Apple is separating the new smartphones into its usual low-cost versus high-cost categories, with big differences between the two models coming down to the camera, display, and battery life.
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iMac Last Updated 602 Days Ago, Longest Span Ever Between Updates
As noted in the MacRumors Buyer's Guide and discussed in the MacRumors forums, it has now been 602 days since Apple last updated its iMac lineup, a new record for the longest span between iMac refreshes ever. The previous record was 601 days between October 2015 and June 2017 refreshes.
In fairness, the iMac Pro was released in December 2017, but standard 21.5-inch and 27-inch iMac models have not been updated in over a year and a half. Since the original iMac launched in 1998, the computer has typically been updated at least once per year, with the sole exceptions being 2016 and 2018.
The iMac is not alone. The 12-inch MacBook and Mac Pro have also set record-long spans of 602 days and 1,866 days and counting respectively since their last refreshes. Apple has at least promised to release an all-new Mac Pro with a "modular" design at some point in 2019, but has yet to share additional details.
As for the iMac and MacBook, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said Apple was likely to debut refreshed models at its October 2018 event, but only the MacBook Air and Mac mini were updated. Kuo expects both the iMac and MacBook lines to receive faster processors, and the iMac to receive "significant" display improvements.
Apple has hosted a March event in three out of the past four years, so perhaps we'll see new iMacs and MacBooks at a March 2019 event. Other items on the agenda could include new iPad and iPad mini models, a new iPod touch, new AirPods, and the long-awaited AirPower mat if production rumors were true.
In fairness, the iMac Pro was released in December 2017, but standard 21.5-inch and 27-inch iMac models have not been updated in over a year and a half. Since the original iMac launched in 1998, the computer has typically been updated at least once per year, with the sole exceptions being 2016 and 2018.
The iMac is not alone. The 12-inch MacBook and Mac Pro have also set record-long spans of 602 days and 1,866 days and counting respectively since their last refreshes. Apple has at least promised to release an all-new Mac Pro with a "modular" design at some point in 2019, but has yet to share additional details.
As for the iMac and MacBook, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said Apple was likely to debut refreshed models at its October 2018 event, but only the MacBook Air and Mac mini were updated. Kuo expects both the iMac and MacBook lines to receive faster processors, and the iMac to receive "significant" display improvements.
Apple has hosted a March event in three out of the past four years, so perhaps we'll see new iMacs and MacBooks at a March 2019 event. Other items on the agenda could include new iPad and iPad mini models, a new iPod touch, new AirPods, and the long-awaited AirPower mat if production rumors were true.
Related Roundup: iMac
Buyer's Guide: iMac (Neutral)
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9 months ago
Nah. It was last updated yesterday by me – switched from 8 to 24GB RAM.
Removing that ability is probably what's taking so long.
9 months ago
Disheartening to me that annual Mac updates are more the exception than the rule these days.
9 months ago
I strongly - and seriously - suggest that MacRumors changes the misleading "Updates Soon" (*) to "Possible Updates" in all the Apple computers lineup since several years can pass between actual updates.
(*) Not MR's fault.
9 months ago
Let's get everyone fired up about it.
Apple is a mobile computing/consumer products company. iMac is fine for 602 days...
I'm sorry but I don't want to pay the today price for 602 day old technology. You are right that most people probably don't need more power, but you have to be foolish to pay the same price to purchase today for a two year-old machine.
9 months ago
I mean, Apple doesn’t know what a computer is.. so when they see it in their lineup they just shrug and say “what’s a computer”
9 months ago
I don't understand why Apple doesn't at least do a simple spec bump once a year on every model. Toss in a slightly faster processor, more RAM and / or more storage and keep the price the same. Is it really that hard? It doesn't have to be a massive event worthy update every single time.
9 months ago
I hope that before this decade is out, we can have an iMac lineup that is all SSD
9 months ago
Seriously, it's on Intel, not Apple.
This again?
I know Intel has had their share of problems. I'm not gonna deny that.
BUT... it's funny how the blame always gets shifted to Intel whenever Apple doesn't update a computer for 600 days... or maybe a few YEARS... *cough* Mac Pro, Macbook Air...
Dell, HP, Lenovo, Acer, Asus and countless others seem to have no problems releasing timely updates.
In other words... everyone is using Intel processors... but only Apple has these huge gaps between releases.
So... are we still blaming Intel here? :p
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