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

[blairh]

I think you are right. Only the display part I'm not so sure about. If a display announcement was imminent wouldn't Ross Young have heard of it while tracking the iMac with the same panel?

He has never reported about the displays. Vadim at Max Tech asked him about the potential of a (non-Pro) iMac and he said 'we are not tracking that product'. Could be as simple as he is tracking the iMac Pro but not any future Apple displays.

Dylandkt had details regarding the 3 displays. I think all 3 are inevitable this year. Just a question of when Apple introduces them. Personally I think March alongside the new Mac Mini Pro makes total sense. WWDC with the iMac Pro makes less sense to me. September is iPhone/Apple Watch. October is iPad Pro/Mac Pro/MacBook Air.

 

[ascender]

Or maybe there is no iMac Pro and they'll just update the line to have a 24" and a 27" machine which can be specced with M1/M2, M1 Pro or M1 Max chips?

Or the 24" remains the iMac with an M1/M2 and then the iMac Pro has the M1 Pro/Max SOCs?

Only thing against that way of thinking is that the new MBP obviously lets you have identical specs in either size.

 

[iPadified]

As I wrote elsewhere
24 inch = MacBook air specs
27 inch = MBP specs. By analogy this could be the iMac Pro.

Mini LED 27 inch iMac might be an upgrade.

None of these feels like a replacement for the 2017 iMac Pro though. 32 inch mini LED plus Jade 2C would be a good replacement but I am not sure that is in the cards.

 

[blairh]

Or maybe there is no iMac Pro and they'll just update the line to have a 24" and a 27" machine which can be specced with M1/M2, M1 Pro or M1 Max chips?

Or the 24" remains the iMac with an M1/M2 and then the iMac Pro has the M1 Pro/Max SOCs?

Only thing against that way of thinking is that the new MBP obviously lets you have identical specs in either size.

iMac Pro is definitely happening. Just a question if we also get a (non-Pro) 27" iMac.

24" will get the M2 I'm assuming in October. Pro and Max chips exclusive to the iMac Pro.

 

[enc0re]

I think it’s more likely we get iMac Pro’s in 24” and 27” than that we get regular iMacs at both sizes.

I expect Pro to have a USP beyond screen size and chip. For example, a high res, Center Stage, Face ID camera.

 

[blairh]

I think it’s more likely we get iMac Pro’s in 24” and 27” than that we get regular iMacs at both sizes.

I expect Pro to have a USP beyond screen size and chip. For example, a high res, Center Stage, Face ID camera.

Highly unlikely we get a 24" iMac Pro.

We should also mention the 3 displays that are likely coming soon. 24" will be the current 24" iMac 4.5K display. 27" will be the mini-LED panel from the upcoming iMac Pro. And a successor to the Pro Display XDR.

There is no rumor of a new 27" 5K Apple branded display. Which makes me think that perhaps there will be no (non-Pro) 27" iMac. There also hasn't been a single rumor of such a device so I'm guessing it's not happening. But you never know.

 

[blairh]

Sounds like a (non-Pro) 27" iMac is not coming.

iMac will mimic the iPhone, iPad, and MacBook (when the redesigned MBA comes). Pro models will feature more power and 'professional colors'. Consumer-aimed Apple products have more fun colors and are intended for casual computer use.

 

[CWallace]

I believe the entire line will be called "iMac Pro" to differentiate it from the iMac (24"), but now that Gurman says it will only offer M1 Pro and M1 Max (so no multi-SoC option) I think Apple can keep the base price at $2499 for M1 Pro / 16GB / 512GB.

Yes, that is expensive compared to the $1799 / $1999 of the base Intel models, but is price-comparable to what many, if mot most, of us would consider a "true" base model ( i7 / 5500XT / 16GB / 512GB ).

 

[blairh]

I believe the entire line will be called "iMac Pro" to differentiate it from the iMac (24"), but now that Gurman says it will only offer M1 Pro and M1 Max (so no multi-SoC option) I think Apple can keep the base price at $2499 for M1 Pro / 16GB / 512GB.

Yes, that is expensive compared to the $1799 / $1999 of the base Intel models, but is price-comparable to what many, if mot most, of us would consider a "true" base model ( i7 / 5500XT / 16GB / 512GB ).

It still stinks though. We've had the option for an $1,800 entry level 27" iMac for many years. If Apple introduces the iMac Pro at $2,500, and offers no other 27" iMac in their lineup, we are SOL. I'll wait until the keynote to worry about such a thing though.

I'm also just as curious and interested in the upcoming Apple displays. But if none of them have a nano-texture option then I don't care.

Last option for me would be a nano-textured refurbished iMac. Not sure I want to invest in an Intel machine though at this point.

 

[Juuro]

but now that Gurman says it will only offer M1 Pro and M1 Max (so no multi-SoC option)

Did he explicitly say that? I thought he just listed the M1 Pro and Max as the chips for the iMac Pro, but in my mind that doesn't mean he thinks it's impossible that there won't be another chip for the iMac Pro. I have the feeling Mark Gurman is relatively conservative with the leaks he releases. So there might just not be enough sources for his standards who talked about the Jade 2C / 12 Core M1...

Last option for me would be a nano-textured refurbished iMac. Not sure I want to invest in an Intel machine though at this point.

You could probably wait for a refurbished Apple Silicon iMac Pro with nano texture glass. But that's another wait of at least six months. ?

 

[CWallace]

It still stinks though. We've had the option for an $1,800 entry level 27" iMac for many years. If Apple introduces the iMac Pro at $2,500, and offers no other 27" iMac in their lineup, we are SOL.

I am sure there were people who bought the base iMac 5K because the iMac 4K offered only 63% of the usable display area of the iMac 5K and they prioritized screen size over everything else.

However, the 24" iMac offers 76% of the usable display area of the 5K so I expect many who would have bought the base 27" over the 21.5" would have bought a 24" model if it had been on offer and cost a few hundred less than the 27".

So for those who just have to have a 27" 5K display, yes they will pay a premium for it now. I myself can relate, as an M1 MacBook Air would have been perfect for my use case, but I just had to have MiniLED so I bought the base model 14" MBP for twice the price.

 

[blairh]

You could probably wait for a refurbished Apple Silicon iMac Pro with nano texture glass. But that's another wait of at least six months. ?

I'd really like to move on from this iMac as soon as I can.

 

[blairh]

I am sure there were people who bought the base iMac 5K because the iMac 4K had a 63% smaller display (by usable area) and they prioritized screen size over everything else.

However, the 24" iMac offers 76% of the usable display area of the 5K so I expect many who would have bought the 27" over the 21.5" would now buy the 24", instead.

So for those who just have to have a 27" 5K display, yes they will pay a premium for it now. I myself can relate, as an M1 MacBook Air would have been perfect for my use case, but I just had to have MiniLED so I bought the base model 14" MBP for twice the price.

Yeah I do think the 24" iMac is now a more viable option versus 27". White bezels can be polarizing though. I wish Apple could have offered the silver model with a different bezel at least.

I personally don't want a 24" iMac so who knows where I will end up.

 

[richest]

In other Apple retail news: stores are, again, dropping mask mandates for customers and Today at Apple in-store classes are returning ahead of major iPhone SE, iPad Air, Mac launch on March 8th.

From twitter Mark Gurman.

 

[imdog]

In other Apple retail news: stores are, again, dropping mask mandates for customers and Today at Apple in-store classes are returning ahead of major iPhone SE, iPad Air, Mac launch on March 8th.

From twitter Mark Gurman.

I don't think there's supposed to be any iMacs though

 

[Homy]

Looks like we're going to peek at a new colorful gaming computer from Apple with peak performance next week.

 

[CWallace]

Honestly I expect if Apple was doing in-person events, this one would not have even happened considering it is just SoC enhancements to the iPhone SE, iPad Air and MacBook Pro 13.3" and I do not believe Apple would consider any of those worthy of more than a press release (these new online events are effectively fancier Press Releases, so...).

 

[Moonjumper]

Looks like we're going to peek at a new colorful gaming computer from Apple with peak performance next week.

It is "peek" not "peak", so likely to include a preview of something, and considering the AR page for it, it could be the rumoured AR/VR headset.

Hopefully there is more than that, including the larger iMac, but I don't think the wording is a reference to Macs, unless it is going to be a long time before the rest of the Apple Silicon transition.

 

[Homy]

It is "peek" not "peak", so likely to include a preview of something, and considering the AR page for it, it could be the rumoured AR/VR headset.

Hopefully there is more than that, including the larger iMac, but I don't think the wording is a reference to Macs, unless it is going to be a long time before the rest of the Apple Silicon transition.

Do you think I can't read? That's your opinion. I and even news sites think it's a wordplay referring to both peek and peak. That's why I used both in my comment.

 

[Moonjumper]

Do you think I can't read? That's your opinion. I and even news sites think it's a wordplay referring to both peek and peak. That's why I used both in my comment.

I think Apple can read, and there is a long series of rumours about an upcoming product that fits the word peek perfectly. "Peek" as in a small look, not a full reveal. And "peek", something you do with your eyes. AR/VR fits.

There is a variable quality of English posted on these forums, including by non-native speakers. I wasn't getting at you.

 

[Jorbanead]

It is "peek" not "peak", so likely to include a preview of something, and considering the AR page for it, it could be the rumoured AR/VR headset.

An AR/VR headset would most likely be announced at WWDC, as they would include developer tools and API at the conference so devs could start working on apps.

What AR page are you talking about? Apple has had AR links for every virtual event.

 

[subjonas]

I’d agree rOS and the headset would most likely be announced at WWDC. I think “peek performance” is alluding to a preview of the AS Mac Pro.

 

[CWallace]

Yeah makes no real sense to me for Apple to launch an AR/VR headset outside of WWDC because that is when you introduce the OS behind it and then have plenty of seminars about it. Plus everyone in media covers WWDC, so maximum audience for coverage.

 

[blairh]

Sadly I don't expect any iMacs on Tuesday. Mac Mini will be the star.

 

[Jorbanead]

Sadly I don't expect any iMacs on Tuesday. Mac Mini will be the star.

Peek Performance to me doesn’t really make sense if their flagship Mac at the event is a Mac mini. But who knows, maybe they’ll pump up the performance even more than the 16” Pro.