Upgrade now or try and wait.

[Madhatter32]

I read somewhere that "patience is virtue." This is always true in the tech world -- unless you can't wait.

 

[throAU]

The unknown is what Apple is actually going to release. If Apple decides that they already have the consumer level iMac (the current M1 iMac) and goes with only an iMac Pro, the cost increase is going to be quite substantial compared to the current 27" iMac.

Not so sure it will.

The 14" Macbook Pro i just bought was the same price as the 2011 15" Macbook Pro i bought, within $50.

The Airs went down in cost with M1 if i recall.

So, i think that they'll easily be able to get an M1-Pro in there for a competitive price to the current 27" iMac. 1. because they aren't paying AMD for discrete GPUs and intel for i7/i9s. And 2. because they've always got decent margin on their products and Apple seem to be wanting to make a statement with the M processors. "Its nice but more expensive" isn't the statement they could be making; blowing away the old machine at the same or lower price with their own shiny new platform. Their costs will probably be less and even if they're the same or 10-15% higher they easily have margin there to wear it and still make money, for sake of making intel look bad.

But even if they don't.... even if they stick with a base entry level M1 like in the 24"... it will still be worth it to be on the new M series architecture, and in that case the cost will be less. But i very much doubt it, i think we'll see M1-Pro and M1-Max maybe even running higher clock speeds in the 27" iMac - as they won't be constrained to a laptop thermal envelope.

Again if you can wait i think its a no-brainer. And unless your current machine is broken.... or you have some new workload that you urgently need to speed up.... it will work as it was working last year in the mean time

 

[mollyc]

I've come from the 3 iterations of 27" iMac. Was tired of waiting and took the plunge on the M1 iMac at launch. I recently sold said computer to a friend cause he was having iCloud issues on his 2013 iMac. To clarify I don't put computers through there paces like I used to. I bought the new MacBook Pro and to me for what I do it was a downgrade for more money. I made a deal with my friend. I said if I can upgrade and fix your 2013 iMac can I buy mine back. So I'm typing on the M1 iMac again and could not be happier. Best Mac I've ever owned and I've owned 28 + by my estimates.

“the new mbp” that you bought was the new 14/16? or an intel model?

 

[throAU]

“the new mbp” that you bought was the new 14/16? or an intel model?

Guessing it was a 13" M1 model and the downgrade was merely in terms of screen real estate... then again could be a 16" model but they're hardly new

 

[ADGrant]

People who bought Mac Pros with $12,000 of GPUs/Afterburner etc. have a workload for them. And most of the workloads those machines are sold for will likely run far better on the new machines.

If you're willing to spend $12k on GPUs its because you have a time-sensitive workload and shaving time is making money.

A lot of those users won't blink at spending 20k to get 30% performance uplift with a lifetime of 3-5 years. And Apple Silicon Mac Pros are likely going to give them 3-10x performance uplift at some things is my bet. they won't need to support them beyond warranty/tax write off date because the people using them will want the new version to save time and make more money.

Well the afterburner has already been surpassed by the new M1 Pro/Mac MBPs and at some point Apple will probably have their own GPUs that can match the best that Nvidia and AMD can offer. They aren't there yet though and maybe they won't be in another year. The new AMD video cards were introduced a few months ago.

That isn't the point though. Apple is not going to prematurely drop support for $50k Mac Pros.

 

[throAU]

Apple is not going to prematurely drop support for $50k Mac Pros.

they will continue to work, but I would not expect macOS 15 onward on them, and I would not expect any additional features apple develop to appear on them.

If you want to get those things, buy an Mx based Mac. Even now the ability to run iOS/iPad apps on the Mac is something the intel machines can't do. And whilst some may scoff, you'd be surprised at how many dinky little apps on iOS are nice to have on the Mac, especially games.

 

[Jrshelby]

“the new mbp” that you bought was the new 14/16? or an intel model?

The new M1 Pro 16”

 

[mollyc]

The new M1 Pro 16”

so you went from the new 16” back to an M1 MBA? you preferred it over the pro?

i don’t have an Mx computer yet so trying to understand your logic and point of view. ?

 

[MBAir2010]

I read somewhere that "patience is virtue." This is always true in the tech world -- unless you can't wait.

i hurriedly skim through that part of the book.

and wait for the perfect RAM- SSD specs on anything  made after 2015.

 

[Delorean2006]

My normal advice is to buy/upgrade when you need it. There's always something better just around the corner, if you chase that outcome, you'll never be happy. HOWEVER, in this case I would most definitely wait. We're not talking about a few hundred megahertz speed bumped processor and a few nice add-on doo-dad features here. This is a whole new and improved architecture by an order of magnitude.

In my mind, there is no question you should wait for the new/larger iMac. The current consumer-level iMacs are quite nice... for consumers. If you really need a quick-fix, I would add an SSD as others have mentioned. People aren't exaggerating when they say it's like getting a whole new computer. This will only cost you a few hundred bucks at most, and may hold you over until the new iMacs are released.

The unknown is what Apple is actually going to release. If Apple decides that they already have the consumer level iMac (the current M1 iMac) and goes with only an iMac Pro, the cost increase is going to be quite substantial compared to the current 27" iMac. It would completely make sense to have only two iMacs (one for consumers and one for pros). I HOPE that is not the case though. I need much more than the current 24" iMac has to offer, but I don't necessarily need the iMac Pro-level power. Something in the middle would be nice.

In a few months, the picture will be clear one way or the other. In this particular (and very rare) case, I think it's worth waiting.

I totally agree with everything you just said. I am truly leaning towards just waiting until Apple releases their new Silicon in the 27 inch. I already know the 24 inch will be too small having a 27 inch for so many years. I have no issues installing an SSD, but I don't want to start going through all of that when I plan on upgrading the computer. For now, I am just going to max out the ram to 32gb. I already know when I am working I have get close to maxing out the current 16gb I have installed currently.

Also, I feel the 24 inch, even with M1 is a downgrade with the lack of ports. I like having a lot of ports since there are quite a few things I rely on plugging into my iMac.

 

[Delorean2006]

Does your employer support remote access from Apple Silicon Macs?

Not really, they didn't like that I use a Mac for when working remote. They're very pro Windows. But, myself and all my co-workers who owns Macs all agree that our remote app works much smoother than using a Windows PC.

 

[Bodhitree]

Buy it when you need it. Then if later on something better comes along, sell the old and buy again. But this way at least you’ll have a new machine to work on.

 

[Jrshelby]

so you went from the new 16” back to an M1 MBA? you preferred it over the pro?

i don’t have an Mx computer yet so trying to understand your logic and point of view. ?

No I went back to my M1 iMac I thought that read clear but i‘ll go back and re read. Again I don’t need the power so the smaller screen from the 24” iMac was the downgrade for me.

 

[mollyc]

No I went back to my M1 iMac I thought that read clear but i‘ll go back and re read. Again I don’t need the power so the smaller screen from the 24” iMac was the downgrade for me.

okay thx for clarifying. i must have read incorrectly. ?

 

[ADGrant]

Not really, they didn't like that I use a Mac for when working remote. They're very pro Windows. But, myself and all my co-workers who owns Macs all agree that our remote app works much smoother than using a Windows PC.

My employer supports access from Mac and Windows but not Linux. They don't yet support Monterey which I hear does work but if you have a problem you are on your own.

Personally I am very cautious about changing anything on the system I use to work from home. Since I went back to the office for a few days a week I am finding the 27" screen on my 2020 iMac a bit small. At work we have 43" Dell monitors which seemed ridiculous for a few days but now its the iMac which seems small. I would not consider switching to a 24" monitor.

I think you should either stick with your current iMac for a few more months at least or buy one of the new MacBook Pros (maybe the base 14"). If you find it does everything you need it to do, you can buy a 27" monitor and keyboard and use the laptop in clamshell mode as a desktop machine.

 

[MisterSavage]

I'm in a similar boat. I'm dying to upgrade to another 27" iMac. Was really hoping the Oct event was going to announce them. I'm waiting.

 

[flobach]

Have you considered an M1 Mac Mini and buying a second 27“ screen? Many ports, good value, easily upgradable to the next mini when it gets the pro/Max if you need those chipsets.

 

[Lioness~]

I'm in a similar boat. I'm dying to upgrade to another 27" iMac. Was really hoping the Oct event was going to announce them. I'm waiting.

I didn’t expect any release last time, just a mention of something, maybe.
Byt Apple don’t seem to work that way much anymore.

When it's finished, keynotes up, available tomorrow on Apple Store, or some products a bit later.
I bet next larger M? iMac is presented on next event, even the major focus of it.
Can’t be that far away, hopefully within 2021…. in ~3 weeks. If not, then after the holidays.

 

[wilberforce]

I didn’t expect any release last time, just a mention of something, maybe.
Byt Apple don’t seem to work that way much anymore.

When it's finished, keynotes up, available tomorrow on Apple Store, or some products a bit later.
I bet next larger M? iMac is presented on next event, even the major focus of it.
Can’t be that far away, hopefully within 2021…. in ~3 weeks. If not, then after the holidays.

I expect it will be second half of 2022, to complete Apple's 2-year transition to Apple Silicon

 

[CooperBox]

I for one am dying to see a new 27" M-version iMac, but no way will I be purchasing one/being an early production guinea-pig until at least well into 2023 when it's proved itself as reliable - or otherwise.

 

[MisterSavage]

I for one am dying to see a new 27" M-version iMac, but no way will I be purchasing one/being an early production guinea-pig until at least well into 2023 when it's proved itself as reliable - or otherwise.

I volunteer as tribute!

 

[lilface]

I current have a Late 2015 27 inch iMac with the 3.3ghz Core i5, 24gb of ram and 2TB fusion. I want to upgrade it since I am working remote now and my workloads are starting to push it where it’s showing its age. I do have a 4K 27 inch monitor as a second display which I desperately need.

• I am debating on getting a core i7 with the 5700xt, 2TB and upgrading the ram myself.
• getting a maxed out 24 inch M1 iMac
• Lastly, trying to hold off and get a 27 inch iMac (Pro) when its released in the spring.

I am unsure if I should spend the almost $2800 (I have an education discount and can trade in the imac) for the 2020 iMac or try and stick it out until the spring to get the new iMac that will have the bigger screen.

I'm running on a late 2012 27in iMac, and for what it's worth as an almost 9 year old computer it still runs like a champ, but I am patiently waiting for the new M? iMac. It's a struggle... I probably read about it and think about it too much, but in the end it will 100% be worth the wait... hang in there, we are all in this together!

 

[chrisdazzo]

Imma keep referring to this tweet for those of you with little/no hope about a new iMac in Q1 2022. Ross has been spot-on with rumors in the past, iirc.

Recall the last time the 27" iMac was refreshed was August 2020 - the end of March 2022 ends up being 607 days since the last refresh, today being 485 days since the last refresh, well beyond the averages. Food for thought...

 

[justanothergeordie]

I'm running on a late 2012 27in iMac, and for what it's worth as an almost 9 year old computer it still runs like a champ, but I am patiently waiting for the new M? iMac. It's a struggle... I probably read about it and think about it too much, but in the end it will 100% be worth the wait... hang in there, we are all in this together!

Same here – running a 2013 27inch iMac, been waiting and reading about when the new iMac will be coming out, chomping at the bit. I almost bought a Mini a few days ago but choosing a monitor is the most difficult decision. Ended up bailing out because I'm sure the next iMac, whilst probably expensive, will be worth the wait.

I'm glad I invested more money when I bought my 2013 iMac – 32GB RAM and 512SSD still means it works well enough but the screen looks blurry compared to the 5K iMac or a newer MacBook Pro and after having worked on a base level M1 Mini, I couldn't believe the speed of it...

 

[siddavis]

Wow, I have the exact iMac now and I am itching to upgrade. It's superficial, but if the 24" iMac had come in space gray, I would already own it. Now that it's been this long, I am definitely waiting. I just hope the wait is short and my wallet isn't hit too hard!