iMac 27-inch: Everything we know about Apple’s larger, more powerful iMac

That’s probably true for the iMac Pro at least. As this has always been a separate product line from the standard iMac, Apple’s announcement seems to confirm that the iMac Pro won’t be getting a new release date anytime soon. However, this is not necessarily true for the iMac. Since the 24-inch iMac already comes with Apple’s silicon chip, it leaves open the possibility that a new 27-inch iMac (equipped with Apple’s silicon) could come out while still being consistent with Apple’s statement that the Mac Pro is the only Mac waiting to make the transition to Apple’s silicon chip.

And there is another clue. On its website, Apple refers to the 24-inch iMac as the “iMac 24.” If it were the only size option in the iMac family, it seems like Apple would just call it “iMac,” as there would be no need for the distinction. The inclusion of measurements in the name could be read as an implication that another size is on the way.

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If that’s true, when might we see the larger iMac make a splash? The reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo set the release date of the top iMac at 2023. The well-known Apple journalist Mark Gurman added to that impression. In early July 2022, Gurman explained in his newsletter that he expects the larger iMac to come with the option of M3 Pro or M3 Max chips. In June 2023, Gurman added more details, explaining that the oversized iMac could arrive in late 2023 or early 2024. In Apple jargon, “early 2024.” it could even be in May.

Interestingly, MacRumors claims that Apple has tested multiple iterations of the upgraded iMac, including an Apple silicon version housed inside Intel’s 27-inch iMac, a scaled-down version of the 24-inch iMac, and a top-of-the-line edition with an XDR display, an M1 Max chip, and a black finish. However, none of this came to fruition, perhaps due to problems with the global supply chain. However, if true, it lends weight to the idea that Apple is pouring resources into a new iMac — and hopefully that means it’s not far from launch.

We can get some clues about the potential price by looking at Apple’s other desktop offerings. The 24-inch iMac currently starts at $1,299. On the other hand, the Mac Studio and Studio Display combined start at $3,598. That means there’s a huge gap of over $2,000 in the lineup — at $1,599, Studio Display alone it costs more than a 24-inch iMac.

So if Apple were to relaunch the 27-inch iMac, we’d expect it to be priced close to the $1,799 it was before it was discontinued. That starting price could climb to $1,999, as the MacBook Pro line saw a similar jump when the 14-inch MacBook Pro arrived. Either way, it will fill a gap in the price spectrum for Apple.

Design: bright colors or muted tones?

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When Apple redesigned the iMac in April 2021, it brought back the classic, colorful look of the iMac G3 from 1998. The new iMac is equipped with a range of charming colors, from pink to yellow to blue, giving it a playful vibe that Apple hopes will make it simple and affordable, just like its G3 inspiration.

Will the high-end iMac get the same treatment? That probably depends on how Apple positions it. If, as expected, it’s simply labeled as a larger version of the 24-inch iMac, then bright colors are almost guaranteed. It would simply be an extension of the existing model, so maintaining color continuity would make sense.

If, on the other hand, Apple returns the iMac Pro nomenclature, then the colors are out. Apple’s Pro devices usually come in muted, “professional” colors like gray and silver. A professional machine dressed in bright pink or yellow hues would probably look out of place. However, given Apple’s statement about how many devices are yet to switch to Apple silicon, we don’t think iMac Pro branding is likely.

Bet on Apple silicone

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The shape of the iMac Pro depends largely on the chip that powers it. The 24-inch iMac felt like the first Mac to be designed around the strengths of Apple silicon, but that doesn’t mean its higher-end sibling will follow the same path.

Journalist Mark Gurman predicts that the high-end iMac will likely come with a choice of M3 Pro or M3 Max chips, which could arrive in late 2023 or early 2024. Those chip choices make a lot of sense. The current iMac uses the base M1, so equipping its bigger brother with the next-in-line chips (rather than the super-high-end Ultra chip) would give potential users an easy choice without creating too much of a gap between the various iMac sizes.

Whatever happens, Apple will ditch the discrete graphics card in the 27-inch iMac. Apple is clearly confident in the capabilities of its own chips, as the maxed-out, high-end Mac Studio retains the M2 Ultra’s built-in graphics. Even the Mac Pro, which was built around the concept of modularity and previously came with discrete graphics cards, now uses an integrated GPU in its M2 Ultra chip. If the Mac Pro ditched its discrete graphics cards, you can bet the high-end iMac will too.

An XDR display seems likely

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The current iMac has a diagonal of 24 inches, compared to the 21.5-inch model it replaced. That increased size came from Apple reducing the bezel around the edge of the screen. If Apple does launch a larger iMac, it’s almost certain that it will get the same treatment as its 21.5-inch counterpart and that its screen size will be moved up a notch. Our money is on something in the 30- to 32-inch range. Alternatively, Apple could stick with the 27-inch screen, but reduce the size of the case it’s in by cutting the bezel.

Interestingly, Mark Gurman added weight to the argument for a much larger iMac in June 2023. In his newsletter, Gurman explained that Apple is testing an iMac with a screen size “over 30 inches.” So it seems that Apple might decide to give users the maximum screen area in its large iMac.

Screen size can affect resolution. The 27-inch Studio Display has a 5K resolution, while the Pro Display XDR aims for 6K. If Gurman is right about the next iMac being over 30 inches in diameter, 6K resolution could be on offer. However, if Apple sticks with the 27-inch size, 5K might be more likely.

Finally, iMac fans will be heartened to see that the MacBook Pro 2021 has many more ports, including the return of an HDMI slot and an SD card reader. Given the professional audience the larger iMac could attract — and the variety of peripherals and devices they use — the next high-end iMac will likely have a lot more ports than just the USB-C slots offered at the current entry level. iMac. With that in mind, the new MacBook Pro models could offer a sneak peek at the ports coming to this device.

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