Will there ever be a new large iMac (Pro)?

[Coconutcreampie]

Yeah, yeah, yeah . . . we know.

It IS unusual and far from Apple's regular practice. And even in the example you give the design remained the same; only the internals changed.

First off, please don’t speak as if you get to speak for others. Fine if you know that, but not everyone does. I also can’t read your mind so if you knew that there is no way for me to know that you did. The bad attitude isn’t necessary either. I also never said or suggested that it was usual. Read more carefully or ask for clarification next time.

 

[krazzix]

I wonder, do we know if the XDR display includes a FaceTime camera?

Doesn't look like it. They probably figured Pro users should focus on their work and not be interrupted by FaceTime calls

 

[loekf]

Doesn't look like it. They probably figured Pro users should focus on their work and not be interrupted by FaceTime calls

I am sure Apple will come with a beautifully designed Aluminium webcam as an add-on and charge 1500 USD for it.

 

[boston04and07]

With Catalina I’m interested in buying a desktop Mac for the first time in years, specifically an iMac, but would prefer to have one with True Tone/Promotion as I’ve become so used to that on my iPad, and the lighting in my house changes a lot during the day. I’d also prefer Touch ID (or Face ID). What do you guys think the odds are of any update including those?

 

[SalisburySam]

For whatever reason, Apple has forsaken any biometric authentication on the desktop. That is despite owning arguably the best finger mark (TouchID), and facial recognition authentication product in use for several years now on mobile devices. My wife’s Microsoft Surface Book has had facial recognition for log in purposes since its inception and works very, very well. The iMac webcam is pretty good but not used for authentication. I’d like to see a TouchID ring on the iMac lower large bezel.

My forecast? No, not in the cards. And that’s because I don’t understand why it hasn’t been there for years now. Possibly, it upsets the profitability of the iMac to less than Apple’s desired %.

 

[boston04and07]

For whatever reason, Apple has forsaken any biometric authentication on the desktop. That is despite owning arguably the best finger mark (TouchID), and facial recognition authentication product in use for several years now on mobile devices. My wife’s Microsoft Surface Book has had facial recognition for log in purposes since its inception and works very, very well. The iMac webcam is pretty good but not used for authentication. I’d like to see a TouchID ring on the iMac lower large bezel.

My forecast? No, not in the cards. And that’s because I don’t understand why it hasn’t been there for years now. Possibly, it upsets the profitability of the iMac to less than Apple’s desired %.

Yeah, it really is very strange that the Mac line (apart from the high end and expensive MacBook Pro) hasn’t seen any form of biometric input at all. It’s been on the iPhone since, what, the iPhone 5? 6? So it’s clearly not a specific Pro feature.

 

[Seamaster]

The iMac is such a niche product now, second only to the Mac Pro.

Yes it's overdue for a redesign, but we should be grateful it continues to be offered at all. The desktop computer is a relic of a bygone era. And in terms of its importance to Apple's top line sales, a tiny drop in the ocean alongside MacBooks (never mind iPhones and iPads).

If there are going to be further changes to the iMac lineup, expectations should be set accordingly.

 

[askunk]

The iMac has been the best selling desktop for Apple. They redesigned the mini, I really doubt they are going to ditch the iMac.

 

[codernova]

The iMac is such a niche product now, second only to the Mac Pro.

Yes it's overdue for a redesign, but we should be grateful it continues to be offered at all. The desktop computer is a relic of a bygone era. And in terms of its importance to Apple's top line sales, a tiny drop in the ocean alongside MacBooks (never mind iPhones and iPads).

If there are going to be further changes to the iMac lineup, expectations should be set accordingly.

The first time I read your post I agreed. A lot of pro developers (me), music producers/creators (wanna-be me), pro X, Y , and Z... would agree. But I think there are legions of non-pros that find the MacBook and iMac as perfectly suitable for what they are after. Some of us, myself included, find niches in the non-pro lines that work for us.

If non pro-MacBooks and desktop Macs aren't selling, I think proof is in order.

 

[kblbn86]

My guess is we'll see a redesign on October 2020.

Getting rid of the bezels

Currently sold 21'' --> 24'' 4k iMac (uses 4k ultrafine 24'' monitor panel)

Currently sold 27'' --> 32'' 6k iMac (uses trimmed down version of 32'' 6k Pro Display XDR panel)

 

[krazzix]

The iMac is such a niche product now, second only to the Mac Pro.

Yes it's overdue for a redesign, but we should be grateful it continues to be offered at all. The desktop computer is a relic of a bygone era. And in terms of its importance to Apple's top line sales, a tiny drop in the ocean alongside MacBooks (never mind iPhones and iPads).

If there are going to be further changes to the iMac lineup, expectations should be set accordingly.

The iMac has been the best selling desktop for Apple. They redesigned the mini, I really doubt they are going to ditch the iMac.

I think the iMac is the most popular of all Apple's desktops. There aren't many numbers online to back this up, but in 2010, nearly a 3rd of all all-in-one PC's were iMacs. If I take "nearly a 3rd" to be 30%, that would be 4.35 million iMacs.

In 2010, Apple sold 4.63 desktops in total. So 94% of all desktop Macs sold in 2010 were iMacs.

So my guess is the iMac now is 25% of all Macs sold. That's still a very important Mac. Way more important than the Mini or Pro in terms of revenue.

 

[codernova]

@krazzix I've supported Macs since 1999, including the iMac G3 and up to G4 towers as an I.T. professional. They were a neat distraction and skill to gain at the time (gamer, DOS/Windows user).

However, I've since made a career of lower level software development (embedded, system level, library, cross platform, etc), and the need for me to have a MacBook Pro at work for the cross platform work I do caused me to fall in love with Macs for the first time, just by using one daily/directly.

I know I'm just a single data point, but in wanting to bring that experience to my home I decided the iMac was the best bang/buck for me. It seems likely to me that I'm not the only one with a similar story.

 

[MistrSynistr]

iMac Pro will get it first, this year I bet, then the next iMacs.

 

[jseq]

I wish a redesign next year 2020 but doubt the 27” will be replaced for a 32”, that would increase the price tag so much it wouldn’t be competitive!
Maybe we’ll see smaller bezels and chin, and that’s it!

 

[retta283]

It's possible it will be this fall. In March of 2009 a small spec bump was released for the iMac, and in October of that same year it got a redesign.

 

[askunk]

There is no new Intel desktop CPU in sight for the fall.

 

[Coyote2006]

Any new GPUs that could be added to an iMacPro update this fall?

 

[bpeeps]

iMac Pro will get it first, this year I bet, then the next iMacs.

iMac Pro is not coming out this year (if at all). Its sales would eat into the Mac Pros sales. Not happening. If it was to release, it would be mid 2020 at the earliest with a regular iMac update in 2021. Apple isn't going to release two high-end machines aimed at professionals in the same quarter.

 

[JLOAKS]

Currently sold 21'' --> 24'' 4k iMac (uses 4k ultrafine 24'' monitor panel)

Currently sold 27'' --> 32'' 6k iMac (uses trimmed down version of 32'' 6k Pro Display XDR panel)

I do believe whenever iMacs are updated that 32'' 6k will be the new standard. The introduction of the Pro Display XDR almost solidified that this is the future size/resolution of the iMac going forward.

Otherwise it would look ridiculous to use a redesigned 27'' chassis alongside a 32'' Pro Display XDR external monitor.

 

[Imposture]

I don’t know about you guys but I’m as excited about the redesign as I’m worried. I have a 2015 13 ” MBP Retina and god was I lucky to get this model over the next models with usb C and butterfly keyboards. I like to have all the ports I need, the lit Apple logo and a still thin and reliable laptop (working great to this day).

I know the bezels are huge for 2019 but at least this design as been out for a long time and as proven to be good and working.. it has a card reader, usb 3, thunderbolt, etc...

Who knows what they’re going to do with the next iMac design..
I wouldn’t buy the first gen redesign iMac, I’ve lost this kind of trust in Apple.

 

[xgman]

new mac model numbers out today along with phones and watch numbers. wonder if any are imacs? Doesn't sound like it.

Composed of Apple’s portable Mac lines, there are six new model identifiers: A2141, A2147, A2158, A2179, A2182, and A2251. The most likely prediction is that this list includes the rumored 16-inch MacBook Pro. There may also be some spec-bump updates to other models too.

 

[CWallace]

I do believe Apple will eventually redesign the iMac, but I think they will wait until Intel has figured out how to get their desktop CPUs off of Coffee Lake, whenever that is (all Intel talks about going 10nm is low-power mobile). I believe that there are cooling benefits to having the extra volume of the current case so a case shrink might induce thermal throttling.

The other option is redesign the cooling system to make it more efficient and effective in a smaller case, but that might very well mean the 27" model loses direct-access to RAM (as happened with the iMac Pro).

Apple could redesign the case not only to make it sleeker for the iMac 5K, but to also give us an Apple 5K (Non-Pro) XDR display in the same case to replace the 27" LG UltraFine.

 

[wave84]

I would kill for a spec bump to Radeon 5700/XT right now.

 

[_Skyfire_]

I would kill for a spec bump to Radeon 5700/XT right now.

This and iMP thermals at a minimum

 

[askunk]

I would kill for a spec bump to Radeon 5700/XT right now.

CPUs have still to be produced. Best case scenario, we can see a redesign with WiFi 6, BT 5, new screens (I doubt they will go for 32"), new FaceTime cameras, new speaker system (ATMOS compatible?) and hopefully smaller bezels but not before late January 2020. More credible is a late February/early March release.

https://www.extremetech.com/computi...desktops-arriving-in-2020-10-cores-new-socket

By that time, we may see the presentation of 5800 and 5900 models, which could be good candidates for the high-end BTO.

https://hexus.net/tech/news/graphics/133283-amd-ceo-confirms-high-end-navi-graphics-cards-track/

And PLEASE, Apple, keep the RAM accessible on the new iMac!