Now that ARM is official, what form factor will Apple do?

[ian87w]

Less thermal/power is what Apple use as one of the deciding factors for a transition. The move to an Ax chip will definitely allow Apple to have thinner profile and smaller motherboard.

I'm guessing a very similar look to the Pro Display, just with a computer inside, a 4k/5k screen, more ports, and a power plug.

 

[redheeler]

I'd guess more of an iPad Pro look with no chin and Face ID above the display, but budged in the back like the current iMac. A rounded display on an iMac would be strange but it's in the realm of possibility, as well as a return to the 16:10 aspect ratio.

 

[bpeeps]

Face iD will come to Macbooks before the iMac. The iMac is always one of the last to get the upgrades across the line.

 

[Zackmd1]

I see a Pro XDR display basically as the form factor. Same general boxy design with it being as thin or even thinner. Remember that these SOCs should be much more power efficient and cooler then comparative Intel chips so they should be able to get away with a thinner and less extensive thermal solution. My conspiracy theory is that the ipad pro design update we have been hearing about is actually the ARM iMac while the intel iMac will use the same chassis as the current iMac, just with an updated screen/slimmer bezels, and chip updates. That or the 23/24 inch will be ARM only while the 27/32 inch will remain intel.

 

[Russell5000]

This is probably unlikely to happen as Apple would rather sell me two devices than one, but an iPad/MacBook hybrid. When you detach the "Magic Keyboard" it switches to iPadOS mode.

 

[ian87w]

This is probably unlikely to happen as Apple would rather sell me two devices than one, but an iPad/MacBook hybrid. When you detach the "Magic Keyboard" it switches to iPadOS mode.

Ah, this is interesting. So a 2-in-1 Apple.

 

[BruiserB]

Ah, this is interesting. So a 2-in-1 Apple.

I’d love an iPhone that could be docked to become a Mac. Sell different docks...a laptop MacBook dock and a desktop dock that supports external monitors. The docks could contain extra storage space to hold MacOS but take advantage of the ARM processor in the phone. I don’t need a super powerful laptop/desktop but would love my phone to be able to power those other form factors when needed.

 

[TheKDub]

I think we will essentially see a unification between iOS/iPadOS/MacOS/watchOS from a foundational standpoint. I think there will be a few different variations but portability of software will be priority (create an app for MacOS, and to create an iPhone app will be an easier extension of that, or vice versa). I do see Macbooks having a touchscreen and you will see some 2-in-1 hardware.

Variations between iPad and Macbooks will be like Microsoft Surface and Windows Laptops, while iPhone is simply a more portable version of it, and iMac/MacPros are more powerful versions. But all will be running on the same OS.

I'm not a software engineer, but that's my 2 cents.

 

[drsox]

IMO it will be a revived MacBook as was previously killed off.

 

[Moonjumper]

Mac Nano: Take the battery and screen out of an iPhone and you have a very small device. It may be a bit bigger than that to allow for higher power silicon and maybe some more cooling, but a pocketable Mac is a possibility. Bluetooth connection to an HDMI dongle to use any display easily (DisplayPort dongle also available).

Mac Track: Similar idea to the Nano of something small, but build it into the back of a trackpad and it disappears on your desk. Putting it in the underside of a keyboard is another possibility (effectively a laptop without the battery or screen).

xMac: The mythical xMac is a desktop tower in the massive gap between the Mac Mini and Mac Pro. But if Arm hardware lives up to the potential, we could get something powerful in the Mini size. Allow the addition of extra NVMe SSDs (the OS stays on a fixed SSD protected by T2) and RAM to provide the ideal flexible machine for developers, including me.

 

[PickUrPoison]

IMO it will be a revived MacBook as was previously killed off.

It’s possible, but then why discontinue it in the first place? They could have kept it in the lineup.

Personally, I’d rather have a 14” version (as close to 2 lbs as possible), but that’s not ideal for airplane tray table use.

 

[drsox]

It’s possible, but then why discontinue it in the first place? They could have kept it in the lineup.

Personally, I’d rather have a 14” version (as close to 2 lbs as possible), but that’s not ideal for airplane tray table use.

IMO it was a test of concept and may have proved more difficult/expensive than required without the ARM. Yes, I guess that they will likely scale it up in size also.

2lb would be ideal. I swapped my MBP for an MBA partly to save weight.