The Apple Silicon transition is underway, and Apple has reportedly unveiled several new Macs for 2021. These include new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, as well as a redesign for the iMac. These new machines will represent the next line of Apple Silicon-powered Macs, following the release of a new MacBook Pro, MacBook Air and Mac mini from last year.
The redesigned iMac is expected to be a major overhaul and it comes after nearly a decade of stagnation. Read on for everything you need to know about the redesign …
History Lesson: The Latest iMac Redesign
Apple first introduced the aluminum iMac in August 2007, making it available in 20- and 24-inch variants. This was a major update compared to the previous plastic design of the iMac, which was available between August 2004 and August 2007 in 17-, 20- and 24-inch screen variants.
This means that it takes three years between Apple launching the white plastic iMac G5 and the aluminum iMac in 2007 – a fairly fast turnaround time for a major redesign of a Mac. However, that iMac in mid-2007 was just a springboard. Despite the aluminum front, it still has a black plastic casing, which was a clear difference from the smooth aluminum front.
In 2009, Apple revamped its iMac range with aluminum unibody design in 21.5-inch and 27-inch versions – the two screen sizes still in use today. This design has finally shaped the future of the iMac, with Apple focusing on repeating it rather than redesigning it completely.
In October 2012, Apple redesigned the iMac with an ultra-slim side profile and removed the SuperDrive. While the thinnest tip measures 5mm, there is still an unsightly bump on the back of the inside of the iMac and the cooling system. In 2015, the iMac was upgraded with a Retina display.
Through these changes, the iMac’s overall appearance has remained the same: an aluminum build with black rings and an aluminum chin. The last major update of the iMac was the launch of the unibody aluminum design in 2009, but even the conversion actually started in 2008.
At the time in 2012, Apple was the side profile of the iMac ultra-slim, definitely a sleek look and considered a major redesign. In actual use, however, the change was much less noticeable, especially since the iMac has been going on for so long.
At the moment, we are in the greatest silence of iMac history, as it is nine years since the launch of the 21-inch and 27-inch unibody aluminum design in 2012. That does not mean that the iMac is necessarily dated not – it has received semi-regular updates, including recently in August, but the design is definitely starting to show its age. And can Apple continue to charge a premium on a design that is effectively 10 years old?
When, then, can Apple finally redesign the iMac? All reporting points are until 2021.
2021 iMac expectations: Apple Silicon, redesign, colors
Apple Silicon are
Apple impressed with last year’s release of the M1 chip, which currently offers the latest MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro and Mac mini. Apple’s work has not been completed, and it will continue to switch its Mac series to Apple Silicon in 2021, including the iMac.
Details are not available on what kind of performance we can expect from the new iMac, but we expect to be impressed. Even the ‘entry-level’ M1-powered Macs can outperform the best iMacs with Intel inside. At least some version of the new iMac is likely to feature next-generation Apple Silicon processors.
Bloomberg reported in December:
Bloomberg says Apple is working on successors to the M1 with up to 20 CPU cores, consisting of 16 core performance and 4-efficiency cores. By 2021, the company is expected to launch ARM versions of the higher-end MacBook Pro, “both entry-level and high-end iMac desktops.” An ARM Mac Pro is scheduled to follow in 2022.
The current M1 Macs are limited to two Thunderbolt ports and 16 GB of RAM. It’s likely that both of these restrictions will also be lifted by at least higher models of the 2021 iMac.
New design inspired by Pro Display XDR
While the Apple Silicon chips inside will certainly make an impression, the visual refurbishment of the 2021 iMac could be even more noticeable.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported in January that the redesigned iMac will feature a design inspired by the Pro Display XDR. In fact, Gurman wrote that the new iMac “will be one of the biggest visual updates of any Apple product this year.”
This is what we expect from the new design
- A flat back that replaces the current curved design on the back of the iMac
- No more chin at the bottom
- Slimmer edges around the screen
- ‘Similar’ to the Pro Display XDR
Apple can also resize the iMac with this year’s redesign. Currently, the iMac is available in two versions: 21.5 inches and 27 inches. If Apple reduces the ring size and removes the lower chin from the current iMac design, it could expand the screen firmware while keeping the overall footprint the same.
Previous reports have indicated that Apple is developing a 24-inch iMac, which will theoretically serve as a replacement for the 21.5-inch model. It’s possible that the 27-inch iMac screen could increase to something like 30-inches, but we haven’t heard any specific reporting on this yet.
Colours
Finally, Jon Prosser reported that the iMac may be available in several 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 it expands remains to be seen, but it’s something interesting to consider.
Exit
As we wrote before, 2021 is going to be a big year for the Mac, thanks to the continued transition to Apple Silicon, new form factors for the MacBook Pro, and a brand new iMac design. Check out our full set of expectations for the Mac here.
What are you most excited to see from the redesigned iMac with Apple Silicon inside? Are you planning to upgrade? Let us know in the comments!
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