontinued in March 2022 and was ultimately replaced with the Mac Studio and matching Studio Display.

There was talk of an "iMac Pro" with M3 Pro and M3 Max chips that would be sold alongside the 24-inch iMac, but we haven't heard much about it since last year.

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Article Link: Is a New 24-Inch iMac Coming in 2023? What We Know So Far

 

[Blackstick]

This would be my wife's next Mac, whenever Apple's ready we are.

 

[usersince86]

Wouldn't be mad if they also offered a space gray (or similar) option. Bring it on!

 

[munpip214]

Apple should come up with a regular cadence for their Macs. I don't really care if it is 1 year or 4. That being said there should be an M2 iMac.

 

[LeeW]

RIP the 27" iMac in favor of a new reasonably priced 32" iMac? Yeah, joker aint I.

 

[sw1tcher]

RIP the 27" iMac in favor of a new reasonably priced 32" iMac? Yeah, joker aint I.

Why not have both? Regular iMac goes from 24-inches to 27-inches and the iMac Pro gets a 32-inch display

 

[kiranmk2]

Apple should come up with a regular cadence for their Macs. I don't really care if it is 1 year or 4. That being said there should be an M2 iMac.

My feeling is that the M2 was slightly delayed and that future M chips will be released yearly. With that said I think only certain Macs will be updated to every M chip. I can see the laptops getting yearly updates and the desktops moved to 2 year cycles - perhaps with iMac and Studio on odd-numbered M chips and Mac Mini (and Mac Pro?) on even numbered M chips.

 

[LeeW]

hy not have both? Regular iMac goes from 24-inches to 27-inches and the iMac Pro goes from 27-inches to 32-inches.

I'll take that.

 

[kiranmk2]

RIP the 27" iMac in favor of a new reasonably priced 32" iMac? Yeah, joker aint I.

Lol - a 32" iMac would need a 6k screen to maintain retina - I'd love to see how much that costs...

 

[Jaro65]

This would be my wife's next Mac, whenever Apple's ready we are.

Same here. Waiting to upgrade my wife's Mac, though don't want to buy a 2-year-old machine now.

 

[Realityck]

For the 24" I like to see the option of a M2 Pro at least so you could have 32 GB RAM. A larger iMac could go the M2 Pro/MAX route.

 

[KaliYoni]

What? No iMac SE or iMac Air in the cards? Come on Apple, give us some cross-product line love! Nothing makes us veteran Apple users happier than branding confusion and crosstalk!!
;-)

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

A 31" iMac would be an ideal size display for me. There is potential out there.

• iMac (24") Display
• iMac Pro (27") Display
• iMac Pro Max (31" Display)

 

[crsh1976]

Apple's update pattern is whacked again.

You have a high-end model stuck on faster variants of the M1, con/prosumer models have all moved to the M2 except for the iMac, and still no Mac Pro in sight.

 

[Realityck]

Lol - a 32" iMac would need a 6k screen to maintain retina - I'd love to see how much that costs...

The older 27" design could fit a 29.5" panel if they went closer to the edge. Yeah that much bigger essentially same footprint on a desk. They could call that a 30" iMac as the 24" is actually a 23.5" panel.

 

[sw1tcher]

I'll take that.

The only problem then becomes pricing. A 27" iMac would probably start at $1499 or $1599 vs the 24-incher's current $1299. Apple needs something with a lower starting price. I suppose they could keep the 24" iMac around like how Apple does with M1 MacBook Air and 13" MacBook Pro

 

[daanodinot]

I know this sounds radical, but can we have a version with black bezels please? Every other display Apple sells has black bezels, so I’m not sure why the iMac needs to be the exception.

 

[CoolSpot]

I'm curious for any real justification for why the iMac should skip the M2 and be on unannounced M3 silicon instead. Nobody in the real world gives a **** about 5nm vs 3nm (especially on the desktop side) and it seems really pointless for Apple to upstage their own current lineup, especially with demand for laptops being soft and giving them more free production capacity for the base M2 chip.

I don't understand why people expect big surprises. Apple computers that will be released this year will be a 24" iMac with M2/M2 Pro chips and a Mac Studio with M2 Max/Ultra chips.

They aren't skipping to M3, they aren't making a Mac Pro, and I don't think they are going to make a VR headset (maybe AR glasses, but that's it).

 

[lkrupp]

Big iMac dreamers... dream on. Not happening, face reality.

 

[Brad7]

Yes, because I just bought one last month.

 

[ignatius345]

Apple should come up with a regular cadence for their Macs. I don't really care if it is 1 year or 4. That being said there should be an M2 iMac.

Agreed. But I think us iMac fans should probably face reality and realize that desktops a pretty small slice of Apple's whole pie. That cadence is likely to be a lot slower than laptops.

All that said, I'm here with everyone else waiting for a large and faster iMac since I spend 40 hours a week staring at the thing. Loving the M1 24" but it's not quite the replacement for the 27" I would like.

 

[Verified Whiskey]

This would be my wife's next Mac, whenever Apple's ready we are.

I’m in the exact same boat over here! When Apple drops it, it’s an instant buy for me.

 

[docbop]

Apple in 2021 introduced the 24-inch iMac, with the redesigned machine featuring an array of bright colors and the new-at-the-time M1 chip. Since its 2021 debut, Apple has not refreshed the smaller iMac and the iMac line has all but been forgotten, but rumors suggest there is a new 24-inch iMac in the works.

This guide highlights everything that we know so far about a future 24-inch iMac.

Design

We are not expecting any external design changes to the 24-inch iMac, with rumors indicating it will use the same 24-inch display and the same bright color options. The iMac comes in green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, blue, and silver, and so far, there hasn't been an indication that Apple plans to add new colors.

The iMac features a brightly colored back with a softer color of the same shade for the front, along with a matching stand. All models have matching accessories, including mice, keyboards, and cabling. There are thick bezels around the iMac's display, including a thick chin, which has been an iMac design staple for years.

While there are no internal changes expected, Apple could tweak the internal design somewhat to accommodate updated chip technology. There may also be a new manufacturing process for the stand, which could be indicative of minor design changes to the stand's look or functionality. The Studio Display, for example, has a height and tilt-adjustable stand, so Apple could perhaps add a height adjustment option to a future iMac.

For more on the current iMac, we have a dedicated roundup.

Chips

A refreshed 24-inch iMac is expected to use the next-generation M3 chip that will follow the current M2 chip. The M3 chip will be built on TSMC's 3-nanometer process, bringing notable power and efficiency improvements.

An iMac with an M3 chip would see significant performance improvements over the 2021 M1 chip model, both in terms of the CPU and GPU.

Launch Timing

A new 24-inch iMac is in an "advanced stage of development," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. It could come in the second half of 2023 at the earliest, and given that there are no design changes, it's likely ready to go and waiting on Apple to have new M3 chips ready.

A Larger iMac

Along with a refreshed 24-inch iMac, Apple may have plans for a larger-screened iMac Pro, but rumors about such a machine have been mixed. The 27-inch iMac was discontinued in March 2022 and was ultimately replaced with the Mac Studio and matching Studio Display.

There was talk of an "iMac Pro" with M3 Pro and M3 Max chips that would be sold alongside the 24-inch iMac, but we haven't heard much about it since last year.

Guide Feedback

Have questions about the upcoming 24-inch iMac or want to offer feedback on this guide? Send us an email here.

Article Link: Is a New 24-Inch iMac Coming in 2023? What We Know So Far

Screw the 24" bring back the 27" iMac with a M3 that would be great. Don't need all those stupid colors. Make it thicker like the old ones and lots of ports on the back.

 

[CalMin]

For those waiting on an M2 chip vs. an M1 chip. Why? Especially if you can get a deal on the M1. The difference isn't that much in real-terms and the M1 is still a hell of a chip. I would argue that if not for benchmarks, it would be hard to know if a computer had an M1 or an M2 without checking the specs - especially when used as intended (i.e. general purpose computing).

 

[Realityck]

For those waiting on an M2 chip vs. an M1 chip. Why? Especially if you can get a deal on the M1. The difference isn't that much in real-terms and the M1 is still a hell of a chip. I would argue that if not for benchmarks, it would be hard to know if a computer had an M1 or an M2 without checking the specs - especially when used as intended (i.e. general purpose computing).

There was a lot of YouTube video content editors that used the larger 23.5" screen to make multiple video sourced content that ran out of memory about 1/2 hour into content editing, hence the need for a 32 GB RAM 24" iMac. The M2 Pro would provide that. 16 GB Ram is just too little for that type of usage. M2 offering 24 GB Ram is marginal. This was found out back in the days people bought these for content creation when they first came out almost 2 years ago.