Larger Redesigned High-End iMac Rumored to Launch Next Year

Apple's larger redesigned iMac will arrive sometime in 2022 rather than later this year, according to the leaker known as "Dylandkt."

imac with accessories
On Twitter, ‌Dylandkt‌ claimed that Apple's "high end ‌iMac‌" is not expected to release in the fourth quarter of 2021 alongside Apple's "M1X Macs" – a reference to Apple's redesigned MacBook Pro models – because "Apple simply does not want their devices to compete for attention and delays in product releases have led to this timetable."

In previous claims, ‌Dylandkt‌ has remained adamant that an "M1X" Apple silicon processor is destined for high-end "Pro" Macs, which could include the upcoming ‌MacBook Pro‌ models and a larger, more powerful ‌iMac‌ model. Apple is expected to release 14-inch and 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ models at some point between September and November. Reputable Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman has said he also expects the larger redesigned ‌iMac‌ to feature an M1X or M2X chip, but Gurman has stopped short of offering launch timing details.

Apple is known to be still developing a larger version of the ‌iMac‌, but paused work on the larger version to launch the 24-inch ‌iMac‌ model earlier this year. If the larger version of the ‌iMac‌ uses an M1X or M2X chip, it will be a more powerful version of the M1 chip that's in the 24-inch ‌iMac‌. The 27-inch Intel models that remain in Apple's lineup launched in August 2020, suggesting they are reaching the end of their production cycle.

A new larger ‌‌iMac‌‌ would likely ape several changes that debuted in the latest 24-inch model, such as a thinner overall design, studio-quality microphones, and of course more powerful Apple silicon processors replacing Intel.


‌Dylandkt‌ has correctly predicted details about a number of Apple's recent product launches. As early as November 2020, the leaker claimed that the next-generation iPad Pro would feature an ‌M1‌ chip, five months before the device emerged. Prior to the launch of the 24-inch ‌‌iMac‌‌ earlier this year, ‌Dylandkt‌ also correctly predicted that the new, redesigned ‌‌iMac‌‌ would replace the smaller entry-level ‌‌iMac‌‌ only and feature an ‌‌M1‌‌ chip rather than an M1X.

In other recent tweets, ‌Dylandkt‌ has claimed that new MacBook Air models powered by a not-before-seen "M2" chip will launch in the first half of 2022, and that Apple's LiDAR camera feature will only appear in the "Pro" variants of upcoming iPhone 13 models.

Related Roundup: iMac
Buyer's Guide: iMac (Caution)
Related Forum: iMac

Popular Stories

iOS 26

15 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 26.2

Friday December 5, 2025 9:40 am PST by
Apple is about to release iOS 26.2, the second major point update for iPhones since iOS 26 was rolled out in September, and there are at least 15 notable changes and improvements worth checking out. We've rounded them up below. Apple is expected to roll out iOS 26.2 to compatible devices sometime between December 8 and December 16. When the update drops, you can check Apple's servers for the ...
Intel Inside iPhone Feature

Apple's Return to Intel Rumored to Extend to iPhone

Friday December 5, 2025 10:08 am PST by
Intel is expected to begin supplying some Mac and iPad chips in a few years, and the latest rumor claims the partnership might extend to the iPhone. In a research note with investment firm GF Securities this week, obtained by MacRumors, analyst Jeff Pu said he and his colleagues "now expect" Intel to reach a supply deal with Apple for at least some non-pro iPhone chips starting in 2028....
ive and altman

Jony Ive's OpenAI Device Barred From Using 'io' Name

Friday December 5, 2025 6:22 am PST by
A U.S. appeals court has upheld a temporary restraining order that prevents OpenAI and Jony Ive's new hardware venture from using the name "io" for products similar to those planned by AI audio startup iyO, Bloomberg Law reports. iyO sued OpenAI earlier this year after the latter announced its partnership with Ive's new firm, arguing that OpenAI's planned "io" branding was too close to its...
iPhone 17 Pro Cosmic Orange

10 Reasons to Wait for Next Year's iPhone 18 Pro

Monday December 1, 2025 2:40 am PST by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models at the same time, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 18 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth...
Photos App Icon Liquid Glass

John Gruber Shares Scathing Commentary About Apple's Departing Software Design Chief

Thursday December 4, 2025 9:30 am PST by
In a statement shared with Bloomberg on Wednesday, Apple confirmed that its software design chief Alan Dye will be leaving. Apple said Dye will be succeeded by Stephen Lemay, who has been a software designer at the company since 1999. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that Dye will lead a new creative studio within the company's AR/VR division Reality Labs. On his blog Daring Fireball,...
Apple John Ternus 2019

Will John Ternus Really Be Apple's Next CEO?

Friday December 5, 2025 9:01 am PST by
There is uncertainty about Apple's head of hardware engineering John Ternus succeeding Tim Cook as CEO, The Information reports. Some former Apple executives apparently hope that a new "dark-horse" candidate will emerge. Ternus is considered to be the most likely candidate to succeed Cook as CEO. The report notes that he is more likely to become CEO than software head chief Craig Federighi, ...
maxresdefault

iPhone Fold: Launch, Pricing, and What to Expect From Apple's Foldable

Monday December 1, 2025 3:00 am PST by
Apple is expected to launch a new foldable iPhone next year, based on multiple rumors and credible sources. The long-awaited device has been rumored for years now, but signs increasingly suggest that 2026 could indeed be the year that Apple releases its first foldable device. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Below, we've collated an updated set of key details that ...
ios 18 to ios 26 upgrade

Apple Pushes iPhone Users Still on iOS 18 to Upgrade to iOS 26

Tuesday December 2, 2025 11:09 am PST by
Apple is encouraging iPhone users who are still running iOS 18 to upgrade to iOS 26 by making the iOS 26 software upgrade option more prominent. Since iOS 26 launched in September, it has been displayed as an optional upgrade at the bottom of the Software Update interface in the Settings app. iOS 18 has been the default operating system option, and users running iOS 18 have seen iOS 18...
iOS 26

Apple Seeds iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 Release Candidates to Developers and Public Beta Testers

Wednesday December 3, 2025 10:33 am PST by
Apple today seeded the release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 updates to developers and public beta testers, with the software coming two weeks after Apple seeded the third betas. The release candidates represent the final versions of iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 that will be provided to the public if no further bugs are found during this final week of testing....
Touchscreen MacBook Feature

Here Are the Four MacBooks Apple Is Expected to Launch Next Year

Monday December 1, 2025 5:00 am PST by
2026 could be a bumper year for Apple's Mac lineup, with the company expected to announce as many as four separate MacBook launches. Rumors suggest Apple will court both ends of the consumer spectrum, with more affordable options for students and feature-rich premium lines for users that seek the highest specifications from a laptop. Below is a breakdown of what we're expecting over the next ...

Top Rated Comments

ignatius345 Avatar
57 months ago

To think that the iMac, which was iconic and symbolises the Mac spirit, will take so long for an update....
The iMac did get updated. The version they released this year is definitely the "mainstream" version. I know, we all want the "pro" size with all the faster stuff it's simply not true to say they haven't updated the iMac to Apple Silicon.


It's not that hard to simply scale the current 24" up to 32" and introduce some more premium features to it (like 6K screen, even better speakers etc).
LOL, you make it sound like they just click a few boxes in their design software and hit the "order" button to make the factory start cranking them out. I'm not an industrial designer or a supply chain manager, but I have a feeling it's maybe a little bit more complicated?
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Wanted797 Avatar
57 months ago
These rumors seems a bit ridiculous now.

Just in next years iPhone will have a better camera…

really?
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
adamw Avatar
57 months ago
This is bad news. I wanted a larger M1X iMac "Pro" model this year. Please let this report be false.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Zdigital2015 Avatar
57 months ago

Will it still be butt ugly? Surface Studio looks 1000x better...
And yet still with specs from 2017 for the low, low starting price of $3499. Hard pass.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Apple Knowledge Navigator Avatar
57 months ago
In all honestly this makes a lot of sense - the component shortage has obviously had a huge effect on suppliers. I would hazard a guess that the new MacBook Pros and a higher-end Mac mini will be locked in for October. That would leave the MacBook for Spring '22, and the iMac, Mac Pro for later the same year.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Psychicbob Avatar
57 months ago
Hope the M1X Mac Mini still turns up this year. As much as I think the MacBook Pro M1Xs will be very sexy, I just can’t justify splurging that amount of money on them, personally.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)