New 32-inch iMac Pro - do you think it's coming or not?

[alex4748]

I have heard rumours of a new 32 inch all-in-one iMac Pro - it is on MacRumours website too.

I know no one can know for sure, but my question is, do you think this machine is coming, and if so, when do you think it will be released?

The rumours say late 2024 to 2025, which is fast approaching, so I am surprised there isn't more information / speculation about it!

I am desperate to upgrade my 2013 27 inch iMac. I like the all-in-one design and I need at least a 27 inch screen. So currently for me, that limits me to a Mac Mini or a Studio, with an extortionate Studio Display, which I am not really keen on!

Any advice to help me think / decide what to do is welcome. I need to upgrade, but due to the cost / lifespan of these machines, I need to get it right!

 

[gilby101]

If you think the price of a Studio Display is extortionate, what do you suppose a 32" iMac would be? It would be 6K (to maintain the ~220 PPIi of Mac desktops) and that won't be cheap. Think about the cost of a Pro Display XDR with the addition of a high end M4 processor inside.

When? Maybe next year, maybe never. Not clear to me that there is a market for a 32" 6K iMac.

The linked MacRumors article is 10 months old and Gurman is not talking about it now.

For your needs a Samsung 5K monitor is a good bit cheaper than a Studio Display and you have choice of either Mac Mini or Studio. If you are desperate to replace, there is a 27" solution right now.

 

[alex4748]

When? Maybe next year, maybe never. Not clear to me that there is a market for a 32" 6K iMac.

For your needs a Samsung 5K monitor is a good bit cheaper than a Studio Display and you have choice of either Mac Mini or Studio. If you are desperate to replace, there is a 27" solution right now.

Why don't you think there is a market for a larger all-in-one?

As for the Mini or Studio, it's not really an option for me to buy right now as they are both on M2 chip - my understanding is that M4 chip is round the corner, so I would hate to buy it now, only for it to be almost immediately obsolete!

 

[PaulD-UK]

In the list of forthcoming Macs embedded in the MacOS Sequoia beta there doesn't seem to be anything new in the list that could possibly be a large format iMac.
However one number is unallocated, so was maybe planned for next year, but is now postponed or axed?

 

[Bigwaff]

Why don't you think there is a market for a larger all-in-one?

As @gilby101 said, 32” iMac would need to be 6K for Retina display. Apple currently sells 6K display… and we know what that costs. Why would Apple sell 6K iMac for less? Sure, more people might buy an iMac, but certainly not enough to justify the price. Very few consumers can afford an iMac in such a price range. So, nope, never gonna happen.

 

[alex4748]

Very few consumers can afford an iMac in such a price range.

To clarify, what price range are you talking about? Can you put a $ or £ figure on it?

Currently, for a Mac Studio, Studio Display, mouse, keyboard, it comes to about £3,750 GBP here in the UK ($4,785 USD ish). I would gladly pay more for a bigger, all-in-one machine and I think many others would too (Apple may obviously deem that to be not enough customers though).

I asume you are referring to the XDR display which is about £5,000 GBP. Why would they need to use a display like that? Why not one like the Studio Display?

 

[leifp]

While I am potentially in the market for such an iMac, I’d bet I’m in the minority. It would use a display more expensive than the Studio Display (definitely not in the same league as the XDR, however) and probably offer Pro and/or Max M-series chips, also more expensive and hotter than what the 24” iMac has to deal with. And if it was merely a scaled up Studio Display instead of using newer tech (e.g. ProMotion, tandem OLED) it would not be of interest to me and perhaps not to many who claim it’s what they want… slimming an already likely small market segment…

Tl;dr How many would purchase a theoretical 32” iMac for $4,000+? (The same price as the top “base” spec 16” MBPro available from Apple)

 

[coffeemilktea]

Considering that Apple has repeatedly refused to make a 27-inch Apple Silicon iMac, I think the 32-inch iMac will come out sometime between the release of Half-Life 3 and George RR Martin finishing The Winds of Winter.

 

[alex4748]

Tl;dr How many would purchase a theoretical 32” iMac for $4,000+? (The same price as the top “base” spec 16” MBPro available from Apple)

I certainly would, in a heartbeat! There is no way I would spend that on a MacBook Pro though...but that's just me. My main working machine is a desktop - laptops are just for doing trivial stuff whilst on the road.

 

[Spock]

I think that Apple has made it clear that they have no intentions of releasing a larger iMac. They seem to have turned the iMac back into the consumer level desktop all in one. That is why they released the Mac Studio and Studio display and the great thing about that is, you can upgrade the computer and not have to get a new display.

 

[iSuzan]

A 32 inch iMac? That would be at least 6000 USD, but probably even much more. Without mouse, keyboard, trackpad and with a tiny ssd and 16 GB ram... let's face it. Such an iMac would cost a fortune.

 

[ThunderSkunk]

I have heard rumours of a new 32 inch all-in-one iMac Pro - it is on MacRumours website too.

Nope. The economics of the thing are a mess.
And a few years ago I would have wanted one, but I tried out LG’s 38” curved ultrawides and theres no going back.
So long imac pro.

 

[Luke MacWalker]

my understanding is that M4 chip is round the corner, so I would hate to buy it now, only for it to be almost immediately obsolete!

It wouldn’t be almost immediately obsolete, just no longer the latest model…

 

[Populus]

For your needs a Samsung 5K monitor is a good bit cheaper than a Studio Display and you have choice of either Mac Mini or Studio. If you are desperate to replace, there is a 27" solution right now.

This right here is the answer to your needs.

Apple chose to replace the two iMac sizes (21” and 27”) with just one standard size: 24”. And after three years, it is clear that they have no intention in changing this. There’s little point in making another iMac just 3” bigger and, as others have explained to you already, making a 6k 32” iMac would be obscenely expensive. For those who need bigger screens, Apple offers the 5k 27” Studio Display and the 6k 32” XDR Display, and the best desktop Mac lineup Apple has ever offered, with the upcoming M4 Mac mini, M4 Pro Mac mini, and the M4 Max Mac Studio.

Because I don’t want to spend the money an Apple Studio costs, I’m getting a good glossy 4k 27” monitor for both my future M4 Mac mini and my future PS5. With this route, you can choose your favorite monitor, and keep it over the years even if you want to replace your Mac or console or just get a PC if your needs/tastes change.

 

[bradman83]

Apple has flat out said they have no interest in releasing a larger iMac at this time. You'll take your 24 incher and like it, otherwise you'll go buy a Mini or Studio and a display of your choice.

The iMac started out as a simple family computer. It became more professionally-oriented in the 2010s largely because Apple bungled the rest of its desktop lineup so badly that it was the only choice for consumers and professionals who wanted a regular Intel K-series desktop chip and discrete graphics (as opposed to the expensive Xeon chips in the Mac Pro or the clock-limited B-series chips with feeble integrated graphics in the Mac Mini).

Apple's desktop lineup is in a much better spot today and consumers have plentiful options for both the computer itself and the display to go with it. That means the iMac has settled back into its role as a simple consumer-oriented family computer. I'm sure Apple has built plenty of prototypes for larger iMacs, hence the rumors, but they've decided its not worth their while to bring them to market. As others have said, 32" 6K panels are still a niche offering which means they're expensive, so a hypothetical 32" iMac Pro with base M3/4 Pro level specs would probably start at $3999 if not $4499.

 

[TechnoMonk]

I don’t want a beautiful 6 K 32 inch display tied to a computer. Too expensive for that. Display will probably outlast multiple Mac’s and also I want ability to connect multiple devices. 32 IMac is very very niche and doesn’t make much sense in current Apple line up.

 

[pappkristof]

While I am potentially in the market for such an iMac, I’d bet I’m in the minority. It would use a display more expensive than the Studio Display (definitely not in the same league as the XDR, however) and probably offer Pro and/or Max M-series chips, also more expensive and hotter than what the 24” iMac has to deal with. And if it was merely a scaled up Studio Display instead of using newer tech (e.g. ProMotion, tandem OLED) it would not be of interest to me and perhaps not to many who claim it’s what they want… slimming an already likely small market segment…

Tl;dr How many would purchase a theoretical 32” iMac for $4,000+? (The same price as the top “base” spec 16” MBPro available from Apple)

If it has a 6K screen and M4 Max it would be a day one purchase for me.

 

[HouseLannister]

Apple has no plans to make a 27-inch iMac with Apple Silicon

No big screen all-in-one for you.

www.theverge.com

Apple was very clear that they had no plans to bring back a 27" iMac, so everyone just upped the rumor to 32". It was always wishful thinking. I don't think it's going to happen. Over the last couple years we have gotten bigger iPad Air and bigger MacBook Air, because those are products that were already selling very, very well. With iMacs making up about 4% of total Mac sales, I doubt they have interest in adding even more SKUs and more inventory to the product (as well as more R&D, marketing, etc.). A 32" iMac would probably just end up cannibalizing Mac Mini and Mac Studio sales anyway.

 

[azentropy]

No. With the Mac Studio/Mac Mini/Mac Mini Pro and whatever they call the new Mac (not sure if it will be a mini replacement or a new product category) along with the most Mac sales now being portables; offering a large all-in-one doesn't make sense anymore. Better to optimize they way what they have works and expand their line of displays.
Image new displays that are built to have a "mac" attach to the back in a seamless manner - where you get the power directly from the monitor so no additional cables. You get all the functionality of an all-in-one but the modularity of being able to swap out the "mac" over time without having to replace everything. But those monitors still would be able to be used with all the existing macs as well.

 

[curnalpanic]

do you think this machine is coming

I hope not!

A 32" display that is wasted once the Mac goes vintage/obsolete. No thanks.

 

[alex4748]

where you get the power directly from the monitor so no additional cables

Is this the case for the current Studio Display? Or do the currency Mac Mini / Mac Studio's have their own power bricks, as well as the Studio Display having one? Part of the reason I like all-in-ones is from an OCD perspective!

 

[alex4748]

I hope not!

A 32" display that is wasted once the Mac goes vintage/obsolete. No thanks.

True. I plan to use my current 2013 iMac for Bootcamp / Windows (or rather, Command & Conquer!)...not sure if it will work though due to MacOS limitations!

 

[Analog Kid]

I think if the rumored M4 Mac Mini-er turns out to be true, there won't be much call for a larger iMac.

 

[HouseLannister]

A 32" display that is wasted once the Mac goes vintage/obsolete. No thanks.

Just use target display mo.... oh wait, nevermind.

 

[Timpetus]

I don't think it's coming. I put my money where my mouth is when I purchased a Mac Studio and Studio Display to replace our 2020 27" iMac, far earlier than we usually upgrade but the Intel iMac was outclassed far quicker thanks to AS.