iMac Shipping Estimates Slip to 3-5 Business Days for Most Models

iMac shipping estimates have slipped to 3-5 business days on the Apple Online Store in the United States for all models aside from the entry-level 21.5-inch option with a 1.4GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor. The high-end 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro is also now showing an estimated shipping date of 1-2 weeks. Both the iMac and 15" Retina MacBook Pro were previously listed as in stock.

iMac 21.5 3-5 Days
The majority of the iMac lineup, excluding the low-end 21.5-inch iMac released in June 2014 and iMac with Retina 5K Display launched in October 2014, was last updated in September 2013 with the latest Intel Haswell processors, faster PCI Express-based flash storage options and 802.11ac Wi-Fi. Based on its average product cycle, the all-in-one desktop computer is long overdue for a refresh.

Nevertheless, the iMac is not expected to be updated until Intel releases desktop class Broadwell chips during the second quarter of 2015. Intel's first 14nm desktop processors, including the Core i5-5675C, i7-5775C, i5-5575R, i5-5675R and i7-5775R CPUs with Iris Pro 6200 integrated graphics, are expected to be announced during Computex Taiwan in early June, with some chips expected to launch in mid-May, and should become readily available as early as July or August.

Intel Broadwell Desktop Chart

Intel's Broadwell desktop chips based on 14nm manufacturing process (via CPU World)

Ultimately, the extended iMac shipping estimates of 3-5 business days could be nothing more than regular stock fluctuations on the Apple Online Store, although it is worth noting as the release of Broadwell desktop chips approaches. At this point, it remains more likely that refreshed iMacs will be announced at WWDC 2015 at the earliest, but Apple's plans could change based on Intel's release timeline.

Related Roundups: iMac, MacBook Pro
Related Forums: iMac, MacBook Pro

Popular Stories

AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods 4

Thursday November 13, 2025 11:35 am PST by
Apple today released new firmware designed for the AirPods Pro 3, the AirPods 4, and the prior-generation AirPods Pro 2. The AirPods Pro 3 firmware is 8B25, while the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 firmware is 8B21, all up from the prior 8A358 firmware released in October. There's no word on what's include in the updated firmware, but the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 4 with ANC, and AirPods Pro 3...
iOS 26

iOS 26.2 Available Next Month With These 8 New Features

Tuesday November 11, 2025 9:48 am PST by
Apple released the first iOS 26.2 beta last week. The upcoming update includes a handful of new features and changes on the iPhone, including a new Liquid Glass slider for the Lock Screen's clock, offline lyrics in Apple Music, and more. In a recent press release, Apple confirmed that iOS 26.2 will be released to all users in December, but it did not provide a specific release date....
CarPlay Pinned Messages

iOS 26.2 Adds New CarPlay Setting

Thursday November 13, 2025 6:48 am PST by
iOS 26 extended pinned conversations in the Messages app to CarPlay, for quick access to your most frequent chats. However, some drivers may prefer the classic view with a list of individual conversations only, and Apple now lets users choose. Apple released the second beta of iOS 26.2 this week, and it introduces a new CarPlay setting for turning off pinned conversations in the Messages...
homepod mini thumb feature

New HomePod Mini, Apple TV, and AirTag Were Expected This Year — Where Are They?

Wednesday November 12, 2025 11:42 am PST by
While it was rumored that Apple planned to release new versions of the HomePod mini, Apple TV, and AirTag this year, it is no longer clear if that will still happen. Back in January, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple planned to release new HomePod mini and Apple TV models "toward the end of the year," while he at one point expected a new AirTag to launch "around the middle of 2025." Yet,...
ios 26 digital id passport wallet

Apple Announces Launch of U.S. Passport Feature in iPhone's Wallet App

Wednesday November 12, 2025 9:15 am PST by
Apple today announced that iPhone users can now create a Digital ID in the Apple Wallet app based on information from their U.S. passport. To create and present a Digital ID based on a U.S. passport, you need: An iPhone 11 or later running iOS 26.1 or later, or an Apple Watch Series 6 or later running watchOS 26.1 or later Face ID or Touch ID and Bluetooth turned on An Apple Account ...
Tesla Charging

Tesla Working to Add Apple CarPlay Support to Vehicles

Thursday November 13, 2025 8:31 am PST by
Tesla is working to add support for Apple CarPlay in its vehicles, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports. Tesla vehicles rely on its own infotainment software system, which integrates vehicle functions, navigation, music, web browsing, and more. The automaker has been an outlier in foregoing support for Apple CarPlay, which has otherwise become an industry standard feature, allowing users to...
m1 chip slide

Five Years of Apple Silicon: M1 to M5 Performance Comparison

Monday November 10, 2025 1:08 pm PST by
Today marks the fifth anniversary of the Apple silicon chip that replaced Intel chips in Apple's Mac lineup. The first Apple silicon chip, the M1, was unveiled on November 10, 2020. The M1 debuted in the MacBook Air, Mac mini, and 13-inch MacBook Pro. The M1 chip was impressive when it launched, featuring the "world's fastest CPU core" and industry-leading performance per watt, and it's only ...
iOS 26

Everything New in iOS 26.2 Beta 2

Wednesday November 12, 2025 3:29 pm PST by
Apple today provided developers with the second beta of iOS 26.2, which adds a few new features worth knowing about. Measure App Apple's Measure app now features a Liquid Glass design for the level, with two Liquid Glass bubbles instead of white circles. Games App There's now an option to sort games in the Games app Library by size, in addition to Name and Recent. CarPlay The...
apple intelligence erroneous support list

Apple Intelligence Apparently Too Smart for M1 Macs After Listing Error

Wednesday November 12, 2025 2:49 am PST by
Update: It took a day, but Apple has now corrected its Apple Intelligence device compatibility list to show support for the earliest Apple silicon Macs. The original article follows. Apple's website is causing some confusion among Mac owners, and for good reason – its device compatibility listing for Apple Intelligence appears to have dropped support for M1 Macs. The U.S. version...
iphone pocket%402x

Apple Debuts iPhone Pocket, a Limited Edition iPod Sock-Style Accessory

Tuesday November 11, 2025 1:23 am PST by
Apple has teamed up with Japanese fashion house ISSEY MIYAKE to launch iPhone Pocket, a 3D-knitted limited edition accessory designed to carry an iPhone, AirPods, and other everyday items. The accessory is like a stretchy pocket, not unlike an iPod Sock, but elongated to form a strap made of a ribbed, elastic textile that fully encloses an iPhone yet allows you to glimpse the display...

Top Rated Comments

Joe Rossignol Avatar
138 months ago
OK, so why make a front-page post about it?
On March 6, I reported (https://www.macrumors.com/2015/03/06/macbook-air-pro-shipping-refresh/) that MacBook Air and 13" MacBook Pro shipping times slipped.

On March 9, Apple refreshed the MacBook Air and 13" MacBook Pro.

That seems reason enough in my opinion.

With Intel's desktop Broadwell chips and WWDC 2015 around the corner, I feel this merited an article.

An announcement could come any time between now to August or later, even if the chips aren't released yet.

I pointed out that this could be regular stock fluctuations so that readers are aware of all possibilities.

Thanks for the feedback though. I do respect your opinion :)
Score: 33 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JAT Avatar
138 months ago
Sometimes a temporary supply shortage is just a temporary supply shortage.
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bkkcanuck Avatar
138 months ago
I'm waiting till next year when Skylake and DDR4 will make there way to the iMac. Wish the Mac Mini would get quad core back but I think that boat has sailed.

I would actually wish that they would bring back the "Mac" (as opposed to the Mac Pro) line instead.... something that would fit between the dual core mac mini and the mac pro line.... Maybe starting out with a Intel Core i5-4690 3500 MHz equivalent chip and topping out with a Intel Core i7-5820K equivalent chip..... with a discreet video adapter in a mac pro type cylinder (maybe slightly smaller) -- with all the colour options of the new Macbook :p Trying to hit the $999 -> $1,499 price range....
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MacVista Avatar
138 months ago
They probably run out of soldering and glueing materials for next iMac.

Waterproof to 150 ft, thin like the WATCH band, soldered drive, soldered dual-core, soldered fans, soldered 2GB RAM, soldered batteries, soldered chassis, glued screen, glued cover, zero ports (wireless port dongles and wireless power supply not included). :D
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SchneiderMan Avatar
138 months ago
All iMacs will eventually have Retina displays. They're simply best. But what I find most ridiculous is the fact that Apple has yet to update its external Thunderbolt Display. Pathetic.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
verniesgarden Avatar
138 months ago
Seems Apple can't ship anything these days. Keyboards with delays, watches with time frames, back orders right of the gate for the new MacBooks, and now iMacs... What the hell are they manufacturing? Isn't Tim Cook supposed to be some supply chain master? Is it just me or has apple never been this crappy on delivery?
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)