Apple is discontinuing the iMac Pro, but will continue to sell the standard iMac in two sizes, with 21.5-inch and 27-inch screens. Some may be wondering what makes the iMac Pro different and if an equivalent Mac computer can still be purchased? Therefore, an quick exploration of options and what may be coming soon should prove helpful to anyone looking for an all-in-one Mac.
Apple announced the iMac Pro in 2017 and at the time, it was declared the most powerful Mac ever. The iMac Pro kept Apple computers current with the latest Intel CPUs and AMD GPUs, delivering the power needed for high-end professional video, heavy graphics processing and other demanding tasks. It could be configured with up to an 18-core Intel Xeon W processor, 256-gigabytes of memory, 4-terabytes of internal storage, and a Radeon Pro Vega 64X with 16-gigabytes of memory powering graphics. The basic design of Apple’s previous best Mac, the Mac Pro had not been changed since 2013 and was limited by the thermal design of its unique cylindrical shape. The iMac Pro served to bring more power to Apple computers while it redesigned the Mac Pro, releasing the new look in 2019 as a more traditional, but massive tower unit. The newest design has plenty of room for growth, power and cooling.
The iMac Pro is running out of stock with only a few configurations left and Apple notes that it is only available “while supplies last,” leaving the 21.5 and 27-inch iMac to take its place. Starting at $4,999, the iMac Pro was very powerful, but also quite expensive. For $1,000 more, a Mac Pro can be purchased. A comparison of the entry-level iMac Pro to the most comparable 27-inch iMac leads to a price of $3,899. This iMac configuration matches the 27-inch 5K Retina display of the iMac Pro, provides more graphics power with its AMD Radeon Pro 5700 GPU and offers the same 32-gigabytes of memory, 1-terabyte of storage and 10-gigabit ethernet. There are some differences still. For connecting peripherals, the iMac Pro offers four Thunderbolt-3 ports, while the iMac has only two. A hub can be added, of course, but would add extra expense. This means the entry-level iMac Pro, which is the only option still available in some areas, can be roughly matched by a mid-range 27-inch iMac. This is possible because the iMac received a big upgrade in 2019 and was refreshed again in 2020, while the iMac Pro has not changed since 2017.
iMac Pro Vs. iMac: Top Models
While the very best iMac Pro may not be available directly from Apple, some units may still be found elsewhere. Used computers will certainly be available, making a comparison of the top configurations of the iMac Pro and 27-inch iMac useful. The 18-core Intel Xeon W found in the best iMac Pro is still super fast and beats even the best iMac with its 10-core Intel Core i9 for multitasking. The iMac has the newer CPU and single-core speed lags behind only the new M1 Mac computers, but easily bests the iMac Pro. The reason to look for a Pro model is for heavy processing, so in this instance, single-core speed is not as relevant and the iMac Pro would be preferable. Memory is also critical for intensive computer work and the iMac Pro can contain up to 256-gigabytes, double that of the iMac.
For graphics, however, the 27-inch iMac saw big performance gains with the newer AMD Radeon Pro 5700 XT with 16-gigabytes of memory, muddying the waters somewhat. It means anyone choosing between these two models will have to consider which is more important to their workflow, the CPU or the GPU. The iMac Pro had a limit of 4-terabytes of internal storage, while the iMac can include up to 8-terabytes. Even at the highest configuration, the iMac Pro doesn’t stand out as significantly more powerful than the best iMac. With new Apple Silicon Mac computers expected this year, and with rumors that a new iMac is coming soon, the impending loss of the Pro model may be irrelevant. For those needing an all-in-one Mac computer now, it may make more sense to get a high-end 27-inch iMac than choose from a limited selection of iMac Pro models.
Source: Apple