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So this cheaper iMac...

casperes1996

casperes1996

macrumors 604
Original poster
Jan 26, 2014
7,656
5,838
Horsens, Denmark
Rumor has it that Apple will soon launch a cheaper iMac to go along with the updated versions of the current lineup. I'd like to hear your thought on potential hardware, and what corners Apple may cut to get the price down. Do you expect a different design? Do you expect it to be made of different materials (like iPhone 5C being made of plastic)? The lowest end 21.5 inch iMac already comes with an integrated GPU, so I'm guessing we'll see the same in a cheaper model, perhaps downgraded from Iris Pro to simply Iris. I doubt they'll go for a non-Iris model though. I expect either a very small SSD (128-256) or a 1TB HDD to be the default, with 8 gigs of 1600MHz RAM. I expect the CPU to be a low end i5, and I think the machine will be quite similar to current 21.5 inch models, with the other 21.5 maybe getting a 4K retina makeover and the cheaper model staying 1920x1080. Similarly I think Apple will run two simultaneous lines of 27 inch models, a 5k retina (only available with the highest end GPU, presumably GTX 880m, or if Apple and Nvidia has something going that they told nobody about, GTX 880MX, which would be sweet!). In terms of design I sincerely doubt anything will change for any of the iMac models, with the exception of maybe a slimmer bezel, but I think that's a bit unlikely. I also don't think we'll see a change in screen sizes.
What about you guys?
 
I think Apple would just do a silent hardware bump on all the iMacs and keep the current entry iMac as is but drop the price to triple digits for schools, teachers and students.
 
Apple should put an i5 mini in the case from the last iMac with optical drive and sell it for $799.
 
Doubt we'll ever see a plastic case again.

If I saw a less expensive iMac I'd guess the internals of a MacBook Air with a 20-21" screen and even thinner body, almost completely flat (not the bump on the back like current iMacs).
Core i5 Dual Core 2.somethingGHz Haswell-E w/ onchip graphics
4GB DDR4
128GB PCIe drive
TB, USB3 , SD card slot

or an A8X/A9 ARM type chip to power it.
 
I don't think they will be making an iMac with a plastic case, as I believe it will not be good for thermal dissipation.
Hardware components are getting cheaper and cheaper, so they can lower the price and get more units sold.
 
A $999 iMac would be good, but if they really want to get a broader customer base they should compact and neuter the mini down into a micro box without much or any capability for customization and sell it for $399.

As soon as Apple puts a monitor on a Mac, they have trouble going under $999.
 
I'm in the camp that doesn't see a new plastic model. I see a new/bumped up specced model as the new flagship line and the current models dropping in price to comprise the lower-end solution. Much like Apple releasing the iPhone 5 but keeping the 4s as a cheaper solution, all before the slightly cheaper 5c/5s models. Plastic is fine for a lower-end phone, maybe even a tablet, but not for an iMac. I just don't see Apple going in that direction on their computers.
 
rambo47 said:
Plastic is fine for a lower-end phone, maybe even a tablet, but not for an iMac.
Click to expand...
Heresy! The period from the first G5 model to the first 24" model was the Golden Age of iMac Design, and it's been all downhill from there.

That said, unless the Apple Education Sales Division have managed to secretly secure a million orders, there's no way the iMac is going to be physically repackaged. And there can't be a significantly cheaper iMac without physical repackaging. There's very little scope to chisel away at the price when the internals are only a fraction of the cost of the casing and screen. Apple can't even skimp on a Superdrive these days.

There was an 'Early 2013' education-only iMac with a 3.3 GHz dual core i3, Intel HD Graphics 4000, 500GB HDD, 4GB RAM, wired keyboard, wired mouse. For comparison, the base 'Late 2012' iMac was 2.7 GHz quad core i5, GeForce GT 640M, 1TB HDD, 8GB RAM, wireless keyboard/mouse.

Price when new for the Early 2013 = $1099
Price when new for the Late 2012 = $1299

I'd be delighted to be proved wrong by the appearance of a 19-20" iMac in a less 'premium' casing, but I think this new 'cheaper iMac' will simply be the continuation of the current base model with a hundred bucks knocked off the tag.
 
Unapologetic Plastic! ;)

Though I very much doubt it, remove the aluminium and you loose a huge heatsink. Plastic ones will just overheat.
 
I wouldn't bet on different materials for a cheaper model, that would require a whole separate set of pieces and assembly lines.

They'd likely use the current design and just put in a lower-end CPU (think dual core processor instead of a quad), less RAM (4 GB instead of 8, soldered of course), basic hard drive (not a SSD or Fusion) and possibly even a lower-quality LED panel.

It's the currently-missing education model the iMac line lost with the last refresh.
 
If they get OS X to run on the Apple A8 chip they could radically lower the price. The real key is how to do that, but keeping in mind they have done it before (PowerPC -> Intel) it is within the realm of possibility. They could also get super efficient laptops using the upcoming A8.
 
mmomega said:
Doubt we'll ever see a plastic case again.

If I saw a less expensive iMac I'd guess the internals of a MacBook Air with a 20-21" screen and even thinner body, almost completely flat (not the bump on the back like current iMacs).
Core i5 Dual Core 2.somethingGHz Haswell-E w/ onchip graphics
4GB DDR4
128GB PCIe drive
TB, USB3 , SD card slot

or an A8X/A9 ARM type chip to power it.
Click to expand...

I doubt they'll release any iMac with an Intel Extreme processor, less so a "cheaper" iMac. Haswell-E is out of the picture.

If they go the other way though and release an "iMac Pro" that people have been speculating on, Intel Haswell-E might be a good candidate.
 
Tanax said:
I doubt they'll release any iMac with an Intel Extreme processor, less so a "cheaper" iMac. Haswell-E is out of the picture.

If they go the other way though and release an "iMac Pro" that people have been speculating on, Intel Haswell-E might be a good candidate.
Click to expand...

This was meant as Haswell part 2 or the Haswell refresh chips coming this year before Broadwell.
Something like an i5-4460 which is the new "bottom of the barrel" quad core" or the i3-4150.
 
Last edited:
I wouldn't doubt it if there was a prototype at Apple headquarters somewhere running an A8 chip. They have to be at least testing it out.
 
I'm guessing plastic with iOS arm processor, apple has been rumored to switch to arm processors for desktop for awhile..
 
I hope that is the way they go

fastlanephil said:
I think Apple would just do a silent hardware bump on all the iMacs and keep the current entry iMac as is but drop the price to triple digits for schools, teachers and students.
Click to expand...

If the entry level becomes the cheaper iMac, I hope they also retain the BTO options too.

From my understanding (which I hope is incorrect), a cheaper iMac would be the least amount of RAM and little to no upgrade options. If they do release this option, I'll stick with the BTO 21.5" iMac, if I stay with the iMac as my go-to Mac.
 
kazmac said:
If the entry level becomes the cheaper iMac, I hope they also retain the BTO options too.

From my understanding (which I hope is incorrect), a cheaper iMac would be the least amount of RAM and little to no upgrade options. If they do release this option, I'll stick with the BTO 21.5" iMac, if I stay with the iMac as my go-to Mac.
Click to expand...

They will not stop selling an high end iMac. To many people use that as a professional machine. Also, Apple have always made a new version of the iMac that is more powerful than the previous model.

I look forward to a new BTO that is a Beast. Hope it comes before summer, rather than after. THough I dont need it currently, but I want it :)
 
well....each one of us has his own theory on what's the right thing to do or what's the right size but me....i'm interested in THE TRUTH and truth is:

-27'' iMac display is too big for the average user they need to release a 24'' iMac for the mainstream.

-21'' iMac display is too big for teens and kids they need to release a smaller size like 19'' iMac for tweens.

-27'' Thunderbolt display is way too small for the professionals they need to release 30''-32'' one for designers and professionals.

The end.
 
iMcLovin said:
They will not stop selling an high end iMac. To many people use that as a professional machine. Also, Apple have always made a new version of the iMac that is more powerful than the previous model.

I look forward to a new BTO that is a Beast. Hope it comes before summer, rather than after. THough I dont need it currently, but I want it :)
Click to expand...

I know they will not stop making a high-end iMac. By BTO options I meant for the cheapest iMac as well as the high end.
 
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