The 27-inch Apple Inc. iMac computer with 5K retina display appears after a product announcement in Cupertino, California, USA, on Thursday, October 16, 2014.
Photographer: Noah Berger
Photographer: Noah Berger
Apple Inc. plans the first redesign of its iMac all-in-one desktop computer since 2012, part of a shift from Intel Corp. processors to its proprietary silicon, according to those familiar with the plans.
The new models will slim down the thick black bezels around the screen and do away with the significant metal chin area in favor of a design similar to Apple’s Pro Display XDR monitor. These iMacs have a flat back, away from the curved back of the current iMac. Apple plans to launch two versions later this year – codenamed J456 and J457 – to replace the existing 21.5-inch and 27-inch models, people said, asking not to be identified as the products are not yet have been announced.
Apple Pro Display XDR
Source: Apple Inc.
The upcoming products are part of the radical overhaul of Apple’s personal computer range. The Cupertino, California-based company is switching from Intel chips that have powered generations of MacBooks and iMacs to its own Arm-based processors, which it has dubbed Apple Silicon. An Apple spokeswoman declined to comment.
The new models will use next-generation versions of Apple’s Mac processors, such as the upcoming 2021 MacBook Pros. The iMac’s redesign will be one of the biggest visual updates to any Apple product this year, according to people familiar with the company’s roadmap.
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While much of the computer industry focuses on laptops, the iMac remains an important part of Apple’s portfolio. Launched in 1998, the first iMac is said to have helped Apple escape bankruptcy and pave its way to eventually become the world’s most valuable company. The all-in-one desktop line is also essential for professionals and consumers looking for large displays at relatively affordable prices.
Steve Jobs introduced new iMacs at MacWorld Expo on July 19, 2000.
Photographer: RICK MAIMAN
Apple is also working on a few new Mac Pro desktop computers, the most expensive Mac machines that don’t come with a screen, the people said. One version is a direct update to the current Mac Pro and will continue to use the same design as the version launched in 2019. Apple has talked about continuing to use Intel processors for that model instead of moving to its own chips.
Read more: Apple is preparing the following Mac chips with the goal of surpassing the best PCs
However, the second version uses Apple’s own processors and is less than half of the current Mac Pro. The design will have a largely aluminum exterior and can evoke nostalgia for the Power Mac G4 Cube, a short-lived smaller version of the Power Mac, an earlier iteration of the Mac Pro.
As part of its revived Mac desktop efforts, Apple has begun early development of a cheaper external monitor that can be sold alongside the Pro Display XDR. Apple’s current monitor debuted in 2019 and costs $ 5,000 – before it is accounted for the $ 1,000 stand.
The cheaper monitor would have a screen geared more towards consumers than professional use and would not have the brightness and contrast ratio of the top offering. Apple last launched a consumer monitor called Thunderbolt Display in 2011 for $ 999, but called it quits in 2016.