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When will iMac get the M2?

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Warped9

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Oct 27, 2018
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Brockville, Ontario.
All machines get updated eventually. Apple did pretty well when introducing the current new 24in. iMac with the then new M1. But in overall design and aesthetic it’s fairly clear the iMac is aimed primarily at the broad consumer market even though the iMac, like the M1 MacBooks, can do a fair degree of “pro” work.

With the M2 now introduced in the new MacBook Air can it be that long in coming before Apple upgrades the iMac with the M2 processor? More than a few people, myself included, would appreciate the option of 24GB RAM along with the increased efficiency and speed over the M1.

So when could we most likely see this upgrade? This coming Fall or sometime in 2023.
 
The M2 would make the iMac comparable to the new MacBook Air only with a bigger display. I’m wondering what other tweaks they might add. I doubt they will make any changes to the colour options.

I doubt it will happen, but at that price point 512GB storage should be standard as should 12 or 16 GB RAM.
 
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I think that ship has sailed and we’re not hearing anything about the possibility of a 27in. iMac. We all assumed there would be one, but we got the Studio Display instead.

Unless they do something totally surprising I suspect a 27in. iMac is not happening.
 
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I don't understand why the Mac mini and iMac still haven't updated with M2 chips. I wish Apple could update all of their computers at the same time, at least when it comes to a particular chip.
 
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Same boat. I've been on the fence about either getting an iMac or the Studio. I like the idea of the all in one, but I'm not paying for an M1 at this point.

I'd really like them to give chip options in the iMac as well. If we're not getting an iMac Pro, at least let us choose higher-powered chips to go in the 24-inch.
 
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noone said:
Same boat. I've been on the fence about either getting an iMac or the Studio. I like the idea of the all in one, but I'm not paying for an M1 at this point.

I'd really like them to give chip options in the iMac as well. If we're not getting an iMac Pro, at least let us choose higher-powered chips to go in the 24-inch.
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Well the M1 was a serious upgrade from what the previous iMac had before. I don’t have an issue with the M1 itself, but I would prefer more RAM options. So maybe the upgrade will be to have an M2 model with RAM upgrade to 24 or 32GB. In that way the M1 iMac would be entry level model just as the old M1 MacBook Air 13.3 remains the MacBook entry level.
 
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I'm also looking for an M2 iMac, and I share the frustration of others here that Apple hasn't updated all of the M1 Macs simultaneously. I remember thinking in the intel era how great it would be when apple eventually make their own silicon for the Mac, and we'll end the years of chip delays and products being held back due to poor intel planning. Turns out they'll just hold them back arbitrarily for the hell of it.

I'm tempted to buy the M1 iMac now but buying a product with a nearly 2 year old chip just doesn't sit well. I'm also in the camp that was looking forward to a 27 inch iMac with Pro/Max chips, but agree with others that it isn't coming anytime soon, if ever.

If they're sticking to just 1 iMac, I really hope they let us put an M2 Pro in when they finally update it, and the same for the Mac mini. I'd also love a BTO option for a mini-LED screen, in order to make it an iMac I'd really love. Both are unlikely I fear 🙁
 
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There might be solid reasons why Apple doesn’t upgrade everything at the same, just reasons we’re not privy to. We know there are shortages globally, not just in labour and computer chips but also in some raw materials.

We all fully expected the wedged M1 MacBook Air to be replaced by the new M2 design, but that didn’t happen. They kept the old Air as an entry level item—and not a bad move given it’s a solid value for the performance you get. And seriously we’re going on two years and the M1 MBA remains a very competitive computer given you can’t get that power and efficiency elsewhere for the price. Still I expect the wedged M1 Air to be dropped eventually.

That said retaining the 13in. MacBook Pro is a head scratcher given the release of the M2 Air. Granted the 13 Pro is no longer redundant compared to the M1 Air, but it is redundant compared to the M2 Air. So what’s the point? Hell, given the new sedate colour schemes they could have called the new M2 Air the M2 Pro. It’s confusing.

Nonetheless I’m thinking we might get an M2 iMac in the Fall, the third or fourth quarter of 2022.

Perhaps staging the releases spread out throught the year allows each upgraded device to get their own solitary time in the spotlight.
 
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My guess is they want to have an event for the Mac mini redesign at which point it will get M2. I think that will be the moment the iMac will also get the M2.

I’m betting on November
 
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Even more than the M2 chip, I would appreciate very much a complete connectivity (like on the iMac Intel) instead of just four Thunderbolt and USB ports. Also a standard configuration with 16GB and 512GB storage would be great! Last but not least, implementing a mini-LED display available in either 24" or 27" would be perfect. In fact, I believe that the current iMac is so good that Apple doesn't have much to do to improve it.
 
At the risk of rehashing old debates from when the iMac 24 was released I think they could have made the chassis a wee bit thicker to allow for more connectivity like the Intel iMac had. Then again it’s not that big a deal to get a hub or dock that will give you the connectivity you want and without having to reach behind the computer, something that was always rather inconvenient with these designs whether they be Mac or PC AIO desktops.

But having to get a dock pretty much defeats the clean and uncluttered look of the work space an AIO supposedly addresses.

A lot of wishful thinking for a new 27in. iMac, and maybe we might get one eventually. But speaking strictly for myself the current 24 will be a distinct step up in display compared to my current 21.5 while still staying quite close to the same overall size. I believe the 24 is only marginally larger in width and height over the 21.5, less than a inch more in both dimensions.
 
I think if there is a 27" coming, it will definitely not be this year. I agree. the 24" is perfect in size. I also don't need the additional connectivity tbh. I use the Keyboard and trackpad that apple provided and the only thing I use the ports for is to occasionally charge my iPad Pro or iPhone
 
Isengardtom said:
…the only thing I use the ports for is to occasionally charge my iPad Pro or iPhone
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My iPad I charge with an adaptor plugged into the wall. My iPhone I charge with a Belkin wireless charging pad sitting on my dresser. The only time I plug an iPad or iPhone into my iMac is when I’m upgrading to a newer device and I use iTunes to backup the old devices and to setup and migrate stuff to the new ones. I don’t do it through the cloud. So this happens only every few years.

There is also periodic backing up my computer onto an external hard drive and the rare occasional accessing of a usb jump drive.
 
It's completely BS that they removed the 27" iMac. They could've easily kept the M1 with 27". It especially doesn't make sense considering the rumours about the 15" Air. That's something people have been asking for over a decade. A lot of people have been asking for simply a bigger display without the high-end price or need for performance. If they deliver that with the 15" Air (which I'll believe when I see it), then the decision to get rid of the 27" iMac becomes even more baffling. You can have an external 27" and Studio for performance and a simpler 27" AIO for bigger size and the basic M1/M2 chip.
 
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Sucks that if we even get an M2 iMac, it would most likely end up being until after the Apple $150 gift card promotion expires.

I'm starting to think that they might skip the M2 all-together and update it until the Fall of 2023 with an M3 (being one of the first models to get the new generation M-chip this time). I hope by then they make 12 GB of RAM standard.
 
Warped9 said:
The Mac Studio Display is what I find puzzling. It’s waay overpriced for what even pro users need.
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which would mean if an 27" iMac comes, that will be way more expensive than it used to be, otherwise it doesn't make sense to get the display over that
 
The M2 is out in the new MacBook Air and in a week or so we should get to see reviews and real world performance tests. I’m particularly interested to see the differences of M2 with 16 and 24 RAM over the M1 with 16 RAM.

I’m still not desperate for a new computer given my 2011 is still very much alive and works better than when it was new (given its upgrades). Even so it’s stuck at High Sierra which at some point might eventually become an issue.
 
24" screen is fine for me. I'd be perfectly happy with the current enclosure but with upgraded options like the M2, 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD as base. I'd preorder that **** if it was announced tomorrow. But I'm not paying top dollar for a new iMac M1 and the iMac form factor is the only thing I can really justify or consider with my needs and limitations.

Interesting that this site changed the iMac Buyer's Guide from "Do not buy!" to "Caution". Seems like I'm doomed to wait.
 
Warped9 said:
All machines get updated eventually. Apple did pretty well when introducing the current new 24in. iMac with the then new M1. But in overall design and aesthetic it’s fairly clear the iMac is aimed primarily at the broad consumer market even though the iMac, like the M1 MacBooks, can do a fair degree of “pro” work.

With the M2 now introduced in the new MacBook Air can it be that long in coming before Apple upgrades the iMac with the M2 processor? More than a few people, myself included, would appreciate the option of 24GB RAM along with the increased efficiency and speed over the M1.

So when could we most likely see this upgrade? This coming Fall or sometime in 2023.
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My guess is that Apple will skip the M2 for the iMac and possibly the Mac mini as well (though, they do need to figure out what to do with the Intel Mac mini in terms of that spot in the lineup). The notebooks generally have gotten more religious/regular updates than the desktops. Though, the supply chain shortage seems to have elongated even the MacBook Pro's average refresh cycle by what would've been seen as unusually long in the Intel era.
 
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