The Apple Silicon transition is underway, and it is rumored that Apple will have several new Macs in the pipeline for 2021. This includes new 14 and 16 inch MacBook Pro models, as well as a redesign for the iMac. These new machines will represent the next wave of Macs with Apple Silicon, coming after the launch of a new MacBook Pro, MacBook Air and Mac mini last year.
The redesigned iMac is expected to be a major overhaul, and it does so after almost a decade of stagnation. Read everything you need about resdesign …
History lesson: the latest redesign of the iMac
Apple first introduced the aluminum iMac in August 2007, making it available in 20- and 24-inch versions. This was an important update compared to the previous plastic design of the iMac, which was available in 17, 20 and 24 inch screen variants between August 2004 and August 2007.
This means that it was three years between when Apple launched the white plastic iMac G5 and the aluminum iMac in 2007 – a fairly quick response time for a major Mac redesign. This mid-2007 iMac, however, it was just a stepping stone. Despite having an aluminum front, it still featured a rear case made of black plastic, which was a big difference compared to the stylish aluminum front.
In 2009, Apple revamped its iMac line with monoblock aluminum design in 21.5 and 27 inch variants – featuring the two screen sizes that are still in use today. This design ended up shaping the future of the iMac, with Apple focusing on iterating rather than completely redesigning it.
In October 2012, Apple redesigned the iMac with an ultra-thin side profile and removed the SuperDrive. While the thinnest point measures 5 mm, there is still an ugly protrusion on the back to accommodate the iMac’s internal parts and cooling system. In 2015, the iMac was updated with a Retina display.
With these changes, the overall appearance of the iMac has remained the same: an aluminum construction with black bezels and an aluminum chin. The last significant update to the iMac was the introduction of the aluminum unibody design in 2009, but even that change began in 2008.
At the time, in 2012, Apple making the side profile of the ultra-thin iMac was certainly an elegant look and heralded as a major redesign. In real-world usage, however, this change was much less noticeable, especially with the front appearance of the iMac remaining unchanged for so long.
We are currently in the biggest design lull in the iMac’s history, nine years have passed since the introduction of the 21-inch and 27-inch aluminum unibody design in 2012. This does not mean that the iMac is necessarily dated – it has received specification updates semi-regulars, including the most recent one last August, but the design is certainly starting to show its age. And can Apple continue to charge a premium for a design that is 10 years old?
So when can Apple finally redesign the iMac? All reports point to 2021.
IMac expectations for 2021: Apple Silicon, redesign, colors
Apple Silicon inside
Apple impressed with the launch of the M1 chip last year, which is what currently powers the latest MacBook Air, the 13-inch MacBook Pro and the Mac mini. Apple’s work is not finished and it will continue to transition its line from Mac to Apple Silicon in 2021, including the iMac.
There are few details about the type of performance we can expect from the new iMac, but we hope to be impressed. Even Macs with “basic” M1 technology are able to outperform top-of-the-line iMacs with integrated Intel. At least some version of the new iMac is likely to feature the next generation of Apple Silicon processors.
Bloomberg reported in December:
Bloomberg says Apple is working on successors for the M1 with up to 20 CPU cores, made up of 16 high-performance and 4 efficiency cores. In 2021, the company is expected to launch ARM versions of the cutting-edge MacBook Pro, “basic and advanced iMac desktops”. A Mac Pro ARM is scheduled to happen in 2022.
Current M1 Macs are limited to two Thunderbolt ports and 16 GB of RAM. These two limitations are also likely to be overcome by at least more sophisticated models of the 2021 iMac.
New design inspired by Pro Display XDR
While Apple’s internal silicon chips are certainly impressive, the visual overhaul of the iMac 2021 can be even more remarkable.
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 to 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 on the bottom
- Thinner frames around the screen
- “Similar” to Pro Display XDR
Apple can also make adjustments to the size of the iMac with this year’s redesign. Currently, the iMac is available in two versions: 21.5 inches and 27 inches. If Apple reduced the size of the bezel and removed the lower “chin” from the current design of the iMac, it would be able to expand the screen space while maintaining the overall size.
Previous reports have indicated that Apple is developing a 24-inch iMac, which theoretically would serve as a replacement for the 21.5-inch model. It is possible for the 27-inch iMac’s screen to grow to something like 30 inches, but we haven’t heard any specific reports yet.
Colors
Finally, Jon Prosser reported that the iMac may be available in multiple colors for the first time in almost two decades. Prosser says the iMac 2021 will be available in space gray, silver, rose gold, green and sky blue. It remains to be seen whether this will work or not, but it is something interesting to consider.
Wrap up
As we wrote before, 2021 will be a great year for the Mac, thanks to the continued transition to the Apple Silicon, new formats for the MacBook Pro and a brand new iMac design. Be sure to check out our full summary of expectations for the Mac here.
What are you most excited to see from this year’s redesigned iMac with internal Apple Silicon? Are you planning to upgrade? Let us know in the comments!
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