Mark Gurman reports in this week’s Bloomberg News’ “Power On” newsletter that, even before the official release of the M2 family of chips, Apple is already working on an M3 iMac, an all-in-one desktop expected to launch “at the end of next year at the earliest.”
Gurman wrote earlier this month that Apple was prepping next-generation chips and testing at least nine Macs with four different versions of the M2 processor. He listed the MacBook Air, Mac mini, entry-level MacBook Pro, MacBook Pro 14, MacBook Pro 16, and Mac Pro as currently undergoing testing. Apple is also reportedly considering a Mac mini running on an M1 Pro chip.
Gurman’s report also makes us wonder if Apple will skip an M2 iMac and go straight to the M3 after a lengthy 2.5-year break. That wouldn’t be a complete shock, considering Apple typically waits longer to update its iMac devices than it does with its laptops. I’m not so sold, and it seems nor is Gurman, who recently said an M2 iMac was in development and could debut in the next few months.
https://twitter.com/markgurman/status/1501276447347863554
MacDailyNews Take: Gurman’s report concurs with none other than Ming-Chi Kuo:
Predictions for Apple's new desktop products:
1. 2022: More powerful Mac mini and more affordable external display (27-inch without mini-LED).
2. 2023: Mac Pro and iMac Pro.— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) March 6, 2022
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There won’t be another “iMac Pro.” By only releasing a smaller M1 iMac so far, Apple is resetting customer expectation for iMac as the consumer flagship with bigger 30-inch M2 iMac. The reason there’s a previous Intel iMac Pro was because the Mac Pro (cylinder) at that time was unpopular and Apple needed something to fill that pro desktop gap until current Intel Mac Pro was ready in 2019. And then Apple quickly killed iMac Pro. That doesn’t mean a “pro” user can’t use an M2 iMac for work, or that it won’t have an option for M2 Pro. But it won’t be marketed as “iMac Pro” and be as versatile, to meet customer’s pro needs, like Mac Studio and upcoming Mac Pro.
I agree with you completely. I think the Mac Studio and the Studio Display are there to fill the market that the iMac Pro was created for.
Interesting that he mentions a new Mac mini with M1 Pro. I think it will happen, even as M2 Macs appear. It’s Apple showing that M1 has plenty of life, because Apple isn’t going to upgrade all Mac models to M2 at the same time. The bigger MacBook Pro models are less than one year old, and Mac Studio is just a few months old. Even base M1 Macs from 2020 remain quite capable. M1 Pro is only used in bigger MacBook Pro and should be used more. So give Mac mini the M1 Pro option to finally retire that “dark” Intel Mac mini. And if Apple intends to keep 13-inch MacBook Pro around, upgrade it to M1 Pro to distinguish it more from MacBook Air while not undermining existing 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro.
Apple to release SOC chip called M3 in the next 12 to 18 months.
Sometime after the M2 SOC chip is released, the then eventually released M3 SOC chip will be used in some Apple Mac products that do not get the eventually released M2.
God bless people who can write that and somehow make money via blogs and newsletters.
Many bloggers are motivated by getting “hits” and not by being realistic. The more sensational the rumor, the better, even if they must make stuff up and present as leaks from a “source.” If they were accurate, we would already have Macs with M2 instead of the recent M1-based Mac Studio. The M chips are like the former enhanced A chips with the X name extension (used in iPad Pro). There was an A10X but no A11X. A12X (and Z) no A13X. M1 was unofficially called A14X by some. And M2 is probably concurrent with A16. It’s every two years. If M2 is 2022, M3 will be 2024 (at earliest). M3 in 2023 is crazy.
Are we ever likely to see a 27″ iMac again, really miss the larger display and cannot afford the luxury of the pro set up?
It’s a good question. I think the Mac Studio and the Studio Display were designed to replace the iMac Pro but will we see a more consumer friendly entry level iMac? Will be interesting to see.
I think so, and it’ll be 30-inch (since smaller iMac is 24-inch now), and one of the first to get M2.
I bet they will bring the M4 iMac in 2024, and the M5 in 2025…. and M6 in 2026 😱😱😱