The iMac 24-inch finally gets an update. At least that’s something Mark Gurman of Bloomberg says in his report. And it’s about damn time.
If one of the best all-in-one computersthe iMac (24-inch, 2021) gave us a much more attractive and affordable proposition over the now-defunct 21-inch and 27-inch models with its 24-inch screen, fun colorways and of course that M1 chip inside. Unlike all other silicon-based Apple computers, all of which are now available with newer chips, the iMac line hasn’t received a proper update in nearly two years.
Fortunately, that may change this year. While Apple itself hasn’t confirmed anything, Gurman says the manufacturer will launch its “next line of laptops and desktops” this year, including the next iMac, which is in “an advanced stage of development called technical validation testing.”
So while it looks like it’s currently still in the testing phase of production, it’s very likely that it is we’ll see the new AIO sometime this year. This seems to support Gurman’s previous prediction that a new iMac won’t be rolled out until “until the generation of the M3 chip”.
Does this mean the rumored iMac (2023) is coming out swinging with this M3 chip that Apple is reportedly working on? Signs point to very likely, with Apple supplier Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC). mass production of next-generation 3-nanometer chips back in December 2022.
Until we see Apple launch the iMac (2023) at one of its events, it’s all guesswork at this point. But if you’re hoping to update your older iMac 24-inch soon – although it’s not like it’s outdated – it’d be better to put some money aside and bookmark this page, as we’ll update it as soon as we have more information about the next generation iMac.
Here’s everything you need to know about the iMac (2023).
iMac (2023): to the point
- What is it? The successor to the 2021 Apple chip-powered all-in-one
- When is it available? Probably second half 2023
- How much is it? About the same as the 2021 models or just a little more expensive
iMac (2023): release date
It seems that Apple is prioritizing its very first releases 15-inch MacBook Air and the first Apple chip-powered Mac Pro which were delayed at the end of last year.
According to Gurman, “While development of the new iMacs – codenamed J433 and J434 – is in its late stages, mass production is not expected for another three months.” This means that while the other MacBook and Mac updates will come between Q1 and Q2 2023, and despite the first iteration getting an April 2021 release, we probably won’t see the iMac (2023) hit shelves until the second half of the year.
That is of course not set in stone and can therefore change. We will make sure to update this page when that happens.
iMac (2023): Price
Unfortunately, it’s too early to say how much the next-generation iMac 24-inch will cost. While Apple has been pretty good about limiting price hikes for updates to its existing models, the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023)for example, did not get a huge price increase over his M1 predecessor – so we hope this is also the case for the iMac (2023).
If Apple sticks to roughly the same price points anyway, you can expect to pay around $1,299 / £1,249 / AU$1,899 for the base model and around $2,499 / £2,449 / AU$3,699 for the most-featured configuration.
If Apple gives it a price increase – especially if it hits that rumored M3 chip and gives it an excuse to do so – it probably won’t be too much of a price increase. Also expect the Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse to be included in the price, reminding us…is Apple going to update both peripherals as well? Both are some of the best peripherals we’ve had the pleasure of using, but we’d like to see them get a fresh design and maybe some cool new features.
iMac (2023): what to expect
The rumor mill about the iMac (2023) may have started spinning, but it’s still very fresh, meaning speculation and leaks around the next-gen Apple AIO are pretty sparse at the moment. However, there are two things we know at this point: that the new iMac will have the same 24-inch screen as its predecessor, and that it will come in the same fun colors (blue, green, pink, silver, yellow, orange, and purple) .
Gurman also states that the iMac (2023) will see “some behind-the-scenes changes”, referring to an internal redesign (i.e. where the internal components are located) and a different manufacturing process for attaching the stand. We’ll have to wait and see what that means exactly.
One thing is certain: the new iMac (2023) will contain a new M-series chip. Whether that means it will be powered by the upcoming M3 chip or Apple will keep it modest with an M2 has yet to be determined. However, as Gurman himself points out, any Apple machine launched this year with the M2 chip “will quickly become obsolete”. So an M2-powered iMac is less likely, especially if Apple plans to continue with its bi-annual updates.
For the rest, we’ll just have to wait and see. The next few months will be ripe with leaks and rumors about this next-generation iMac, and we’ll be updating this page as soon as something big hits our desk.