Apple is working on a redesigned version of the larger-screened iMac that could bring back the “iMac Pro” name to differentiate it from the 24-inch iMac that Apple released in 2021. The larger iMac is expected to have an updated design, M1 Pro/Max chips, and a mini-LED display, and it could launch in the first half of 2022.
Design
The upcoming iMac will be similar in design to the 24-inch iMac and the Pro Display XDR, according to leaker Dylandkt. It will feature black bezels, and if it does indeed look similar to the Pro Display XDR, bezel size could be much slimmer and it could perhaps have less of a bottom chin. The iMac Pro will replace the current Intel-based 27-inch iMac, one of the last Mac models to still use Intel processors.
Colors
Like the 24-inch iMac, the upcoming 27-inch model could be available in multiple color options. A report from DigiTimes has suggested that Apple plans to sell the new iMac in various colors, though there are no specific details on which colors Apple will use.
The 27-inch iMac is expected to have black bezels and so it would make sense for Apple to use a different color scheme than colors used for the 24-inch iMac, perhaps in darker shades.
Display
Like the 2021 MacBook Pro models, the next-generation iMac will adopt a mini-LED display for brighter colors, deeper blacks, and improved HDR, and it will feature ProMotion display technology, allowing for up to a 120Hz refresh rate.
A refresh rate at 120Hz will allow for smoother gameplay and scrolling through various apps like Safari, plus it will improve general animations throughout macOS. Some rumors have indicated that the iMac will have a display that’s larger than 27 inches to mirror the smaller iMac’s increase from 21.5 inches to 24 inches, but display analyst Ross Young says that it’s going to measure in at 27 inches like the current model.
Apple has tested Face ID for the iMac Pro, according to leaker Dylandkt, but it is not a confirmed feature and it’s not clear whether Face ID will make it into the release version of the machine.
One rumor from DigiTimes has suggested that the upcoming 27-inch iMac will not feature a mini-LED display, but analyst Ross Young says that this is likely incorrect.
Ports
The iMac is expected to offer a similar port configuration to the MacBook Pro, with Apple including USB-C/Thunderbolt ports, an SD card slot, and an HDMI port.
Apple could also include an Ethernet port built into the power adapter as it has for the 24-inch iMac.
M1 Pro/Max Chips
The iMac Pro will feature the same M1 Pro and M1 Max chips that were introduced in the MacBook Pro, and Apple could perhaps also introduce one additional higher-end configuration for the machine.
The M1 Pro and M1 Max have the same 10-core CPU (though there is an 8-core version of the M1 Pro). The M1 Pro features up to 16 graphics cores, while the M1 Max features up to 32 graphics cores.
Naming
Apple is reportedly calling the iMac the “iMac Pro” internally, and that could turn out to be its launch name as well, which would be in line with the MacBook Pro and iPad Pro.
An “iMac Pro” name differentiates the 27-inch iMac from the 24-inch model, and makes it clear that it uses the same “Pro” chips as the MacBook Pro.
Pricing
The base iMac Pro is said to feature 16GB memory and a 512GB SSD, and pricing is expected to start at around $2,000.
Release Date
Initial rumors suggested the iMac Pro could launch in the spring of 2022, perhaps at a spring event, but Apple analyst Ross Young recently said that it is expected to debut in the summer. Young initially claimed that it would come out around August or September, but he later refined that to suggest a June launch. If accurate, a June launch could mean that we might see an iMac Pro announcement at the Worldwide Developers Conference.