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adamlbiscuit

macrumors 6502a
Sep 22, 2008
611
1,481
South Yorkshire, UK
Personally I think the iMac Pro 27" or at the very least the iMac 27" will live to see another day. Here's a few reasons I think this:

  • The quote was "making our transition nearly complete with only one product left to go, the Mac Pro". The iMac Pro doesn't exist in the lineup as it stands today, it was discontinued last year. Therefore he couldn't include the iMac Pro in that because it wouldn't make sense against the current product lineup. He'd be referencing a product that doesn't currently exist. In terms of the 27" regular iMac, he didn't need to reference that because the iMac as a general product has been updated to AS already.
  • I wouldn't take the quote too seriously as it is, because they still haven't upgraded the higher-end Intel Mac mini so therefore the quote isn't fully accurate anyway.
  • On the Apple Website the iMac is still specified as 'iMac 24"'. Therefore I think at the very least a different screen size will be introduced at some point, whether that be in an iMac Pro or a larger iMac with M1 Pro chips (most likely imo). The MacBook Air, only available in one screen size, does not have it's screen size listed against it's name on the website - only those that do come in different sizes have that denomination.

EDIT: Just thought of another; The M1 Pro chip currently does not feature in any of Apples desktop computers leaving a big gap between the M1 and the M1 Max. I think a higher-end iMac (with a larger screen to boot) seems like the logical choice for the M1 Pro.
 
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MayaUser

macrumors 68040
Nov 22, 2021
3,184
7,208
Personally I think the iMac Pro 27" or at the very least the iMac 27" will live to see another day. Here's a few reasons I think this:

  • The quote was "making our transition nearly complete with only one product left to go, the Mac Pro". The iMac Pro doesn't exist in the lineup as it stands today, it was discontinued last year. Therefore he couldn't include the iMac Pro in that because it wouldn't make sense against the current product lineup. He'd be referencing a product that doesn't currently exist. In terms of the 27" regular iMac, he didn't need to reference that because the iMac as a general product has been updated to AS already.
  • I wouldn't take the quote too seriously as it is, because they still haven't upgraded the higher-end Intel Mac mini so therefore the quote isn't fully accurate anyway.
  • On the Apple Website the iMac is still specified as 'iMac 24"'. Therefore I think at the very least a different screen size will be introduced at some point, whether that be in an iMac Pro or a larger iMac with M1 Pro chips (most likely imo). The MacBook Air, only available in one screen size, does not have it's screen size listed against it's name on the website - only those that do come in different sizes have that denomination.

EDIT: Just thought of another; The M1 Pro chip currently does not feature in any of Apples desktop computers leaving a big gap between the M1 and the M1 Max. I think a higher-end iMac (with a larger screen to boot) seems like the logical choice for the M1 Pro.
He agrees with you 100%
 

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alectrona6400

macrumors regular
Mar 1, 2019
221
120
I used to have one of the earlier 27-inch iMacs. The screen was gorgeous, perhaps better than what I use now. The design, while timeless, felt aged. Also, intel-ARM transition. Hopefully the new larger iMac would be worthy of something instead of simply being an upscaled 24" M1 iMac.
 

JamesMay82

macrumors 65816
Oct 12, 2009
1,479
1,207
The current iMac is listed as iMac 24 inch on their page so maybe there is hope for a 27 inch mode; or larger.. if not then they’d just call the 24 inch the iMac
 

blairh

macrumors 603
Dec 11, 2007
5,972
4,472
Honestly I think a 30" iMac might happen in the fall when they update the 24" iMac. 27" is too close in size to the 24" iMac now.
 
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primarycolors

macrumors 6502
Oct 17, 2015
328
527
CA
Really?

The 27" is gone.
screen-shot-2022-03-08-at-2-07-46-pm-png.1969782

The fact they specify 'iMac 24"' gives me hope there might be eventually another 27-inch iMac. If the 24" is the only iMac going forward, they could have renamed the category "iMac" and not specified a size?

The old model might just have been antiquated enough they had to get rid of it before the replacement was ready.
 
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kcat74

macrumors newbie
Mar 8, 2022
11
4
Very upsetting. Who wants more wires on their desk? This was a mistake or am I in the minority of people who want a bigger screen all in one?
yep. I also don't need or want more than one display working off one computer. I have iPad and phone if i need to look at other things. edited to add the yep means I agree! You are not alone

I feel like at the moment there is big gap between imac 24 and studio. The mini doesn't fill that either as it doesn't have enough ram for me either. I stand by my theory that they have deliberately created doubt around the 27's return so that people make the move to the studio. But a little bit of reading this morning shows some experts are still backing its return.

There are a lot of people like me -in the graphic design area who need Pro but probably not as pro as studio.

I must admit i am tempted to get the mac studio bit now and then down the track get the display!!! As long as my current imac can plug into it
 
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ADGrant

macrumors 68000
Mar 26, 2018
1,689
1,059
My hope going into yesterday was just that I didn't end up on the other end of it more uncertain of where I want to go for my next setup than I was coming in, and unfortunately that's exactly what happened.

I have a 2020 5k iMac. It's enough everything for me, but I would very much like to get onto an Apple Silicon something-or-other before the value of this thing craters. (Also, not going VESA mount ended up totally screwing me over, and I desperately want to move to something I can put on a real arm.) I was mentally planning for a like-for-like 27" 5k iMac in Apple Silicon to exist at some point. Now I have no idea what the right move is.

The screen is really the important thing to me. I need the "real" 2x retina nowadays, and a 27" or bigger screen. I was hoping for something bigger than 27" with mini LED and ProMotion.

The Studio combo is a little compelling, but I really only want/need an M1 Pro (I just want the media engine) and all the extra fancy business in the display (webcam, speakers) is stuff I don't need - but I also have that in my iMac and don't need it either, so whatever. I can also live with not being able to plug a second video device into an iMac but it's hard to swallow paying that much for a monitor that I can't also hook a Switch or something up to. It's a ton of money to lay out and not see any display improvement over my iMac.

I guess...if I'm holding out hope for an iMac Pro what I'd imagine / hope it'd be would be a Mac Studio, grafted onto an updated XDR display with Mini LED and ProMotion. Why would Apple sell that, though? Why wouldn't they just update the XDR display and tell people to buy whatever they want to hook it up?

Or just a "normal" 27" iMac, with the guts from a Macbook Pro (including M1 Pro option) grafted onto the back of a Studio Display. Again, why would Apple sell that now?
If you want something you can hook a non-Apple device to, get a non-Apple monitor.
 

ADGrant

macrumors 68000
Mar 26, 2018
1,689
1,059
  • The quote was "making our transition nearly complete with only one product left to go, the Mac Pro". The iMac Pro doesn't exist in the lineup as it stands today, it was discontinued last year. Therefore he couldn't include the iMac Pro in that because it wouldn't make sense against the current product lineup. He'd be referencing a product that doesn't currently exist. In terms of the 27" regular iMac, he didn't need to reference that because the iMac as a general product has been updated to AS already.
  • I wouldn't take the quote too seriously as it is, because they still haven't upgraded the higher-end Intel Mac mini so therefore the quote isn't fully accurate anyway

The Intel Mac mini is still in the lineup because it is still being bought for specialist uses like datacenters and software testing. The iMac Pro was a stop gap solution while people waited for the Mac Pro. I don't think it is ever coming back.

All in ones are not really a "Pro" form factor. The main reason the 27" was popular is Apple did not offer any reasonable alternative.
 

wilberforce

macrumors 68030
Aug 15, 2020
2,932
3,211
SF Bay Area
The main reason the 27" was popular is Apple did not offer any reasonable alternative.
They still don't offer a reasonable alternative, as in: reasonable price.
The M1 Mini and 24" (23.5") iMac are downgrades in one respect or another.

IMO, the main reason 27" iMac was popular is that it was very good value: An awesome large retina screen, and pretty good computer in an elegant package for a great price. Perfect for those that want to have an exceptional interface experience but do not need the most powerful computing performance.
 
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ADGrant

macrumors 68000
Mar 26, 2018
1,689
1,059
They still don't offer a reasonable alternative, as in: reasonable price.
The M1 Mini and 24" iMac are downgrades in one respect or another.

IMO, the main reason 27" iMac was popular is that is was very good value: A great large screen, and pretty good computer in an elegant package for great price. Perfect for those that want to have an exceptional interface experience but do not need the most powerful computing performance.
Actually, the higher end 2020 27" iMacs were quite powerful. More powerful than the base iMac Pro or Mac Pro.
 

CWallace

macrumors G5
Aug 17, 2007
12,538
11,563
Seattle, WA
Well today's rumor du jour says the Mac mini is getting M2 and M2 Pro, so that will be a lower-price, but still powerful, option to pair with the Apple Studio Display than the Mac Studio for those looking to replace iMac 5Ks.
 

EugW

macrumors G5
Jun 18, 2017
14,984
12,948
Well today's rumor du jour says the Mac mini is getting M2 and M2 Pro, so that will be a lower-price, but still powerful, option to pair with the Apple Studio Display than the Mac Studio for those looking to replace iMac 5Ks.
If the hypothetical M2 Pro Mac mini gets additional USB-C ports and/or additional USB-A ports, and is only a few hundred Ameribucks more, then I'm in. If it has the same number of ports as the M2 model, then I'd just get the M2 model. I'd only get 16 GB RAM anyway, and M2 is already blistering fast compared to what I have now. If M2 Pro, I'd be perfectly happy with a binned one with a few deactivated CPU and GPU cores.
 

fathergll

macrumors 68000
Sep 3, 2014
1,852
1,612
ersonally I think the iMac Pro 27" or at the very least the iMac 27" will live to see another day. Here's a few reasons I think this:

  • The quote was "making our transition nearly complete with only one product left to go, the Mac Pro". The iMac Pro doesn't exist in the lineup as it stands today, it was discontinued last year. Therefore he couldn't include the iMac Pro in that because it wouldn't make sense against the current product lineup. He'd be referencing a product that doesn't currently exist. In terms of the 27" regular iMac, he didn't need to reference that because the iMac as a general product has been updated to AS already.


Yep I said the exact same thing yesterday to others on here. You can't transition something that doesn't currently exist and the Mac Pro is the only Intel Mac left.

Kuo mention in rumors that a iMac Pro is in the works. My guess we don't see one for a very long time though. We may not see anything until Q4 next year for all we know.
 

kcat74

macrumors newbie
Mar 8, 2022
11
4
Im curious to know why they would completely pull the existing stock of 27" imacs from sale. Is that to force people who were waiting on the new one to not even have the choice to buy an old one and to have to go for the studio.

The other benefit with the imac was that you could upgrade the ram yourself using cheaper places to buy it. Ive always done that.
 
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CWallace

macrumors G5
Aug 17, 2007
12,538
11,563
Seattle, WA
Im curious to know why they would completely pull the existing stock of 27" imacs from sale. Is that to force people who were waiting on the new one to not even have the choice to buy an old one and to have to go for the studio.

I expect it was a preemptive tactical move due to low stock and being unable to meet a sudden spike in demand from those who had been waiting for an Apple silicon 27" model and now fall back on the Intel model.

They may also be husbanding what they have left for any "last call" orders from major vendors and customers now that the model is no longer for sale.

I would not be surprised if Apple drastically slowed orders from suppliers months ago and would have been operating with a small cache of the three pre-built models and a small supply of BTO CPUs, GPUs, RAM and SSDs. They will also want to have stock on hand to support repairs (in-warranty and out) and could be setting aside some of their remaining supply for that purpose.
 
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EugW

macrumors G5
Jun 18, 2017
14,984
12,948
I expect it was a preemptive tactical move due to low stock and being unable to meet a sudden spike in demand from those who had been waiting for an Apple silicon 27" model and now fall back on the Intel model.

They may also be husbanding what they have left for any "last call" orders from major vendors and customers now that the model is no longer for sale.

I would not be surprised if Apple drastically slowed orders from suppliers months ago and would have been operating with a small cache of the three pre-built models and a small supply of BTO CPUs, GPUs, RAM and SSDs. They will also want to have stock on hand to support repairs (in-warranty and out) and could be setting aside some of their remaining supply for that purpose.
Assuming another 27" all-in-one actually does get released:

Maybe they just killed the entire line and decided to move up-market somewhat with the iMac Pro... after first fleecing the early adopters with the Mac Studio + 27" Studio Display.

A friend of mine has been waiting for an Apple Silicon 27" iMac for years now. After Mac Studio + Studio Display got released he immediately bought it, like literally within 30 minutes after the end of the event. The M1 Max is total overkill for him, but he didn't feel like waiting any longer.
 
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mlody

macrumors 68000
Nov 11, 2012
1,625
1,236
Windy City
I am very disappointed in Apple's decision to kill 27" iMac. I was hoping for a small price bump iMac redesign, instead they killed $1799 entry level 27" iMac and replaced it with what? $1599 monitor and $699 mac mini for a grand total of $2298. That's $500 increase over enty level 27" iMac and not as elegant and less ports. Perhaps if the Apple monitor was $999, or $1099, I would have less reasons to complain, but damn Apple.

Now I am tempted to pickup 2020 27" refurb and use it for as long as they support Intel.
 

UltimateSyn

macrumors 601
Mar 3, 2008
4,971
9,211
Massachusetts
Personally I think the iMac Pro 27" or at the very least the iMac 27" will live to see another day. Here's a few reasons I think this:

  • The quote was "making our transition nearly complete with only one product left to go, the Mac Pro". The iMac Pro doesn't exist in the lineup as it stands today, it was discontinued last year. Therefore he couldn't include the iMac Pro in that because it wouldn't make sense against the current product lineup. He'd be referencing a product that doesn't currently exist. In terms of the 27" regular iMac, he didn't need to reference that because the iMac as a general product has been updated to AS already.
  • I wouldn't take the quote too seriously as it is, because they still haven't upgraded the higher-end Intel Mac mini so therefore the quote isn't fully accurate anyway.
  • On the Apple Website the iMac is still specified as 'iMac 24"'. Therefore I think at the very least a different screen size will be introduced at some point, whether that be in an iMac Pro or a larger iMac with M1 Pro chips (most likely imo). The MacBook Air, only available in one screen size, does not have it's screen size listed against it's name on the website - only those that do come in different sizes have that denomination.

EDIT: Just thought of another; The M1 Pro chip currently does not feature in any of Apples desktop computers leaving a big gap between the M1 and the M1 Max. I think a higher-end iMac (with a larger screen to boot) seems like the logical choice for the M1 Pro.
Yup. Agree with you 100%.
 

Coltaine

macrumors 6502
Jan 7, 2012
321
337
Since I am also in the market for upgrading my 27" iMac from 2015 (my last Intel based Apple device), I am holding out until the summer / fall to see, if anything in the range of an "27" or larger iMac Pro" gets released. Like many others, I simply like the "all-in-one" solutions for their convenience. If no such machine is released, however, I will gladly go for a combination of the new Mac Studio and the Studio Display.
I somehow suspect, that we will see no new larger all-in-one iMac, but contemplating the arguments from both sides, I am still undecided...
 
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