The 27-inch iMac is due for a refresh, and rumors suggest that might come early in 2022, possibly super-charged with Apple's M1 Max and mini-LED technology. Apple recently updated its MacBook Pro lineup with two new models, continuing the process of transitioning every Mac laptop and desktop computer to Apple Silicon and removing reliance upon Intel for processors.
Apple announced that it was designing its own computer processors at the 2020 Worldwide Developers Conference and expected to replace the Intel chips in every Mac within two years. Getting off to an early start, the 13-inch MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and entry-level Mac mini were all updated with an Apple M1 processor in November of 2020. The 21.5-inch Intel iMac was replaced with a 24-inch iMac powered by an M1 in May of 2021. After the 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pro models in October, only a few Intel-based Mac computers remain available from Apple, including the 27-inch iMac.
Rumors from two prominent Apple leakers suggest Apple will refresh its 27-inch iMac with features similar to those in the new MacBook Pro laptops in 2022. While this isn't unexpected news, the leaks might shed light on what upgrades might be coming to Apple's largest all-in-one desktop computer. Ross Young is a supply chain expert on display technology and tweeted that a 27-inch iMac with a mini-LED display would be coming within the first three months of 2022, and it would have the same adaptive refresh rate, Apple's ProMotion, as the recent MacBook Pro laptops. Dylan, a leaker with good accuracy, tweeted that he agrees with those specifications, adding that the new M1 Pro and M1 Max chips might power this new Mac computer but placed the arrival sometimes in the first half of 2022, which could align with the 2022 Worldwide Developers Conference.
More 27-Inch iMac Leaks
Dylan's Tweet contained a pretty large list of specifications for the rumored M1 Max iMac. Along with a 27-inch mini-LED Promotion display, the claim was that the price would be $2,000, possibly more, and that Face ID was being considered for this computer. The new MacBook Pro laptops have a display notch reminiscent of the iPhone, but lack Face ID, which Apple explained as an unnecessary feature for a laptop since the hands are already upon the keyboard and Touch ID is easy in that case.
Dylan further stated that Apple might name this the iMac Pro, potentially replacing the current Intel-based 27-inch iMac and the iMac Pro with this one computer. Expansion options are said to include an SD card and an HDMI connector, as seen on the newest MacBook Pro laptops. The rumored new 2022 iMac is expected to begin with 16 gigabytes of memory and 512 gigabytes of storage. This is quite like what Apple did with the 24-inch iMac, so Face ID is the only potential surprise coming. If Apple can price a 27-inch iMac with the new M1 Pro or M1 Max and Mini-LED display at close to $2,000, 2022 will be an exciting year for Mac computer users.
Source: Ross Young/Twitter, Dylan/Twitter