I am confused: Will there be another and redesigned Intel iMac?

[mortenjensen]

Hi all,
What is the verdict: Will there be another Intel iMac in the redesigned format? Or will the next iMac come with Apple chip only?
Do we know anything specifically about this from Apple or the Kuo guy (who seems to be the only reliable one out there)?
Morten

 

[Caliber26]

Tim Cook said that, in fact, there are new Intel-based Macs in the pipeline that they’re really excited about. Seeing how the MacBooks all got recent updates, a new Intel iMac is a possibility. Especially if we are to believe that new iMacs were supposed to be unveiled at this keynote but got pulled at the last minute.

 

[xgman]

I'm pretty sure we see 27" imacs with Intel. Not sure whether any design changes are held for ARM or not though. All bets are off at this point till we get more info.

 

[anthony13]

It’s unclear at the moment. Some suspect an imminent intel redesign, some say just a spec bump on existing machines in the next couple months. It’s unfortunately wait and see.

 

[FrankySavvy]

Based on rumors from Kuo, Sonny Dickson, Jon Prosser - it seems will see a redesign imminently (July?) and it will be with Intel Chips. The first iMac with Apple Silicon will likely release late this year or early 2021.

 

[Cashmonee]

I suppose there might be a new Intel iMac, but I doubt there is a redesign coming. That seems to make little sense at this point. Keep the current design and hold onto the new design until the Apple Silicon version comes.

 

[verticalines]

The standard far hardware updates are already what's available in the 16-inch Macbook Pro. 5XXX is Navi, whatever desktop version of the Intel generation.

I feel it's wasted effort to redesign for Intel+discrete graphics TDP but if they're potentially keeping discrete, that'd make some sense. CPU would just be practically silent and however they vent it, perhaps ala Pro Display holes and mostly passive on Apple Silicon instead of traditional heatsink and fan.

 

[pldelisle]

The standard far hardware updates are already what's available in the 16-inch Macbook Pro. 5XXX is Navi, whatever desktop version of the Intel generation.

I feel it's wasted effort to redesign for Intel+discrete graphics TDP but if they're potentially keeping discrete, that'd make some sense. CPU would just be practically silent and however they vent it, perhaps ala Pro Display holes and mostly passive on Apple Silicon instead of traditional heatsink and fan.

Apple SoC benefits from being a ... SoC. An integrated GPU on the chip. They won't have a discrete GPU.

 

[verticalines]

Apple SoC benefits from being a ... SoC. An integrated GPU on the chip. They won't have a discrete GPU.

As currently used, it makes sense as a SoC for the devices they use. Everything's self-contained.

For a desktop, there are options and obviously use-case design reasons to consider separation. That SoC graphics portion isn't going to reach high-end discrete-level performance right out of the gate. And as Apple improves, others improve as well. Ideally for them, they'd support the option to plug add-on cards. Which could be a discrete card. Not dissimilar to Intel's iGPU switching over to AMD.

Otherwise just release mainstream laptops and not touch the Pro line right now.

 

[pldelisle]

We'll see. But the unified shared memory concept is crucial.

 

[mdgm]

The iMac is the last Mac to ship with a hard drive, though they could easily move to SSD only without needing to do a redesign.

 

[jlseattle]

Here is my vote. In sept/oct they bump the processors for the intel Mac. Spring they announce a new redesigned iMac with arm processors only. But problay won’t ship until fall 2021 based on COVID. That disease is slowing down progress that we need to account for.

 

[ondert]

I don’t expect a redesign for an Intel iMac too, because, firstly Tim Cook doesn’t like to spend money for a new design (ffs) and secondly the tdp and cooling requirements will be totally different between an Intel and an arm iMac. So, probably it will be a spec bump only with limited Intel cpus to keep them cool enough due to the crappy cooling of the iMac.

 

[Jamacfer]

Here is my vote. In sept/oct they bump the processors for the intel Mac. Spring they announce a new redesigned iMac with arm processors only. But problay won’t ship until fall 2021 based on COVID. That disease is slowing down progress that we need to account for.

I think the refreshed Intel iMacs to be out very soon this Summer while a new 24” ARM iMac and a MacBook to be out late 2020 or early 2021.

 

[ravinder08]

I have a late 2012 iMac and was hoping for a refresh. I have had to replace the screen three times due to dust in the corners (replaced free of charge by apple luckily) I think it’s worth waiting as I don’t want the same issues. Also I think I think I would feel I better dropping 2K+ on a machine that has a new design getting a bit bored if the current decade old design.