What's Next for the iMac? What We Know on a New Design, M3 Chip, and More

[MacRumors]

Apple released the all-new 24-inch iMac with the M1 chip in April 2021, making it over a year and a half old at this point. As a result, customers may wonder what's next for the iMac and Apple's all-in-one desktop computer.

We've heard several rumors and reports on what Apple has in store, offering us a good idea of what's next, and we've outlined some of the details we know about the upcoming iMac's design, performance, and more below.

Pro or No Pro?

Apple released a 27-inch iMac Pro in 2017, its answer at the time to professional customers who wanted a powerful all-in-one desktop from Apple. Apple discontinued the baseline 27-inch iMac in March 2022 after the launch of the Mac Studio and the 27-inch Studio Display. After its discontinuation, sources were conflicted on whether Apple's next large-screen 27-inch iMac will be branded as a "Pro" product or simply branded as a larger version of the consumer-focused iMac.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes an "iMac Pro" will launch next year, while other reports say Apple has no plans to release a larger-screened iMac anytime soon. Apple's plans are often shifting, so it's unclear what Apple's current plan is.

Two iMacs in the Works

Apple is working on two new iMacs: a larger-screened model with a 27-inch display and an update to the current 24-inch model. For the current 24-inch model, Apple is reportedly planning to keep the M1 model in the lineup until later in 2023 and then possibly introduce a new version with the M3 chip.

The updated 24-inch iMac could feature the same design and footprint but benefit from the M3 chip. Apple recently introduced the M2 chip in June of this year, so M3 is still a ways off.

'iMac Pro' Design and Performance

The new addition to the iMac family, whether it be called an "iMac Pro" or not, will feature the M3 Pro and M3 Max chips, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The chips will be the third generation of Apple silicon and build on the performance of the upcoming M2 Pro and M2 Max chips, which are expected to power updated 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros.

As for the display and design, the larger iMac could adopt the same display technology currently in Apple's highest-end MacBook Pros models consisting of mini-LED and ProMotion. Apple has also tested Face ID for the Mac, but it's unlikely that'll be coming anytime soon.

When Apple announced the 24-inch iMac with M1, it touted the computer's thin design as a tribute to Apple silicon's performance and efficiency compared to the larger motherboard and thermal system needed for Intel-based iMacs.

As for the "iMac Pro," it's not entirely clear what design the desktop will have. Apple could opt to create a thin enclosure while still offering the performance of the M3 Pro and M3 Max chips or make a larger, thicker, and heavier "pro" system, similar to the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros. Some rumors have suggested the 27-inch iMac will have a similar design as the Pro Display XDR with black bezels.

Article Link: What's Next for the iMac? What We Know on a New Design, M3 Chip, and More

 

[madmin]

Big iMac or a better display needed

 

[everlast3434]

So... no one knows? Lol.

 

[ignatius345]

A 27" at 5K will be an instant buy from me. I downsized from my old Intel-based iMac 5K last year to the M1 24" iMac, and the only thing I miss about it is the screen real estate. To me, it's like going from a king-sized bed to a queen: basically big enough but you can't really spread out the way you want.

 

[SpotOnT]

Why anyone wants to spend $5,000 on an iMac Pro is beyond me. Much better to just get the Studio and a separate display for that kind of cash.

 

[MayaUser]

Big iMac or a better display needed

why "or" but not "and" ?

 

[MayaUser]

Why anyone wants to spend $5,000 on an iMac Pro is beyond me. Much better to just get the Studio and a separate display for that kind of cash.

an studio + a top tier 30" or 32" display you get there so....why not all in one at this point

 

[madmin]

why "or" but not "and" ?

I'd prefer a better display than those currently offered but I'd go for a big iMac if the specs and price were worthwhile.

 

[vegetassj4]

iMac Studio
iMac Ultra

 

[Realityck]

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes an "iMac Pro" will launch next year, while other reports say Apple has no plans to release a larger-screened iMac anytime soon. Apple's plans are often shifting, so it's unclear what Apple's current plan is.

The large iMacs continue to be predominantly showed in many Asian dramas I have watched. Just because Apple conveniently took it off market to promote Mac Studio sales doesn’t take away its value to its fans. They need to have it return!

 

[SpotOnT]

an studio + a top tier 30" or 32" display you get there so....why not all in one at this point

Modularity. If you are a Pro spending 5k on equipment, modularity gives you more value over the long run.

Edit: I am not saying $5k is unreasonable for a pro to spend on equipment, I am saying that a pro is better off balancing the computing cost and the display cost separately for their own needs. Need power but don’t care about display quality. Balance budget accordingly. Need that high end Ezio but only enough horse power to edit photos. Balance that budget accordingly.

A $5k all in one is just a horrible value proposition for pros, as it provides no flexibility or modularity.

 

[MayaUser]

Personally, prefer a better display than the 2 currently offered but I'd go for a big iMac if the specs and price was worth it.

yes, but at Apple prices points, we should have bigger and better display
So i guess mini-led promotion 30" should be a given next year if is indeed an imac pro coming with M2 Max starting

 

[MayaUser]

Modularity. If you are a Pro spending 5k on equipment, modularity gives you more value over the long run.

studio mac is not modularity....so no. If there is a better and greater after 2-3 years i always change it, because every minute gain means money gain
The only advantage on your scenario is that you dont have to change the display if theres nothing new for 5 years, but we all know this isnt the case

 

[ignatius345]

Modularity. If you are a Pro spending 5k on equipment, modularity gives you more value over the long run.

For sure. In the short run the iMac has always been a bit of a bargain -- for not much more than the price of a standalone Mac you get a nice monitor -- but then you have to get rid of the whole thing when you want to upgrade the Mac.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

an studio + a top tier 30" or 32" display you get there so....why not all in one at this point

Because in only a few years when macOS makes that Mac obsolete, a great (separate) screen can move on the next Mac... and maybe the one after that. However, it's "throw baby out with the bathwater" should anything go wrong with any part of an all-in-one Mac. iMac has been a relatively great value (from Apple anyway) when buying it. It's at the end when it bites you. I've got that terrific, high res 27" screen that can't be used anymore because the computing guts of the old iMac conked.

I used and loved iMacs for over a decade but when my last one died, that was it no matter what Apple rolled out as a new iMac. A great screen is good for 10+ years. A great Mac seems to become "long in tooth" in about 5-6 years. Some variation of Target Display Mode to make it usable as a stand-alone monitor too or bust.

Besides, now that I have an ultra-wide 5K2K, there's no way I could go back to 16:10 again. That extra screen RE is now a MUST for me. Apple would have to roll out an iMac UltraWide with TDM to even get me to take a look.

 

[SpotOnT]

studio mac is not modularity....so no. If there is a better and greater after 2-3 years i always change it, because every minute gain means money gain
The only advantage on your scenario is that you dont have to change the display if theres nothing new for 5 years, but we all know this isnt the case

It allows you to separate the display and the computing power.

 

[RFolk]

the same big unchanged CHIN , that is "What's Next for the iMac", pro or non pro , old and new, it seems the chin will be there forever + $500 for the stand to support the chin...
PS: how about a 32" iMac, no chin ? come Apple , be nice

 

[TechRunner]

I had two iMacs in the past, and have always liked the AIO aesthetic on the desk. I would have to give one serious consideration if it's 27" or bigger (30-32" 5K?) as I do almost everything chained to my desk now.

 

[AppleMad98004]

I doubt there will be an iMac Pro.

The Mac Studio is the middle Mac and the Mac Pro is the workstation level machine.

 

[Vado]

I've waiting patiently on a larger screen iMac. The simple fact is the existing 24" iMac isn't big enough and the Studio is overkill for my needs.

There needs to be a larger screen option 27"-32" ideally with Standard M/ M Pro and M Max chip variants.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

I doubt there will be an iMac Pro.

The Mac Studio is the middle Mac and the Mac Pro is the workstation level machine.

I suspect that if there is an iMac "Bigger," it will ONLY be a pro. Why? If the iMac monitor alone (Studio Display) starts at the historically "starting at only..." price of a whole iMac 27", all one has to do is think about taking the computing guts of a MBpro 14" and putting them in that same case.

MBpro 14" PRO or MAX price minus cost of screen and speakers (subbing iMac keyboard for MBpro keyboard, iMac mouse for MBpro trackpad) PLUS Studio Display probably sets a new "starting at only..." price of around $3499 barely configured and $4500-$7K nicely configured. That's the old iMac Pro "starting at" zone. If the brains inside are branded PRO or MAX and the pricing is pro pricing, it seems likely to me that iMac Bigger will be spun as iMac Pro.

What I do NOT expect at all is for any iMac "bigger" to roll out priced below $2K again. Studio Monitor has shown Apple that people will pay that much for an iMac 27" screen alone. Adding in a whole Mac to that will beg for pricing to jump into > $3K.

 

[clith]

The M3 chip will be a huge jump from the M1 and M2, thanks to the process shrink to 3nm (which was originally scheduled for M2, but .. COVID). Expect big increases in capability, and big decreases in power requirements, along with higher core counts.
I personally skipped all the M2 products specifically because it used the same 5nm process as the M1 with marginal efficiency fixes.

 

[philcourage]

I guess the chin is staying until the product dies.

 

[jimbobb24]

So....is the global supply chain disaster causing Apple to be so stingy with their chips or are they just going to be stingy forever and keep old technology around a long time like they did when Intel was supplying the chips?

 

[philcourage]

Basically this is four or five paragraphs of stating “we don’t know” in different ways. What a waste of time. This site used to be great. Sad how it has fallen into the clickbait trap like so many others.

It is a faithful reflection of what Apple itself has become.