Event Timeline

In October, Jon Prosser indicated that an Apple event would take place on March 16. However, this was contradicted by Mark Gurman, who hinted at a possible event in March, leading to widespread predictions for March 23. Given the absence of an official announcement by March 18, it seems likely that rumors may shift to suggest a March 30 event. Analysts consistently predict an Apple event every Tuesday, ensuring they eventually get it right.

Product Redesign

While event dates can be closely guarded secrets, information about products often leaks, as many Apple employees and manufacturing partners are involved in the development process. The existing iMac design has been in place since 2012, making it overdue for an update. Initial redesign whispers from Ming-Chi Kuo emerged in June last year, suggesting a new 24-inch iMac would debut by late 2020. Although that timeline passed without a new release, Mark Gurman shared further insights in January:

Apple is reportedly planning its first iMac redesign since 2012, transitioning from Intel processors to its own silicon. The upcoming models aim to minimize the thick black borders around the display and eliminate the large metal chin, adopting a form akin to Apple’s Pro Display XDR. The new versions will feature a flat back, moving away from the current iMac's curved design. Two models, known internally as J456 and J457, are set to replace the existing 21.5-inch and 27-inch configurations later this year, according to unnamed sources.

Jon Prosser's report reiterated Kuo's and Gurman’s findings, adding that the new iMacs would come in five color options: black, white, green, blue, and rose gold.

Apple's Silicon Development

According to a December Bloomberg report, Apple is working on a new iMac chip featuring up to 16 high-performance cores. The next-generation chip, aimed at MacBook Pro and iMac models, may initially launch with only eight or twelve of these cores, depending on production circumstances. Chip manufacturers often need to release models with reduced specifications due to fabrication challenges.

For the high-end desktop segment, Apple is testing a chip with up to 32 high-performance cores, expected to feature at least 16 GPU cores and support for a minimum of 32GB of memory. Given that the 27-inch Intel-based iMac can accommodate 128GB of memory, Apple recognizes the necessity of enhancing its silicon memory configurations as it shifts from entry-level to high-end Macs. With the iMac Pro now discontinued, the 27-inch iMac serves as Apple's top-tier all-in-one Mac.

There are conflicting reports regarding whether only the 24-inch iMac will be released this spring. Should both models not launch before WWDC, particularly with the 27-inch version lacking support for over 32GB of memory, many questions will remain unanswered.

Will the iMac Launch This Spring?

Reflecting on Steve Jobs' announcement in 2005 about the transition to Intel processors, he outlined a timeline expecting to ship Macs with Intel by the following year, with completion by 2007. Apple successfully executed this transition within seven months, leading to subsequent updates with Intel Core 2 Duo processors.

Now, Apple is poised to undergo another transition to its own silicon, with a two-year timeframe set for completion. To match the previous shift's momentum, this transition should ideally wrap up by June 8. While this seems ambitious, Apple likely aims to showcase an Apple silicon iMac as a milestone at WWDC. The recent discontinuation of the iMac Pro, coupled with reports of an ARM-powered iMac and the anticipation of an iMac update, strongly suggests a launch is imminent before the end of spring.

Five Additional Anticipated Releases

As a software engineer spending extensive hours on my computer, I find Apple’s Mac events particularly captivating. However, the iMac isn't the only product rumored for a spring release.