Imac redesign in the works
The M1 Macs released last November were just the beginning. 2021 could see a new look for the imac and Mac Pro with Apple silicon.
If recent rumors are any indication, 2021 is going to be a landmark year for the Mac. A few hours ago, we saw reports (fave.co/3uboocp) stating that Apple will ship 14- and 16-inch Macbook Pros with Magsafe, Apple silicon with more cores and enhanced GPUS, and a case redesign. Now another report says that new imacs and Mac Pros are coming this year as well.
Rumor has it that the imac will be redesigned to resemble Apple’s Pro Display XDR. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman (fave.co/3wi1rvi) reiterated the Xdr-like
redesign, with 21.5-inch and 27-inch models that have a screen with a much smaller bezel, no “chin,” and a flat back instead of the curved one that appears on the current imac.
It’s been a long while since the imac saw a change in form. The current design of the imac was introduced in 2004 with an imac G5 that had a white plastic case around an LCD. In 2007, Apple kept the design but switched to a silver aluminum case. In 2012, Apple switched to the design that is still in use today, with case edges that taper to about 5mm.
Gurman also reports that Apple is working on two Mac Pro models. One of the models will have an Apple-designed system on a chip (SOC), but in a case that’s half the size of the current Mac
Pro’s and with “a mostly aluminum exterior.” Gurman says that the new design may remind people of the Power Mac G4 Cube.
Interestingly, the other Mac
Pro model is an update to the current design and could still use Intel processors. Using Intel chips could address concerns buyers may have about compatibility with software and hardware in production environments.
No information was given on pricing and ship dates for the new imacs and Mac Pros.
Rumors have also floated around that Apple might be making a new display that’s more affordable and consumer friendly than the Pro Display XDR (which starts at $4,999). Gurman states that Apple is in “early development” of a cheaper display that “wouldn’t have the brightness and contrast ratio” the Pro Display XDR boasts. ■