No new large-screen Apple iMac is planned, inside sources say
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We got a plethora of exciting new devices at theApple March Event, but we didn’t get a new, M1-powered 27-inch iMac – and once the event had finished,Applethen discreetlystopped selling the modelit launched in 2020.
It sounds as though those hoping for a revamped and upgraded iMac with a larger screen in the near future are going to be disappointed: sources speaking to9to5Macsay that there are no such plans in the pipeline.
The same report claims that there are plans to refresh the24-inch iMacsometime in 2023, but it sounds like nothing larger is on the drawing board – with the usual caveat that Apple’s plans could always change again in the next year or ten.
Big iMac
The most recent27-inch iMacmade its bow in August 2020, withIntelprocessors inside. Apple has now transitioned the rest of its Mac line over to its own line of chipsets, but this particular all-in-one computer has now been left behind.
There had beensome speculationthat the 27-inch iMac would get an upgrade with an M1 or an M2 processor inside – or even that Apple could bring back the super-powerfuliMac Prothat we saw in 2017 – but those hopes have been dashed for now.
This is all unofficial for now, though 9to5Mac say the same sources tipped it off to the existence of the Mac Studio and theStudio Displayahead of time, so it sounds as though the information that’s been passed on is likely to be accurate.
Analysis: the Mac Studio is the focus
As always with these product decisions, we’re not privy to the internal sales data that Apple sees. With the company discontinuing the 27-inch iMac, we’re assuming that over the last few years a lot more people were opting for the cheaper, less powerful 24-inch version rather than the bigger model.
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That’s borne out by the introduction of theMac Studioand theStudio Display: it’s two devices rather than one, but it scratches the itch that high-end users drawn to the 27-inch iMac or the earlier iMac Pro might have been feeling.
And by ditching the all-in-one form factor, Apple is able to pack in more power and better cooling. The Mac Studio comes carrying the brand newM1 Ultrachipset – its most powerful yet, remember – and has a rather hefty price tag attached too.
As you’ve probably noticed, the Studio Display offers the same 27 inches of screen space as the newly discontinued iMac, so the parallels are clear. For the pro users who need high-specification components in their Mac computers, and who have the budgets to be able to pay for it, the Mac Studio/Studio Display combinationis the new iMac Pro.
Dave is a freelance tech journalist who has been writing about gadgets, apps and the web for more than two decades. Based out of Stockport, England, on TechRadar you’ll find him covering news, features and reviews, particularly for phones, tablets and wearables. Working to ensure our breaking news coverage is the best in the business over weekends, David also has bylines at Gizmodo, T3, PopSci and a few other places besides, as well as being many years editing the likes of PC Explorer and The Hardware Handbook.
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