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The Apple Silicon transition is underway and Apple is said to have several new Macs in the works for 2021. This includes new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models as well as an iMac redesign. These new machines will represent the next wave of Macs powered by Apple Silicon, following the release last year of a new MacBook Pro, MacBook Air and Mac mini.
The redesigned iMac is set to be a major overhaul, and it comes after nearly a decade of stagnation. Read on for everything you need to know about quitting …
History Lesson: The Latest iMac Redesign
Apple first released the aluminum iMac in August 2007, making it available in 20- and 24-inch variants. This was a major update to the iMac’s previous plastic design, which was available in 17, 20, and 24-inch screen variants between August 2004 and August 2007.
That means there were three years between when Apple introduced the white plastic iMac G5 and the aluminum iMac in 2007 – a pretty quick turnaround time for a major overhaul of a Mac. This mid-2007 iMac, however, was just a stepping stone. Despite its aluminum front, it still featured a black plastic rear casing, which was a stark difference to the sleek aluminum front.
In 2009, Apple revamped its iMac lineup with an aluminum unibody design in 21.5-inch and 27-inch variants – showcasing the two screen sizes that are still in use today. This design ended up shaping the future of the iMac, with Apple focusing on iteration rather than its complete overhaul.
In October 2012, Apple redesigned the iMac with an ultra-thin side profile and removed the SuperDrive. While the thinnest point measures 5mm, there’s still an unsightly bulge on the back to accommodate the iMac’s internals and cooling system. In 2015, the iMac was upgraded with a Retina display.
Thanks to these changes, the overall look of the iMac has remained the same: an aluminum construction with dark bezels and an aluminum chin. The last major update to the iMac was the introduction of the aluminum unibody design in 2009, but even that change actually started in 2008.
Back then, in 2012, Apple making the side profile of the iMac ultra-thin was certainly a sleek look and billed as a major overhaul. In the real world, however, this change has been much less noticeable, especially with the iMac’s front-facing appearance remaining unchanged for so long.
Currently we are in the biggest design lull in iMac history, nine years have passed since the 21 and 27-inch unibody aluminum design was introduced in 2012. That’s not to say the iMac is necessarily dated – has received semi-regular specification updates, including the most recent last August, but the design is certainly starting to show its age. And can Apple continue to charge a premium on a design that is effectively 10 years old?
So when can Apple finally rethink the iMac? All reports point to 2021.
IMac 2021 expectations: Apple Silicon, redesign, colors
Apple Silicon inside
Apple impressed with last year’s release of the M1 chip, which currently powers the latest MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and Mac mini. Apple’s work is not done and will continue to transition its Mac line to Apple Silicon in 2021, including the iMac.
Details are scattered on what kind of performance we can expect from the new iMac, but we hope to be impressed. Even “entry-level” Macs equipped with the M1 are able to outperform high-end iMacs with Intel inside. At least one version of the new iMac will likely feature the next generation of Apple Silicon processors.
Bloomberg reported in December:
Bloomberg says Apple is working on M1 successors with up to 20 processor cores, made up of 16 high performance cores and 4 efficiency cores. In 2021, the company is expected to roll out ARM versions of the high-end MacBook Pro, “both entry-level and high-end iMac desktops.” An ARM Mac Pro is expected to follow in 2022.
Current Mac M1s are limited to two Thunderbolt ports and 16GB of RAM. It’s likely that these two limitations will also be lifted by at least the top-of-the-line models of the iMac 2021.
New design inspired by Pro Display XDR
While the Apple Silicon chips inside are sure to impress, the iMac 2021’s visual redesign could be even more remarkable.
Bloomberg Mark Gurman reported in January that the redesigned iMac will feature a design inspired by Pro Display XDR. In fact, Gurman wrote that the new iMac “will be one of the most important visual updates of any Apple product this year.”
Here’s what we expect from the new design
- A flat back, replacing the current curved design on the back of the iMac
- No more chin down
- Thinner frames around the screen
- “Similar” to Pro Display XDR
Apple could also make adjustments to the size of the iMac with this year’s redesign. Currently, the iMac comes in two versions: 21.5-inch and 27-inch. If Apple reduces bezel sizes and removes the lower “chin” of the iMac’s current design, it would be able to expand the screen area while maintaining the overall footprint of the same.
Earlier reports have indicated that Apple is developing a 24-inch iMac, which would theoretically replace the 21.5-inch model. It’s possible that the 27in iMac’s screen will drop to something like 30in, but we haven’t heard any specific reports on that yet.
Colors
Finally, Jon Prosser reported that the iMac may be available in multiple colors for the first time in nearly two decades. Prosser claims that the 2021 iMac will be available in space gray, silver, rose gold, green and sky blue. Whether or not this happens or not remains to be seen, but it’s something worth considering.
Wrap
As we’ve written before, 2021 will be a big year for the Mac, thanks to the continued transition to Apple Silicon, new form factors for the MacBook Pro, and an all-new iMac design. Be sure to check out our full roundup of expectations for the Mac here.
What are you most excited to see from this year’s redesigned iMac with Apple Silicon inside? Are you planning to upgrade? Let us know in the comments!
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