Will There Really Be Another iMac Pro?

[MacRumors]

After the introduction of the Mac Studio and Studio Display in Apple's product lineup, and with mixed signs of a larger Apple silicon iMac on its product roadmap, will there ever be another iMac Pro?

Five years ago this week Apple launched the iMac Pro – presented at the time as "the most powerful Mac ever made". In March 2021, Apple announced that it was discontinuing the iMac Pro. By that time, the machine had been surpassed by the 2019 Mac Pro, a significant final update for the 27-inch iMac, and the first Apple Silicon Macs. In April 2021, Apple introduced the 24-inch iMac as its first all-in-one desktop Mac with an Apple silicon chip. Apple discontinued the Intel-based 27-inch iMac in March 2022, leaving the junior iMac with an entry-level chip as the only all-in-one in Apple's lineup.

Display Supply Chain Consultants analyst Ross Young has said since 2021 that Apple is working on an iMac with a 27-inch mini-LED display with ProMotion, but rumors about this device have faded since the launch of the Mac Studio and Studio Display in March this year. When Apple introduced these two new machines, it lauded their "modularity" and collective positioning between the iMac and the Mac Pro. As such, the location of the Mac Studio in Apple's product lineup aroused suspicion that there was simply no place for a "Pro" iMac anymore. Other reports suggested that Apple had no plans to release an new iMac Pro or an iMac with a larger display anytime soon.

Nevertheless, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes that a new iMac Pro model will launch in 2023 alongside a new Mac Pro – a rumor seemingly supported by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Earlier this year, Gurman said that Apple was continuing work on a high-end iMac model:

I also still believe that Apple is working on a larger-screened iMac aimed at the professional market. I'd imagine this will use a variation of the M3 chip, likely an M3 Pro and M3 Max. That would match the chips inside of the MacBook Pro. I don't think the combination of a Mac Studio or Mac mini plus an Apple Studio Display cuts it for many pro users who want more screen real estate.

Beyond a rumor from Young explaining that the iMac Pro will have fewer mini-LED zones than the iPad Pro or MacBook Pro, little else is known about what it could feature. It seems likely that a larger, ~27-inch mini-LED display with ProMotion, M3 Pro and M3 Max chip options, and a slew of ports brought over from the MacBook Pro are on the cards for the iMac Pro based on what we are aware of at the current time.

With Young, Kuo, and Gurman all coalescing around the idea of a new high-end iMac, likely set to launch next year, it seems that the chances of Apple releasing a new iMac Pro are still relatively high, regardless of the presence of the Mac Studio and Studio Display.

Article Link: Will There Really Be Another iMac Pro?

 

[DFZD]

iMac Pro Xeon? People need the iMac Studio first with those already ageing Ultra and Pro chips.

 

[ForkHandles]

No!
They’re simply is no need for all in ones for professionals these days.
There is still a need for good quality Thunderbolt displays, very few good options out there. But the laptops and studios are definitely the way forwards.

 

[Zest28]

27" iMac Pro = Apple Studio Display + M1 Ultra Mac Studio.

There is no 27" iMac Pro coming.

 

[williedigital]

I don't get the logic. Wouldn't the studio display have the same real estate as the iMac pro? If so, how could the justification for iMac pro be users not being satisfied with screen real estate?

 

[Bug-Creator]

If Apple wants to make a bigger iMac it has to make sense compared to the current line of desktop Macs.

Simplest way would be MacStudio like specs mixed with the Studio display, but how would they do that without getting into either "iMacPro prices" or gimping sales for the standalone Studio and Studio display?

Just a bigger iMac restricted to the baseline M series like the 24"? Don't see much of a market here.

IMO they would need to aim really high for it to make much sense, so MxUltra + 32" XDR like display starting at $5999....

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Bring the iMac Pro to this world 🌎

I really hope Apple introduces a newly redesigned iMac Pro in 2023. Mac Studio is cool but it's just not the same all-in-one desktop user experience. 🙏🏻

 

[madebybela]

I'm assuming anyone in the market for this already bought themselves a spec'd out Mac Studio and Studio Display (or XDR Display), so why would they buy an iMac Pro??? Apple already has a hook on this market, I think they're just gonna focus on the Mac Pro now. Which conveniently would make for an easy upgrade for those who want more than what the Mac Studio offers.

 

[MayaUser]

I don't get the logic. Wouldn't the studio display have the same real estate as the iMac pro? If so, how could the justification for iMac pro be users not being satisfied with screen real estate?

studio display has the old imac screen quality and real estate...probably the new one will be 32" promotion mini-Led display

 

[stocklen]

Bring the iMac back to this world 🌎

I really hope Apple introduces a newly redesigned iMac in 2023. Mac Studio is cool but it's just not the same all-in-one desktop user experience. 🙏🏻

you know there's an iMac you can buy, right?

If you must have a bigger screen, buy it, and use it with the studio or the mini depending on your processor requirements.

 

[MayaUser]

you know there's an iMac you can buy, right?

If you must have a bigger screen, buy it, and use it with the studio or the mini depending on your processor requirements.

the smaller imac was never best imac seller..So i can see the bigger all in one coming back , merging the old 27" imac with the old imac pro into one product

 

[blazerunner]

Will Apple consumers really overpay again?

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

you know there's an iMac you can buy, right?

If you must have a bigger screen, buy it, and use it with the studio or the mini depending on your processor requirements.

Agree with you but I want Apple to introduce the M2 Chip + 32 Inch mini-LED display with ProMotion along with the Midnight edition 🖥️ . However, I have a feeling Apple is not just considering options for the iMac.

I don’t really want to be investing in a separate processor. I prefer all-in-one desktop. That’s more ideal.

 

[Leon Ze Professional]

We will know soon enough in March, I guess. To me I can see both sides of the argument, it's almost a toss of the coin.

 

[Zest28]

Agree with you but I want Apple to introduce the M2 Chip + 32 Inch mini-LED display with ProMotion along with the Midnight edition. However, I have a feeling Apple is not just considering options for the iMac.

You better have deep pockets. The current 32" Pro XDR @ 60hz is $6000, so an iMac Pro that has a 32" Pro XDR @ 120 hz is going to cost $8000 or more even in it's base configuration? So I don't buy these rumours.

What most likely will happen is that the 32" Pro XDR will get updated at some point to include ProMotion, which the Mac Studio and the upcoming Mac Pro can also use.

To make such a super expensive display that is exclusive for the iMac Pro doesn't really make much sense, especially since it is a low volume product.

 

[Mat.Rynio]

I think "Pro" users are satisfied with Mac Studio + Studio Display/Pro Display XDR and iMac seems to be more home/non-pro device imo, but bigger non-pro iMac ie. 32" with thin bezels would be very welcome.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

We will know soon enough in March, I guess. To me I can see both sides of the argument, it's almost a toss of the coin.

Can’t wait till March. Hopefully, Apple surprises us. Remember Tim Cook with his iMac. It looks stunning! 💫

 

[JPack]

Do people seriously think Apple will give up the Pro designation on iMac?

It's a money printing name.

 

[Pezimak]

I think Koh and Gurman are wrong just like how they were wrong before, Koh was totally wrong about the Apple Watch flat design in 2021, and Gurmen stated the new iPad Mini 6 wouldn’t launch till the following year, on the very day it actually launched. They do not have 100% track records. And considering an iMac Pro was promised last year, this year, now next year I’d be pretty sceptical it’ll happen.
It’s not like it’s hard for Apple to build one of all they will do is stick a Pro and Max chip in a bigger iMac chassis.

 

[Bug-Creator]

The current 32" Pro XDR @ 60hz is $6000

While that is true and it was even considered good value at launch at some time that price has to come down either on the product or a followup like a big iMac with that screen.

The real issue is that Apple f##ed themselves into a corner with the Studio display which should have been $800 even with "Apple tax" as the can't now release an iMac with that screen (or even a better one) at a reasonable price without looking stupid one way or the other.

 

[Pezimak]

studio display has the old imac screen quality and real estate...probably the new one will be 32" promotion mini-Led display

No it won’t, you’ll be talking of a base price of around 8,000 if that were the case, the XDR Pro 32” is 6 grand on its own! Who in their mind would pay that? When compared to the MacBook Pro, Mac Pro, Studio prices. Apples displays would need to be the best in the world to justify that price, and whilst they are certainly good I wouldn’t say they are the best in the world. You can get an OLED 4K monitor or TV to use these days.

 

[ian87w]

I would say... no.

The iMac Pro was a temporary device. It's basically just a placeholder to hold over some people transitioning from the trash can Mac Pro to the cheese grater Mac Pro. I mean after Apple redo the Mac Pro, they didn't update the iMac Pro anymore, meaning that it was just a one-time thing.

The iMac Pro made sense when it was released since at that time, Apple didn't have any newer high performing machine other than the old trash can Mac Pro. Today, we have the Mac Studio already. I don't think the iMac Pro is needed as it will only discourage people from buying the Mac Studio + Apple Studio display.

 

[timerickson]

There is zero chance we will see M3 Pro/Max chips in 2023. We've already seen delays on M2 Pro/Max/etc into 2023, and 4nm node production has only just recently started. There is a very slim chance we might see the M3 (the low energy chip, not the Pro/Max/etc) late 2023, but I would be surprised. It's a 1.5–2 year cycle, not a yearly cycle.

 

[yurc]

No.

It was a stopgap product after all after Apple admitting the thermal corner with trash can while developing the current new cheese grater Mac Pro. The roles end when Apple releases the 2019 MP.

In the Eisenhower matrix, the position was superseded by Mac Studio after all. Larger screen iMac is OK, but not sure about the pro version. Leave it either to Studio or Mac Pro.

 

[azentropy]

iMac Pro? No. IMac with a M(something) Pro processor? Probably.
What is really needed is just a larger inexpensive iMac.