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

[CWallace]

I would expect the iMac to offer "M1X" in the same configurations as the MacBook Pro (so 10C and 16 or 32G cores). I would not expect it to get the higher-core count models (Jade-2C and Jade-4C) that are rumored for the Apple Silicon Mac Pro.

I am guessing what might be holding it back is the display, assuming it will be MiniLED. Latest rumors are now saying the "Mac mini Pro" might also slip into 2022 so if true, I am wondering if the "MmP" is waiting for the new Apple Thunderbolt Display and this ATD will be using the same screen as the larger iMac and the display is what is pushing both back.

If true, I expect this lends greater credence to the rumors by some that the iMac and ATD will be 27-29" and not 32" (so the Pro Display XDR can remain as-is).

 

[Moonjumper]

I would expect the iMac to offer "M1X" in the same configurations as the MacBook Pro (so 10C and 16 or 32G cores). I would not expect it to get the higher-core count models (Jade-2C and Jade-4C) that are rumored for the Apple Silicon Mac Pro.

I am guessing what might be holding it back is the display, assuming it will be MiniLED. Latest rumors are now saying the "Mac mini Pro" might also slip into 2022 so if true, I am wondering if the "MmP" is waiting for the new Apple Thunderbolt Display and this ATD will be using the same screen as the larger iMac and the display is what is pushing both back.

If true, I expect this lends greater credence to the rumors by some that the iMac and ATD will be 27-29" and not 32" (so the Pro Display XDR can remain as-is).

I don’t expect the XDR to stay exactly as it is, mainly because it seems weak for such a large and expensive device to have 576 dimming zones, when the smaller and cheaper iPad Pro has over 2,500. So I think there will be an update, but much more doubtful about it getting larger.

However, the MacBook Air is a lower spec device than the MacBook Pro, yet both are available with 13” screens. I can see the iMac getting the same size screen as the XDR, but to a lower spec. The iMac will not have the same sustained brightness for example, and the expensive cooling system that allows the brightness.

 

[Freida]

That would make sense. If its really the display then that would be reasonable.
On the other hand, having it slipped till spring when we could technically be close to M2 (and later M2X) seems like Apple might have to do some shifting around.
Seeing that no invites were sent today we can assume its not happening next tuesday. I can't wait to see what the M1X brings to the table as that is the chip most of us are waiting for.

I would expect the iMac to offer "M1X" in the same configurations as the MacBook Pro (so 10C and 16 or 32G cores). I would not expect it to get the higher-core count models (Jade-2C and Jade-4C) that are rumored for the Apple Silicon Mac Pro.

I am guessing what might be holding it back is the display, assuming it will be MiniLED. Latest rumors are now saying the "Mac mini Pro" might also slip into 2022 so if true, I am wondering if the "MmP" is waiting for the new Apple Thunderbolt Display and this ATD will be using the same screen as the larger iMac and the display is what is pushing both back.

If true, I expect this lends greater credence to the rumors by some that the iMac and ATD will be 27-29" and not 32" (so the Pro Display XDR can remain as-is).

 

[CWallace]

I don’t expect the XDR to stay exactly as it is, mainly because it seems weak for such a large and expensive device to have 576 dimming zones, when the smaller and cheaper iPad Pro has over 2,500. So I think there will be an update, but much more doubtful about it getting larger.

Yes, it stands to reason the Pro Display XDR will also go MiniLED if it can provide similar performance.

However, the MacBook Air is a lower spec device than the MacBook Pro, yet both are available with 13” screens. I can see the iMac getting the same size screen as the XDR, but to a lower spec. The iMac will not have the same sustained brightness for example, and the expensive cooling system that allows the brightness.

Well the MacBook Air and 13" MacBook Pro are more differentiated by performance than components. I also would not be surprised if the 13" MBP is discontinued in 2022 when the MacBook Air gets MiniLED so that way Apple had the MBA at 13" and the MBP at 14" and 16" all with MiniLED and differentiated by SoC and port configuration.

 

[enemy14123]

I also wait for the larger imac.

I hope the Design is Not the Same as the 24“ version ?

 

[Freida]

I wouldn't mind the same design as long as they make the bezels black and they put Apple logo on it too.

;-)

I also wait for the larger imac.

I hope the Design is Not the Same as the 24“ version ?

 

[xgman]

I wonder, if we are getting M1X MBP this month and one would assume that they will be powerful enough for the 27" iMac, is there any logical reason why we wouldn't get the bigger iMac updated too? The only reason that comes to my mind is if the design is different to the currect 24" but if the design is the same and its just bigger and the chip is out too then there really isn't much that would hold us till spring, is there?

So, realistically, it will be purely for marketing purposes to spread it out rather than anything technical, right?


What do you guys think?

covid, chip shortages, resources spread thin, low priority, smaller market, components not ready for any number of reasons... gonna be a while..

 

[dcmontgomery]

So is it sorta safe to assume that whatever memory options are available on the Macbook Pro will translate to the larger iMac whenever that arrives? Meaning if the Macbook Pros offer up to 64GB of RAM on the newer chip then the iMac will likely have similar options?

 

[CWallace]

So is it sorta safe to assume that whatever memory options are available on the Macbook Pro will translate to the larger iMac whenever that arrives? Meaning if the Macbook Pros offer up to 64GB of RAM on the newer chip then the iMac will likely have similar options?

Yup. I expect the larger iMac will use the same Apple Silicon SoC options as offered on the MacBook Pros.

 

[dcmontgomery]

Thanks! That's what I figured. Kinda desperate for any news so I'll take the upcoming event and cross my fingers as a sign of things to come.

 

[Freida]

Yeah, I think we will get to see what the MBP will do and that will pretty much translate to the similar/same performance for the bigger iMac. Monday will be actually very important for us all. It will show us what the real potential of M chip is for the power users.
Kinda hope we will get the Mac Mini and standalone display too but I know its very slim chance for that to happen.

 

[fireguy286]

I disagree with the new larger iMac using the same SOC as the MBPs coming imminently. If that was the case they’d be coming at the same time and barring a pretty big surprise that’s not the expectation (STILL!). It’s going to be the M2 or something else entirely. If after all this time it’s the M1X that would be rather underwhelming IMO. Apple doesn’t have to hit the same power to performance for a machine expected to do more and that’s plugged in all the time vs a mobile machine.

 

[CWallace]

I disagree with the new larger iMac using the same SOC as the MBPs coming imminently.

Well it is possible it might have the lower-end Mac Pro SoC ("Jade2C-Die") with 20 CPU cores and 64 GPU cores, but not sure how they will keep it within the ~$1999 range that a rumor recently claimed.

 

[fireguy286]

Well it is possible it might have the lower-end Mac Pro SoC ("Jade2C-Die") with 20 CPU cores and 64 GPU cores, but not sure how they will keep it within the ~$1999 range that a rumor recently claimed.

I think I trust the price point rumors the least, they are more wrong than right. There may be a bare bones version no one will by to hit the marketing ‘starting at…’ but considering my 2020 iMac was double that, I don’t see an issue with something higher.

 

[Freida]

Well, if I use your methodology then the 24" iMac should get the M1 like the Mac Mini 6 months before. Same thing here.
We will get Macbook Pro with the powerful chip and then in the spring event we will get the bigger iMac with the same M1X. M2 might show up but M2X is far away. Its a bit messy and I really don't know how Apple wants to do M1, M2, M3 etc. whilst having X variant which is delayed. M2X can't show up before M2 but where do you release M2? I doubt that Apple does it together so the only logical thing would be M2 at spring event for low computers and then bigger iMac at WWDC with M2X along with the Mac Pro Mini maybe?

I doubt MBP will have different chip than bigger iMac. They are meant to be on par and now that thermal envelope is not an issue Apple will unify the line.

I disagree with the new larger iMac using the same SOC as the MBPs coming imminently. If that was the case they’d be coming at the same time and barring a pretty big surprise that’s not the expectation (STILL!). It’s going to be the M2 or something else entirely. If after all this time it’s the M1X that would be rather underwhelming IMO. Apple doesn’t have to hit the same power to performance for a machine expected to do more and that’s plugged in all the time vs a mobile machine.

 

[Phil77354]

I disagree with the new larger iMac using the same SOC as the MBPs coming imminently. If that was the case they’d be coming at the same time and barring a pretty big surprise that’s not the expectation (STILL!). It’s going to be the M2 or something else entirely. If after all this time it’s the M1X that would be rather underwhelming IMO. Apple doesn’t have to hit the same power to performance for a machine expected to do more and that’s plugged in all the time vs a mobile machine.

I like your prediction, and it makes sense that if the new larger iMac doesn't get announced until sometime early next year, that would be at least 1 ½ years since the first M1 powered Mac computer was announced - surely they are ready to roll out the M2 (if they don't do it on Monday).

 

[CWallace]

I firmly believe these MacBook Pros were meant to be launched at WWDC and that the rumored constraints in the MiniLED displays is what pushed them to October. As such, "M1X" launching after the A15 which will be used as the foundation for "M2" is just a fluke and not a sign that Apple has an A15-based M-series SoC ready to drop in a Mac at a moment's notice.

The latest rumors for the "M2" MacBook Air are 1H 2022 so I don't expect to see an "M2X" drop on Monday.

 

[Freida]

Yeah, no chance for M2X on monday. That would be a huge surprise and illogical one

I firmly believe these MacBook Pros were meant to be launched at WWDC and that the rumored constraints in the MiniLED displays is what pushed them to October. As such, "M1X" launching after the A15 which will be used as the foundation for "M2" is just a fluke and not a sign that Apple has an A15-based M-series SoC ready to drop in a Mac at a moment's notice.

The latest rumors for the "M2" MacBook Air are 1H 2022 so I don't expect to see an "M2X" drop on Monday.

 

[SoYoung]

I'm wondering why Apple didn't release or announce if they'll eventually release a bigger iMac. I'm waiting for this to upgrade my 2015 one and if they told me from the start they don't have plan to release one now I'd bought the 2020 one months ago, but now its not really a good idea to buy a 15-16 months old computer at full price.

 

[fireguy286]

Clearly an M2X isn't coming Monday, that makes no sense.

If Apple has just delayed the M1X and these macs are just late, they are in quite a pickle. I find it odd to believe they would dump the 'tock' cycle chips in the MBPros only to drop in the true next generation in the Air of all things 6 months later. Another wrinkle is the iPad Pros have the M line now too - so what does that get in the Spring?

Maybe Apple just rebrands what's landing as M2 or a different letter entirely - after all they still actually use Bionic on the A Series for some idiotic reason.

 

[Moonjumper]

Clearly an M2X isn't coming Monday, that makes no sense.

If Apple has just delayed the M1X and these macs are just late, they are in quite a pickle. I find it odd to believe they would dump the 'tock' cycle chips in the MBPros only to drop in the true next generation in the Air of all things 6 months later. Another wrinkle is the iPad Pros have the M line now too - so what does that get in the Spring?

Maybe Apple just rebrands what's landing as M2 or a different letter entirely - after all they still actually use Bionic on the A Series for some idiotic reason.

There is no guarantee there will be iPad Pros in the spring. The last cycle was the shortest yet at 14 months, and repeating that would be June. Plus that timing was probably to match the last Mac that will use the base M1, and the natural cycle would have been longer. The M2 might not be coming soon.

Transitioning the Mac line to a new architecture during a pandemic and a chip shortage means the timing is almost certainly far from what was planned, and not what we will see in future generations.

 

[CWallace]

I'm wondering why Apple didn't release or announce if they'll eventually release a bigger iMac. I'm waiting for this to upgrade my 2015 one and if they told me from the start they don't have plan to release one now I'd bought the 2020 one months ago, but now its not really a good idea to buy a 15-16 months old computer at full price.

I just bought a refurb 2020 - saved almost $450 over new. Mind you, I need Boot Camp and Intel Windows support so the new larger Apple Silicon iMac is not really an option for me right now even if we knew what it was and when it was coming (I will be getting the new ASi MBP, though).

If Apple has just delayed the M1X and these macs are just late, they are in quite a pickle. I find it odd to believe they would dump the 'tock' cycle chips in the MBPros only to drop in the true next generation in the Air of all things 6 months later. Another wrinkle is the iPad Pros have the M line now too - so what does that get in the Spring?

"M2" with the A15 cores will only beat "M1X" in single-core - and then by only around 10% per A15 benchmarks. "M1X" will have twice as many performance cores as "M2" so it will still outrun an "M2" by a fair bit in multi-core workloads. "M1X" will also have significantly more GPU cores than "M2" - 16/32 compared to ~10 - so even with the performance increases per core for "M2", "M1X" will still win thanks to raw numbers.

So you can be quite comfortable in knowing an "M1X" 2021 14" MacBook Pro will run rings around an "M2" 2022 13" MacBook Air in the significant majority of tasks.

 

[fireguy286]

"M2" with the A15 cores will only beat "M1X" in single-core - and then by only around 10% per A15 benchmarks. "M1X" will have twice as many performance cores as "M2" so it will still outrun an "M2" by a fair bit in multi-core workloads. "M1X" will also have significantly more GPU cores than "M2" - 16/32 compared to ~10 - so even with the performance increases per core for "M2", "M1X" will still win thanks to raw numbers.

So you can be quite comfortable in knowing an "M1X" 2021 14" MacBook Pro will run rings around an "M2" 2022 13" MacBook Air in the significant majority of tasks.

You think the average consumer understands any of that?

And frankly a ton of your thoughts the last year have blown up, so I will take all that with a grain of salt.

 

[EugW]

You think the average consumer understands any of that?

No but most of the educated buyers will.

They've already been primed by the iPad Pro, so they know the X models are considerably faster than the non-X models.

 

[CWallace]

You think the average consumer understands any of that?

The "average consumer" is going to walk into an Apple Store and tell the Associate "I am looking for a laptop" and than that Associate will ask them a collection of questions that will narrow down what model and what configuration they take home with them.

What model of SoC will never be a part of the conversation, most likely. They will get whatever comes in the Mac choose to purchase and they won't really care what it is called.