New iMac Not Expected to Launch Until Late 2023 at Earliest

[Adelphos33]

Me, personally - I have had the 24" iMac since last summer, 16GB and 256GB SSD. I use to for basic browsing / home office stuff, and mainly to remote in to my Windows work machine when I work from home. I have only used about 100GB of the storage, so I think I am ok there for now.

I worry about the longevity of the storage, and theoretically would be interested in buying something like an M2/M3 generation iMac with maxed out RAM an d 1/2 TB SSD. I have also explored switching to a Mac mini / Apple Studio Display setup. However, here are some considerations

1) 27" Studio Display + Mac mini has a much larger / heaver footprint than my current 24" iMac
2) M2 Mac mini seems to have limited performance boost over M1 in single core performance, which is most of what I use
3) Everyone talks about how Chrome tabs are the biggest RAM drain - I don't use Chrome, so that's not an issue for me. I also don't use Lightroom, Photoshop, Final Cut Pro, Xcode, whatever else everyone says need a lot of memory. I use Citrix, Safari, Microsoft Office programs, Mail, etc.

I do run into situations where I had more screen space for multi tasking. But I worry something like a 27" iMac would be a $4000 machine without a base M2/M3 option.

 

[sam_dean]

but Adobe apps tend not to scale their performance with multiple cores beyond four or so, so they see less of an advantage from the added cores of the Pro or Max variant.

Apple must have observed some users that run other apps with Adobe at the same time that could use the spare cores.

I guess they don't plan on releasing a larger one. Too bad, was a great machine and 24" is too small.

I agree but consider that back in 2007 the "large" iMac was 24" while the small one was 20". I had the 20" back the week of availability and I coveted the 24".

Now, the 24" is small and I want my iMac 27" replacement. The 27" first came out in 2009 then received its last enclosure refresh in 2012. 5K display was released in 2014.

 

[UK-MacAddict]

More dubious sales tactics to try and push as many sales of their Studio Display and Mac Mini/Mac Studio.

Every new product release shows Apples disdain for their customers.

They are pushing the value out of every product line.

Why provide a better deal iMac when we can charge double to make them buy the computer and display separately.

Pushing hard on brand loyalty from customers. It’s going to burst soon.

 

[SpotOnT]

why do people keep saying that? It will NOT. You will have 2 additional cables and 1 extra box sitting on your desk. Apple is all about design right? So give us the imac clean set up.

Probably because people buy a computer to use, not just look at.

I get that form has a place, and I appreciate well built and designed products, but to say that a Mac mini and Studio Display combination are completely incomparable to an iMac seems a bit extreme.

 

[Reggiebaldwin]

the classic silver iMac is the definition of “neutral color”.View attachment 2157568

There’s no contrast with this color. I think the color experiment may be over due to the discounts only being offered on those colors.

 

[orbital~debris]

That wouldn’t be the case if Apple lowers the price of the existing/new iMac. The Mac Studio setup is too confusing for new consumers. More importantly, it’s kinda pricey.

This.

It's easy to get carried away as people focussed on the intricacies of Apple, but it's important to remember there remain so many of a more casual type of customer who want to bring home a computer that looks good (and the back is still nicer than the front of the other guys'!), plug it in (one cable!) and get online without a lot of hassle.

I know for 'us' a Mac Studio isn't confusing, but to that type of customer, the need to connect two devices, place them etc. and deal with the intrusion of something much more 'tech' feeling / much less 'friendly' in appearance (cold versus colourful) in their home can be a deal-breaker. And that's before the more complex purchase, where it's not "buy iMac and you're done." but two components, and uncertainty over whether you need other elements to connect or control.

Don't forget, Apple got here by making computers for the rest of us.

 

[75Batt]

10 or so years ago we would often get updates 2x a year and now Apple has their own chip that is like clockwork based on iPhone chip they are not even able to do yearly updates. The pandemic excuse can't be played forever as things are getting better. If they could update a product with M2 last summer than why not update the iMac and other products that use M2 with it? We should get updates every year just like iPhone does. Its all based on the same fundamentals. So if iPhone can be on yearly updates so can the other chips be. So, things like this:

Mx fall
Mx pro/max spring
Mx ultra june

That way, the ultra gets update the last and then the whole cycle starts again.
We will get predictable timeframes for all the products which is easier for the customer and Apple gets their PR spread out throughout the year with logical timelines. Apple wins, customer wins.

Apple know exactly what they are doing. There is no need to hit this annual timeframe just to appease fanboys who aren’t buying the machines. The demand dictates how often machines are updated. We’re locked into annual updates on software updates because they commited to them and look how that’s turning out

 

[MacRazySwe]

I said it from the moment the M1 iMac was released - there is no USP for an iMac these days.

- It doesn't offer more performance
- It doesn't offer more connectivity
- It doesn't offer more storage
- It doesn't offer a bigger screen. In fact, most are used to a 27" display these days and Pros have moved on to 32" (if not more)

The new iMac was a chance for Apple to completely rethink the product-line, but they completely missed the shot. They could have done something really special. Think iMac G4 style with Surface Studio type functionality with Touch Input, for the creatives. They could have offered some "Home Hub" functionality (remember Front Row?) to make it a great family computer. They could have allowed inputs from Gaming Consoles with HDMI input. ...At the very, very least, Apple should have offered Target Display Mode, so at least everyone in the household could benefit from the display and the space it consumes.

These days the iMac isn't adding any value. Adding to that, it's competing for space with peoples work-from-home setups. I guess most have a nice external display by now. With USB-C, there is no cable clutter anymore either.

I don't think they sell many. My local store has had a silver one on sale for more than a year...

This pains me to say, as I've always been a fan of the iMac and had everything from the first white iMac G5 17", to the 27" Intel, but unless Apple decides to really invest in the product line, I think its days are counted.

...Or, their profit margins are huge on the new M1 model and Apple is still happy despite the (assumingly) poor sales.

 

[sam_dean]

For what reason? Are you looking to buy one every year?

Most people would prefer that year model's product.

I wouldn't want to buy a 2019 Mac Pro unless I'm gonna make money from it.

 

[Bug-Creator]

I agree but consider that back in 2007 the "large" iMac was 24" while the small one was 20". I had the 20" back the week of availability and I coveted the 24".

.... and 2 years before that the G5 iMac was available in 20" and 17" ......
.... go further back and 17" was the "big screen" option for almost the complete G4 run of iMac.

The 24" with it's colors and entry level specs is exactly what the target audience for the machine needs and wether there is enough market (beyond the vocal minority on this site) to make a bigger version viable remains to be seen.

 

[sam_dean]

I said it from the moment the M1 iMac was released - there is no USP for an iMac these days.

- It doesn't offer more performance
- It doesn't offer more connectivity
- It doesn't offer more storage
- It doesn't offer a bigger screen. In fact, most are used to a 27" display these days and Pros have moved on to 32" (if not more)

The new iMac was a chance for Apple to completely rethink the product-line, but they completely missed the shot. They could have done something really special. Think iMac G4 style with Surface Studio type functionality with Touch Input, for the creatives. They could have offered some "Home Hub" functionality (remember Front Row?) to make it a great family computer. They could have allowed inputs from Gaming Consoles with HDMI input. ...At the very, very least, Apple should have offered Target Display Mode, so at least everyone in the household could benefit from the display and the space it consumes.

These days the iMac isn't adding any value. Adding to that, it's competing for space with peoples work-from-home setups. I guess most have a nice external display by now.

I don't think they sell many. My local store has had a silver one on sale for more than a year...

This pains me to say, as I've always been a fan of the iMac and had everything from the first white iMac G5 17", to the 27" Intel, but unless Apple decides to invest in the product line, I think its days are counted.

Odds are it fits the majority of users' use case.

I agree it isn't a product for people like us but it has a place for people that are the majority & are not us.

Apple will sell more iMac 24" M1 than any iMac 27" replacement.

 

[wozwebs]

I’ve just added a Crucial X8 2TB portable SSD drive to my Late 2017 27” iMac with 40GB of RAM and it’s given it a new lease of life. Flying now and not seen the beach ball swirling once which was a daily occurrence with the internal Fusion Drive. Don’t want to drop to a 24” screen and mini plus new display too expensive really.

 

[SpotOnT]

Can someone give me an example of something they want to do with an M2 machine that is impossible with the M1, or that will take a ridiculously long time?

And where the iMac factor is crucial so that they can't/won't invest in an M2 machine with another form factor?

You probably should also consider longevity. M2 will likely get longer software support from Apple. Someone who buys an iMac today for the same price as someone who bought an iMac two years ago, might want to get just as long of software support. Having an M2 iMac is the way to do that.

I guess the other way to do it, is Apple could lower the price of their macs every year, the way they lower the price on the iPhones that are a year old.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

With how frantic these commentsare you’d think the current iMac is old.
It hasn’t even been out a full two years, 21 months.
The MacBook Air was barely touched between March 2015 and October 2018.
The Mac Mini went two years without an update, followed by four years without an update, followed by another two years without an update.
The iMac itself has gone quite a while without an update before now.
There was no updates between October 2015 and June 2017, and then again between June 2017 and March 2019.
It’s not even dated, the current iPad Air (not even a year old) has the M1.
An M3 iMac this fall will be a perfectly good update from the current M1, absolutely no reason for a stopgap.

 

[75Batt]

Most people would prefer that year model's product.

I wouldn't want to buy a 2019 Mac Pro unless I'm gonna make money from it.

‘Most people’ who are buying this machine are happy with what it’s offering. The year is of no significance and I tell you that from my experience of selling Apple products. Just because you don’t doesn’t mean everyone doesn’t. Apple know the customer base for this machine and it’s not a pro, it’s wasted resource to update each year when it’s not needed.

 

[sam_dean]

Apple know exactly what they are doing. There is no need to hit this annual timeframe just to appease fanboys who aren’t buying the machines. The demand dictates how often machines are updated. We’re locked into annual updates on software updates because they commited to them and look how that’s turning out

The annual timeframe is more on aligning Mac chip technology with that of the iPhone chip.

Whatever tech improvement released in any iPhone for that year's September would ideally be applied to that November's Mac.

In theory it simplifies the supply chain of Apple.

For buyers the release becomes somewhat predictable so we can plan ahead in preparation of an upgrade.

I and many others schedule our purchases of goods & services and try to align funding to support the acquisition.

My way of buying

- iPhone: every 2 years as a business expense
- All other devices: after final Security Update unless change of use case like a business project
- Car: every 100,00km

 

[Adelphos33]

I have no idea how successful the 24" iMac is - but I don't understand how a lot of people dismiss the product

1) It is based on the excellent M1 chip - when this chip was released, everyone agreed it was a huge leap over comparable Intel chips, and it still performs great. The M1 MacBook Air (the same computer, but with worst thermal), for example, is still highly recommended

2) The industrial design (even if controversial for the white bezels) was updated, and brand new. Plus it is one of the smallest footprint machines available

3) It comes with an excellent screen, speaker and webcam combination. Plus the machine can be ordered with color matched keyboard (including and extended one) and trackpad

4) You can spec a pretty powerful, long lasting machine for an all-in price of under $2,000

The 24" iMac - today - is an excellent machine. It may not meet your needs, but it is objectively excellent

 

[sam_dean]

‘Most people’ who are buying this machine are happy with what it’s offering. The year is of no significance and I tell you that from my experience of selling Apple products. Just because you don’t doesn’t mean everyone doesn’t. Apple know the customer base for this machine and it’s not a pro, it’s wasted resource to update each year when it’s not needed.

Think of it like buying a brand new car. Some people wait for the next refresh with the new trim or colors.

For the iMac 24" M1... you are probably correct as it is marketed as a consumer device. Like a toaster or microwave.

 

[sam_dean]

I have no idea how successful the 24" iMac is - but I don't understand how a lot of people dismiss the product

1) It is based on the excellent M1 chip - when this chip was released, everyone agreed it was a huge leap over comparable Intel chips, and it still performs great. The M1 MacBook Air (the same computer, but with worst thermal), for example, is still highly recommended

2) The industrial design (even if controversial for the white bezels) was updated, and brand new. Plus it is one of the smallest footprint machines available

3) It comes with an excellent screen, speaker and webcam combination. Plus the machine can be ordered with color matched keyboard (including and extended one) and trackpad

4) You can spec a pretty powerful, long lasting machine for an all-in price of under $2,000

The 24" iMac - today - is an excellent machine. It may not meet your needs, but it is objectively excellent

Market positioning and the audience that visit product rumor sites. We disproportionately represent a specific Apple buyer.

Like most assume everyone uses Terminal or CLI. In the 23 years of using Macs I try to avoid it.

We want the latest and greatest. As most iMac users here may be sporting a 27" model then we'd want a replacement for that.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

This also points to the OTHER reality: while I suspect a lot of "I just want an 27" iMac with silicon" crowd is driven by classic pricing recollections, it seems obvious that a new iMac "bigger" will not roll out at < $2K pricing. I suspect that if there is one, it will have a "starting at" about DOUBLE the price we remember. Why? Because Apple just proved to both themselves and the market that they could strip out the entire computer and sell only the screen for the old "starting at..." price of iMac 27".

When I try to imagine the iMac "bigger" resurrection, I think about Studio Monitor plus MBpro Mac tech "guts" being added into it. Look at 14" MBpro, subtract something for that screen then add that to Studio Monitor pricing. To me, that probably gets pricing of an iMac "bigger" at about $3499 give or take a few hundred. And I suspect that will be minimal specs... so nicely equipped probably runs north of $4K.

Apple being Apple, I further expect it to be branded "PRO" and thus pricing of a pro-branded iMac already has a pricing precedent of north of $4K from a few years ago.

I wonder how much of the enthusiasm for a new iMac "bigger" would shift if it jettisons the assumption of relatively high value pricing like the prior iMac 27"?

Studio plus whole Silicon Mac inside for "starting at..." below $2K. WOW! Relative to all Macs, that would be quite a value.

But set that "starting at..." per the logic shared above and it seems very best case MIGHT get a bare minimum spec at $2999 and- to me anyway- starting at $3499.

There’s a space between the $1999 M1max Studio and the $3999 M1ultra where I’ve always expected an iMac Pro.
I also think another way they’ll drive up the price past $3000 is by giving it an extra special panel, may be a mini LED 120HZ display like the new MacBook pros and iPad Pro.

 

[75Batt]

The annual timeframe is more on aligning Mac chip technology with that of the iPhone chip.

Whatever tech improvement released in any iPhone for that year's September would ideally be applied to that November's Mac.

In theory it simplifies the supply chain of Apple.

For buyers the release becomes somewhat predictable so we can plan ahead in preparation of an upgrade.

I and many others schedule our purchases of goods & services and try to align funding to support the acquisition.

My way of buying

- iPhone: every 2 years as a business expense
- All other devices: after final Security Update unless change of use case like a business project
- Car: every 100,00km

The demand of the product clearly does not warrant annual update and so from a business perspective doesn’t make sense to spend money on resource to achieve no sales boost. Buyers of machines like the iMac are not necessarily tech fans who will stay up to date on realease schedules regardless of when you make them. Just because you know there will be a new machine every year does not increase the purchase frequency of machines like this so has no business benefit to Apple.

 

[sam_dean]

I’ve just added a Crucial X8 2TB portable SSD drive to my Late 2017 27” iMac with 40GB of RAM and it’s given it a new lease of life. Flying now and not seen the beach ball swirling once which was a daily occurrence with the internal Fusion Drive. Don’t want to drop to a 24” screen and mini plus new display too expensive really.

Your 2017 should get its final Security Update hopefully as late as early 2027.

If you upgraded on its 5th year then good timing. Another 5 year of good service.

So you'd be jumping from a 14nm Intel chip to a 1.5nm (A15) Mac chip by 2027.

 

[TigerNike23]

Then cut the friggin price already. Even if it’s just $50 or $100. An M1 iMac in 2023 when the Mini has an M2 is a joke.

 

[Tagbert]

Then cut the friggin price already. Even if it’s just $50 or $100. An M1 iMac in 2023 when the Mini has an M2 is a joke.

Apple just doesn’t cut prices. They either update the product or let it ride, but they keep the price to hold that price point. The only time they drop the price is if they have a replacement product and then they discount the older model if they keep it around.

 

[sam_dean]

Apple just doesn’t cut prices. They either update the product or let it ride, but they keep the price to hold that price point. The only time they drop the price is if they have a replacement product and then they discount the older model if they keep it around.

What would make for a good PR move of Apple is to keep to current MSRP and Mac chips but double RAM & SSD quantity.

Dream Macs 2023

MBP 16"

- M2 Pro
- 12-Core CPU
- 19-Core GPU
- 32GB RAM LPDDR5
- 1TB SSD ~7.5GB/s
- $2499
- 96W

iMac 27" replacement with 27" 5K, 30" 5.5K or 32" 6K display

- M2 Pro
- 10-Core CPU
- 16-Core GPU
- 32GB RAM LPDDR5
- 1TB SSD ~7.5GB/s
- $2599
- ~100W