Any rumors on a newer iMac?

[VTGuy79]

I'd like to get an iMac all in one at some point but 24" is too small now, I'd jump if they brought back the 27".

 

[CooperBox]

Those were exactly my thoughts at the beginning of last year, but estimated that we wouldn't see a new 27" (or 30") before end 2023 at the very earliest - and that's still appearing to be the case.
So after reading up on many glowing technical reports and positive comments from many satisfied users, I found the last of the 27" iMac's (2020 model) at a "couldn't resist" price and bought it. And what a brilliant iMac it is too!
An additional plus point on this model is that one can now upgrade the memory to at least 64Gb for approx $60, whereby in 2020 had one requested this upgrade from Apple it would have cost and extra $1000.
If you feel you must wait for an eventual M2(M3?) new large screen iMac in 2024 or later, you can be certain you will have to pay more than 3x the price of a 2020 iMac, for a machine that will perform identical tasks albeit somewhat faster.

 

[ignatius345]

Making do with the 24" M1 iMac. It's a gorgeous and very capable machine. I miss the real estate and the speaker quality of the 27" but I'm getting good use out of this while they get it sorted.

Unfortunately, the only way to approximate a 27" 5K Apple Silicon iMac these days is with a Mini and a Studio Display... starting at $2200 for the base model of each.

 

[curnalpanic]

I'd like to get an iMac all in one at some point but 24" is too small now, I'd jump if they brought back the 27".

I think there were some sketchy rumor recently about a 30-inch iMac, but I'm not sure I believe it. Seems like external displays are the way to go for power users now.

I found the last of the 27" iMac's (2020 model) at a "couldn't resist" price and bought it.

I did almost the same, and got a 2019 iMac 5K last year rather than Studio Display + some Mac, due to price mainly. The Intel iMacs were really great value for the money. Someday I'll likely convert it into a standalone monitor and keep using it along with a future Apple silicon Mac.

 

[Adelphos33]

I'd like to get an iMac all in one at some point but 24" is too small now, I'd jump if they brought back the 27".

Consensus is that they may bring back a larger iMac at some point, but probably not in the next 12 months, and if they do, it wouldn’t be an obviously better choice than a Mac desktop (studio, mini) and Mac display.

I do think a newer 24” iMac is imminent, which would result in an upgrade for me. For general office work, the 24” iMac is an excellent machine

 

[Chuckeee]

I found the last of the 27" iMac's (2020 model) at a "couldn't resist" price and bought it. And what a brilliant iMac it is too!

The biggest concern I had is the potential of Apple stopping support of Intel based Mac. It is coming sometime but who knows soon. “Future proofing” is a bit of a risky game (still doesn’t mean I don’t do it to some extent)

 

[Rnd-chars]

Apple’s still selling refurbished 27” iMacs so I imagine they have a bit of legs left. Plus, there’s always Bootcamp for when Apple stops supporting them.

 

[Schnitzel1979]

i am torn between a new imac and the mac studio; lets see if an 24 imac with m3 chip will be released later this year

 

[whitby]

I wish there were solid rumors about a larger iMac. I have the 24” for kitchen use but my main desktop Mac is a 2020 i9 27” iMac with 4 TB SSD and 128GB memory (courtesy of OWC). This is a fast powerful machine and I can only replace it with a Mac Studio and Display which is a very expensive proposition (and has the added problem of being a locked in design but in several ‘boxes’ rather than a locked in design - except memory in the 2020 iMac - in one box) and not an all in one which I prefer if you are going to have a non configurable locked in design. So until they come up with a 27” or bigger all in one, my 2020 will stay in service until it either dies or I decide to move back to a Windows machine (if I have to go back to separates I might as well have one that is infinitely more configurable than a Mac Studio).

 

[picpicmac]

Latest rumor mongering in the "News" forum is that there will be no new iMac this year. Invoked was the name of "Gurman", for what it's worth.

I'm waiting for a new iMac too, but Apple does not seem keen on the iMac line anymore. Understandably, people want to buy portables, even with all their limitations, so Apple obliges and keeps throwing out small variations on portables.

 

[picpicmac]

Put succinctly, Apple would much rather you buy a mini+display at 2x the money that an iMac is priced.

 

[Chuckeee]

you buy a mini+display at 2x the money that an iMac is priced.

Only if you buy an Apple monitor

 

[Backslashnl1]

There are rumors about an 32" iMac coming late 2024.

Mark Gurman from Bloomberg:

I’m told that Apple is experimenting with iMacs with larger displays, including a model with about a 32-inch screen. I don’t anticipate such a computer launching before the end of 2024, if not a little later, as development still remains early. This comes a couple of years after Apple had plans to introduce a larger-sized version of the 24-inch M1 iMac.

Apple’s 32-inch iMac not expected until late 2024 at the earliest, but why?

Notably, Gurman reports new iMacs with 24-inch screens are in the works, after skipping the M2 generation entirely, as well as a brand new iMac model with a screen larger than 30 inches (this may be the long-awaited Apple Silicon successor the iMac Pro.)

For context, the old 27-inch Intel iMac Pro featured Xeon CPU innards, which would naturally lineup with the Apple Silicon Ultra chip platform as seen in the Mac Studio and Mac Pro.

Gurman did not report on the exact specs for the >30-inch iMac though, other than saying it is in early development. That means we don’t know yet if it includes a M3 chip, a M3 Pro or M3 Ultra chip, or something else altogether.

More info

 

[kagharaht]

The biggest concern I had is the potential of Apple stopping support of Intel based Mac. It is coming sometime but who knows soon. “Future proofing” is a bit of a risky game (still doesn’t mean I don’t do it to some extent)

Exactly. I bought an iMac Late 2013 that was sold as new at the Apple store 2015. In 5 years it became unsupported with the release of Mac OS Big Sur, Nov 2020. So yeah Basically 5 years later it's no longer supported. Mac OS support and updates were only good for 5 years for me. So I'm not making that mistake again. So I'll wait for whatever next iMac is released with M2 or M3 no matter what the size it as this point. At least my trusty old MBA 2017 running Monterey is still working properly. Seems like 7 years or so is when Apple stops OS support. Maybe the "M" chips Mac will have a longer OS support. Maybe.

 

[VTGuy79]

Put succinctly, Apple would much rather you buy a mini+display at 2x the money that an iMac is priced.

Good point. I'd like the Studio display but would need to save a bit and would need to justify by increased photography income. Maybe that is why they decreased the size... if you want the 27" go with the separate screen.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

iMac "bigger" will probably be resurrected, branded PRO and priced accordingly... NOT like the 27" relative "bargain" pricing we remember. Instead of "starting at < $2K" my guess is that the new one will "start at > $3500."

You can foresee this yourself by taking the ASD and inserting the tech guts of a MBpro inside it, subtracting something for the MBpro screen, case, etc. Now add in the cost of a keyboard and mouse. If you want a sense of one configured as you want it, do the same with a MBpro configured as desired, the same subtractions and additions and that will probably be around the price of the new iMac "bigger" you want.

UNLESS "bigger" comes in north of 27". If so, add something more for the additional inches... noting that the last time Apple. rolled out an iMac Pro, the "stating at..." was $4999...

Conceptually, fans can argue that a Silicon PRO iMac "bigger" outdoes each of those bulleted points (thunderbolt 4, metal graphics, more-core M-whatever PRO, retina XK display), so don't be surprised if there is an added price premium on a new iMac "bigger" beyond a hypothetical mashup of ASD + MBpro guts + Keyboard + Mouse. Apple does like its fat profits. 💰💰💰

All shared, I don't expect an iMac "bigger" in 2023, mostly because there haven't been enough rumors to imply one is impending. It would be quite a surprise to spring one on us as soon as this month or next. If not next, there will probably be no new announcements until 2024.

 

[Fishrrman]

From what was posted here at Macrumors a day or two ago (in the "news" area), it looks like there won't be any m3 Mac releases in 2023. Perhaps not until 2024.

So... if there ARE any new iMacs to be released this year, looks like they may be with m2 CPUs rather than m3...

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

My guess is there WILL be an October event even if it seems like Apple won't have much to show. Why? Because Apple wants the revenue that tends to follow a show. If so, I would expect the lone Mac still not on M2 to join the rest of them with M2.

Else, I expect a press release update.

What I don't expect is no updates in October for whatever is ignored in tomorrow's presentation.

 

[AL2TEACH]

Reading the rumor on the Front Page here, I think it was said sometime next year.

 

[Spock]

They should just build a Studio All-In-One and leave the iMac branding as the consumer device.

 

[ignatius345]

Put succinctly, Apple would much rather you buy a mini+display at 2x the money that an iMac is priced.

If a 27" Apple Silicon iMac existed, I think it would cost more than half what a Studio Display + Mac Mini costs, but you're right, the iMac has always been sold at a bit of a "discount". But since the iMac is totally unable to be used as a standalone display, you have to chuck the whole thing if you want a new Mac a few years down the line, even if the display is still working well.

What you gain by buying separately is the ability to upgrade the CPU more cheaply later while retaining the display.

 

[picpicmac]

What you gain by buying separately is the ability to upgrade the CPU more cheaply later while retaining the display.

Always. That is why I've been pricing Mini and ASD and other displays.

But the current iMac display is such a high quality compared to so many other displays out there. It is a bargain, if you don't need a lot of memory or want lots and lots of GPUs.

 

[AlexJaye]

Put succinctly, Apple would much rather you buy a mini+display at 2x the money that an iMac is priced.

This! It is a money thing. I was in Best Buy the other day just playing with the new 24" iMacs ... it was so disappointing. I thought it would be tempting because I'm rocking an old (but fully functional) 2012 27" but there was zero temptation to move on to the 24". Cute colors, I guess.

 

[Adelphos33]

This! It is a money thing. I was in Best Buy the other day just playing with the new 24" iMacs ... it was so disappointing. I thought it would be tempting because I'm rocking an old (but fully functional) 2012 27" but there was zero temptation to move on to the 24". Cute colors, I guess.

What exactly was wrong with the 24" iMac? They are very well reviewed devices. I recommend them.

 

[GalileoSeven]

I think there were some sketchy rumor recently about a 30-inch iMac, but I'm not sure I believe it. Seems like external displays are the way to go for power users now.


I did almost the same, and got a 2019 iMac 5K last year rather than Studio Display + some Mac, due to price mainly. The Intel iMacs were really great value for the money. Someday I'll likely convert it into a standalone monitor and keep using it along with a future Apple silicon Mac.

Agreed. My 2015 5K is still humming along nicely as a media server/wife's desktop. Definitely won't see that combination of a quality screen + decent specs for an AiO under $2K ever again.