Non-pro 27"+ iMac M1/2?

[weezin]

I used a 2011 27" iMac for a long while before switching over to a 2018 Mac Mini + 30" Cinema Display. I did this because a) I got the Mac Mini cheap and b) I loved the large 30" for both screen size and overall "retro" Apple aesthetic. I use the Mini + 30" with external speakers, external webcam, etc and am getting to the point where I want to simply these things all back into an iMac-like device.

The M1 24" iMac is incredibly appealing to me, aside from the screen size. I think I really want (and need, to a certain extent) a 27"+ sized monitor.

My main question is - what are the chances that Apple comes out with a non-"pro" 27"+ screen size iMac next year? I would ideally like to pay up to ~$1700-ish for an iMac with an M1/2 chip with a larger screen and I'm guessing the rumored "pro" iMac will to be within my reach.

A similar, but different question would be - how many of you went from a 27" iMac/screen to the M1 24" iMac? How was that transition for you in terms of screen real estate?

 

[UltimateSyn]

My personal theory and expectation is that bigger will equal “Pro” in the iMac line, just like the MacBook and iPhone and iPad lines. I think the 27”+ iMac (called the iMac Pro) will start with 512GB of storage, 16GB of RAM and an M1 Pro processor. Launching 1H 2022. The smaller 24” iMac will remain the consumer model and get the M2, M3, etc.

That‘s what this leaker is saying, too:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1454461506280636419

FWIW I owned the 24” iMac and I thought the screen size was perfect. I wasn’t coming from a 27” display, though.

 

[glenthompson]

I went from a MBA with 27” Thunderbolt Display to the 24” iMac. I didn’t like the height of the 27” display and found the 24” to be a perfect size for me. I don’t tend to load a lot of different windows on the screen.

Sometime earlier this year someone posted a wallpaper that simulated a 24” display on the 27”. Really useful for determining if the 24” would be suitable.

 

[weezin]

My personal theory and expectation is that bigger will equal “Pro” in the iMac line, just like the MacBook and iPhone and iPad lines. I think the 27”+ iMac (called the iMac Pro) will start with 512GB of storage, 16GB of RAM and an M1 Pro processor. Launching 1H 2022. The smaller 24” iMac will remain the consumer model and get the M2, M3, etc.

That‘s what this leaker is saying, too:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1454461506280636419

FWIW I owned the 24” iMac and I thought the screen size was perfect. I wasn’t coming from a 27” display, though.

Thanks. That's what I was afraid of! I don't really need a "pro" machine, but certainly appreciate the extra screen size. For my use case, it would be great if they basically made a 27"+ version of the 24" with the same M1/2/3 processors. However, it seems like if they were going to do that, they might have done it when they introduced the 24" so my hopes aren't very high.

I went from a MBA with 27” Thunderbolt Display to the 24” iMac. I didn’t like the height of the 27” display and found the 24” to be a perfect size for me. I don’t tend to load a lot of different windows on the screen.

Sometime earlier this year someone posted a wallpaper that simulated a 24” display on the 27”. Really useful for determining if the 24” would be suitable.

That's good to know. The 27" (or actually, the 30" that I use) is perfect for me and if anything, I wouldn't mind going larger. I do tend to have multiple windows open at once, so the size is beneficial for me. I still would like to see that wallpaper you mention though..

 

[UltimateSyn]

Thanks. That's what I was afraid of! I don't really need a "pro" machine, but certainly appreciate the extra screen size. For my use case, it would be great if they basically made a 27"+ version of the 24" with the same M1/2/3 processors. However, it seems like if they were going to do that, they might have done it when they introduced the 24" so my hopes aren't very high.


That's good to know. The 27" (or actually, the 30" that I use) is perfect for me and if anything, I wouldn't mind going larger. I do tend to have multiple windows open at once, so the size is beneficial for me. I still would like to see that wallpaper you mention though..

The good news is that the expected price is only a few hundred $ more than the current 27" iMac. That same leaker said a starting price "at or around $2000." I think that's a little optimistic but it'll be a far cry from the $5k starting price of the former iMac Pro. Here's a quote of my post from another thread on that topic:

Definitely not $1999 because the 512/16 24" M1 iMac is already $1899. I would say $2499 to start (an increase of $300 over the current 512/16 27" Intel iMac). Maybe even $2399 if they're binning the base model's processor.

They only raised prices by $100-$200 on the Macs that have been redesigned with Apple Silicon so far (even the MBPs with their insane feature set) so I expect that trend to more or less continue.

 

[glenthompson]

Thanks. That's what I was afraid of! I don't really need a "pro" machine, but certainly appreciate the extra screen size. For my use case, it would be great if they basically made a 27"+ version of the 24" with the same M1/2/3 processors. However, it seems like if they were going to do that, they might have done it when they introduced the 24" so my hopes aren't very high.


That's good to know. The 27" (or actually, the 30" that I use) is perfect for me and if anything, I wouldn't mind going larger. I do tend to have multiple windows open at once, so the size is beneficial for me. I still would like to see that wallpaper you mention though..

Here is the post https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...e-new-24.2292999/?post=29811084#post-29811084

 

[uller6]

I have the 27" at work and the 24" M1 at home. Both are great machines. I appreciate the size of the 27", but the 24" is fine. My office at home has lots of windows, and the white bezels look great. Nearly everything about the 24" iMac is better than the 27" with the exception of only being able to drive one external display. I hope Apple brings the M1 pro to the rumored larger iMac so it can use two external displays.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

I went from a MBA with 27” Thunderbolt Display to the 24” iMac. I didn’t like the height of the 27” display and found the 24” to be a perfect size for me. I don’t tend to load a lot of different windows on the screen.

Sometime earlier this year someone posted a wallpaper that simulated a 24” display on the 27”. Really useful for determining if the 24” would be suitable.

Whoa do u have a link to this? I'd also like to find something like that in order to test 14 vs 16 on my 27" monitor hahaga

 

[CWallace]

My main question is - what are the chances that Apple comes out with a non-"pro" 27"+ screen size iMac next year? I would ideally like to pay up to ~$1700-ish for an iMac with an M1/2 chip with a larger screen and I'm guessing the rumored "pro" iMac will to be within my reach.

I am hoping Apple is able to hit the $1999-2299 price point for the "iMac Pro" with the 8/14 M1 Pro, 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD. They will be saving the cost of the Intel CPU and AMD GPU so hopefully that counters the cost of the M1 Pro, the extra 8GB of RAM over the Intel model and the MiniLED display.