As per a reliable industry analyst, Apple reportedly has no plans to launch a 27-inch iMac anytime soon. The first murmur of a high-end iMac refresh emerged in July last year, claiming that the all-in-one desktop has been pushed to 2022. The device, which was said to borrow design elements from the Pro Display XDR, was supposed to come armed with the next-gen Apple silicon, tentatively called the Apple M2. A few months later, display supply chain analyst Ross Young added more fuel to the fire, claiming that a 27-inch iMac rocking a mini-LED display will arrive in the first quarter of 2022.
Leakster Dylan, who commands a reasonably accurate record with Apple leaks, claimed that the upcoming iMac would come with the new M1 Max and M1 Pro chips very soon. China's DigiTimes later added that the forthcoming 27-inch iMac refresh would arrive in the same shade of bright colors as the 24-inch iMac with the M1 last year. As the rumors kept swirling, leaks about a 27-inch iMac Pro also made their way online earlier this year. In addition, the machine was rumored to debut with a more powerful processor than the M1 Max. And last month, Young tweeted that Apple might unveil the iMac Pro in June this year.
As the leaks continue to pour, another one has arrived with a somewhat surprising premise. 9to5Mac claims to have learned from sources that Apple is currently not exploring a larger-screen iMac for "the near future." The report further adds that the apparent absence of a larger iMac in Apple's product roadmap applies to all the models rumored to offer the M1 Max, M1 Pro, and the freshly launched M1 Ultra chip. The report doesn't mention anything about an iMac Pro, which has been making rounds of the rumor mill with details like a 27-inch screen with mini-LED tech and a souped-up version of Apple's existing chips.
The iMac Future Looks Uncertain
While a 27-inch iMac or an iMac Pro might be absent from Apple's immediate plans, the report adds that a 24-inch iMac is set to arrive at some point in 2023. However, it reportedly won't go with one of the M1 chip variants and will likely come with the next-gen M2 silicon. It appears some of the previous rumors of a redesigned iMac rocking the same design as the Pro Display XDR was mixed up with that of the new Studio Display external monitor that Apple launched earlier this month.
Per recent leaks, the M2 silicon will reportedly make its debut powering the MacBook Air refresh that is slated to arrive later this year, flaunting a new design language. In addition, the chipset is also tipped to find its way inside the rumored affordable MacBook Pro later this year. And if Apple's track record is anything to go by, the M2 silicon will also be fitted inside the new iPad Pro models that the company might launch in the coming months. But do keep in mind that these are rumors at best, so process them with a healthy dose of doubt.
Source: 9to5Mac