New iMac 2023: M3 iMac launch date and specs

Apple launched the redesigned iMac with a brand new colour design and M1 chip at its Spring Loaded occasion in April 2021. The second anniversary of the new-look iMac is effectively behind us and we’re hoping Apple will replace the iMac with a brand new one. chip earlier than the tip of 2023 — which might be applicable this 12 months to mark 25 years since Apple launched the unique G3 iMac — however the wait might be longer.

Apple is about to launch the second era of Apple silicon, with the M2 arriving in June 2022, the M2 Professional and M2 Max in January 2023, and the M2 Extremely in June. This makes the 24-inch iMac one of many few remaining M1 Macs. Can we anticipate Apple to introduce an M3 model of the iMac quickly or will it go straight to the M3? Learn on to search out out.

New 24-inch iMac: Launch date

Apple launched the M2 chip within the MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Professional in the summertime of 2022, so it is smart that Apple would replace the iMac quickly. Nevertheless, stories point out that Apple will skip the M2 and go straight to the M3 for its subsequent iMac. The M3 is not anticipated to be revealed till late 2023 or early 2024, so a date for late 2023 or early 2024 is feasible. (The rationale for the delay seems to be that the A17 chip used within the 2023 iPhone 15 Professional takes priority.) On the M3, each will use the brand new 3nm chip manufacturing course of. Chip producer TSMC is unable to fulfill Apple’s order necessities “resulting from yield points.”)

In a March 2023 publication, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman claimed that new M3-powered Macs have been “in a sophisticated stage of improvement.” Nevertheless, he famous that “the iMac just isn’t anticipated to enter mass manufacturing for a minimum of three months,” and famous that it “will not ship till the second half of the 12 months on the earliest.”

Then in a June 2023 information launch, Gorman talked about that Apple was getting ready two new 24-inch iMacs for launch in late 2023 or early 2024.

So we will wait till 2024 for the brand new iMac. However there’s a risk it might be launched in October or November 2023. In August 2023, Gurman instructed that the M3 might debut in October 2023. This got here after a July information launch the place Gurman indicated that Apple would launch an M3 iMac, in addition to an M3 MacBook Professional and MacBook Air in fall 2023.

It is attainable that the reveal might occur at a second Apple occasion in October, however an October occasion just isn’t anticipated. It appears doubtless {that a} press launch containing the information will likely be issued in both October or November 2023.

Gurman additionally famous that an iMac Professional alternative can be within the works and that it’ll have a 30-inch show, nonetheless, that bigger iMac doubtless will not arrive till a lot later.

New 24-inch iMac: Worth

The iMac has a premium worth in comparison with different Macs with related specs, with the entry-level mannequin costing $1,299/£1,399 (the UK worth represents a £150 improve over the launch worth).

If Apple retains the M1 iMac, it might promote the iMac for lower than $1,000. If that occurs, the beginning worth of the M3-powered vary might rise, however except there is a main redesign just like the MacBook Air – which is not anticipated – we anticipate the subsequent mannequin to value the identical. After greater costs in 2022 exterior the US, it is attainable that Apple will see match to decrease costs once more in these places.

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The brand new 24-inch iMac: Design

When Apple launched the brand new look of the iMac in 2021, it enhanced the all-in-one design with a spread of twin colour choices and a bigger 24-inch show that is 11.5 mm (0.45 inches) thinner than earlier than.

Whereas there are options we would prefer to see, like a height-adjustable stand and a smaller chin, we would not anticipate a serious change to the design, with the attainable exception of latest colour choices.

In his March 5 publication, Gorman instructed that not a lot would change for the iMac’s exterior design. He acknowledged that it is going to be the identical display screen measurement and the identical colours as at the moment.

Nevertheless, Gorman famous that there will likely be design-related modifications on the within with “some inner elements moved and redesigned…” He additionally revealed that “the manufacturing course of for assembling the iMac stand is totally different,” in keeping with his data.

The brand new 24-inch iMac: Show

The 24-inch iMac has a 4.5K Retina show with 500 nits of brightness, anti-reflective coating, and True Tone know-how. Though the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Professional provided a greater show with miniLED and ProMotion, we doubt the iMac’s show will change a lot with the second era. We would like to see ProMotion on the iMac, however since it is a high-end characteristic, we’ll doubtless have to attend for the bigger iMac or iMac Professional, if that involves go.

There are stories {that a} new iMac with a bigger display screen could also be coming sooner or later. This alerts the return of the 27-inch iMac, nevertheless it might introduce a 30-inch, 32-inch and even 42-inch iMac, predicts Omdia’s David Hsieh. Hsieh thinks we might wait till 2027 for that 42-inch mannequin.

We’d see a slight improve in display screen measurement if Apple places a FaceTime digicam in place, because it did with the MacBooks. In truth, the iPadOS beta exhibits a graphical picture of a MacBook that features international management, and this might come to the iMac as effectively.

New 24-inch iMac: Processor and specs

Gorman has repeatedly claimed that Apple will bypass the M2 and go straight to the M3 chip for the subsequent era 24-inch iMac. Rumors declare that the brand new chips will likely be manufactured utilizing a brand new 3nm manufacturing course of that may enhance efficiency and energy effectivity. By skipping a era, the subsequent iMac will signify a serious leap over the present mannequin.

Here is what the present M1 and M2 chips have to supply. Primarily based on the specs of the prevailing chips, and data based mostly on what’s suspected to be the M3 Professional noticed throughout testing, we will predict what to anticipate from the M3.

The M1 provides an 8-core CPU, as much as an 8-core GPU, and as much as 16GB of RAM. The M1 Professional provides as much as a 10-inch CPU, as much as a 16-inch GPU, and as much as 32GB of RAM.

The M2 provides an 8-core CPU, as much as a 10-core GPU, and as much as 24GB of RAM. The M2 Professional provides a 10- or 12-core CPU, as much as a 19-core GPU, and as much as 32GB of RAM.

Gurman has monitored developer logs with the essential configurations of the M3 Collection, and is utilizing them to make the next predictions concerning the lineup:

• M3: 8 CPU cores (4 efficiency, 4 effectivity), 10 GPU cores
• M3 Professional: 12 or 14 CPU cores (6 or 8 efficiency, 6 effectivity), 18 or 20 GPU cores
• M3 Max: 16 CPU cores (12 efficiency, 4 effectivity), 32 or 40 GPU cores
• M3 Extremely: 32 CPU cores (24 efficiency, 8 effectivity), 64 or 80 GPU cores

This does not sound all that totally different from the M2, however the M3 can have a brand new 3nm course of that permits for extra transistors and will imply the M3 will likely be a lot quicker than the present era. One other distinction would be the reminiscence help. The M2 will be configured to 24GB of unified reminiscence, which can improve with the M3. Gorman notes that Apple could also be altering the unified reminiscence configurations with 36GB and 48GB exhibiting up in testing.

New 24-inch iMac: Digital camera

The iMac features a 1080p FaceTime HD digicam, however Apple has since launched a 12-megapixel Extremely Large digicam with a 122-degree area of view within the Studio Show. This may doubtless make its solution to the brand new iMac with Middle Stage, a characteristic that retains you targeted as you progress. Apple has been criticized for the Studio Show’s digicam high quality, so we assume it’s going to right these points with the M3 chip’s picture sign processor.

It is unlikely that Face ID will likely be built-in, however in June 2023 there have been rumors (based mostly on a patent seen by Patently Apple) that Face ID may be coming to the MacBook.

New 24-inch iMac: Ports

The entry-level iMac comes with two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports and a 3.5mm headphone jack constructed into the aspect, whereas higher-end fashions have two extra USB 3 ports. There’s additionally a Gigabit ethernet jack constructed into the ability adapter on the high-end fashions, which prices an extra $30 over the entry-level mannequin. With such a skinny bezel, it is unlikely we’ll get an HDMI or SDXC card slot like on the MacBook Execs and Mac Studio.

All newer Macs provide Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, which we anticipate will come to the iMac. On the audio aspect, the iMac already has a six-speaker audio system that helps spatial audio, so we would not anticipate an improve there, although it might get dynamic head monitoring when utilizing AirPods (third era), AirPods Professional, and higher-end AirPods.