Will Apple Bring Back a Larger iMac? Here's What the Latest Rumors Say

It has been more than two and a half years since Apple discontinued the 27-inch iMac, as part of its move away from Intel processors. Since then, the 24-inch iMac has been Apple's only all-in-one desktop computer, with no larger model available.

iMac Pro 2022 27 and 24 iMac
Will a larger iMac ever make a comeback? We recap the latest rumors below.

In November, Apple announced that it had no plans to release a new version of the 27-inch iMac with an Apple silicon chip. Instead, Apple recommended pairing its standalone Studio Display with its Mac Studio or Mac mini desktop computers.

Apple's statement ruled out a new 27-inch iMac, but an even larger model is still possible one day. Nearly a year ago, both Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said Apple was developing a 32-inch iMac for release in late 2024 or in 2025. Kuo said the larger iMac's screen would feature mini-LED backlighting, which would allow for increased brightness, higher contrast ratio, and other benefits compared to LCD technology.

While there haven't been any rumors lately about this alleged 32-inch iMac, Gurman said Apple was still exploring a larger iMac as recently as August.

"A larger iMac remains something Apple is exploring as well, but it's unclear if that will be an M4 product or something that comes the following year or later," he wrote.

That is all that is known about a potential larger iMac at this point.

All in all, it seems that a larger iMac might be on Apple's roadmap, but the wait continues for now.

In the meantime, the 24-inch iMac is expected to be updated with the M4 chip in October, alongside new MacBook Pro and Mac mini models.

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

Popular Stories

ipad mini 2021 youtube

New Report Reveals When to Expect the iPad Mini 7

Tuesday October 1, 2024 2:09 pm PDT by
Apple is working on a new iPad mini that will "potentially" be released "by the end of 2024," according to a report today from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Last month, Gurman reported that Apple had "new iPads in the works," including an upgraded version of the iPad mini. At the time, he said the device was "on deck for Apple's October event" alongside the first M4 Macs. The wording in his...
airpods pro 2 gradient

AirPods Pro 3 Expected Next Year: Here's What We Know

Tuesday October 1, 2024 5:47 am PDT by
Despite being released over two years ago, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 continue to dominate the wireless earbud market. However, with the AirPods Pro 3 expected to launch sometime in 2025, anyone thinking of buying Apple's premium earbuds may be wondering if the next generation is worth holding out for. Apart from their audio and noise-canceling performance, which are generally regarded as...
apple silicon mac lineup wwdc 2022 feature purple

MacBook Pro, iMac, and Redesigned Mac Mini With M4 Chips on Track to Launch 'This Year'

Tuesday October 1, 2024 1:57 pm PDT by
Apple plans to release new MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac mini models with the M4 series of chips "this year," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Gurman initially said these Macs would likely be announced during a virtual event this October, but he has been more vague about the timing lately, with wording such as "in the coming weeks" and now merely "this year." In any case, it is clear that...
15 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 18

15 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 18.1

Friday September 27, 2024 6:14 am PDT by
Apple is set to release iOS 18.1 in October, bringing the first set of Apple Intelligence features to iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 models. This update marks a significant step forward in Apple's AI integration, offering a new Siri contextually-aware experience and a range of additional capabilities powered by on-device machine learning and large language models. There are a couple of handy new...
iPhone SE 4 Thumb 2

Apple's Next New iPhone to Debut in the Spring: What to Expect

Tuesday October 1, 2024 3:14 am PDT by
Apple's budget-friendly iPhone SE is set for a major overhaul with a fourth generation model expected to launch in spring 2025. The upcoming model will mark a significant departure from its predecessors, adopting several features from higher-end iPhones while maintaining its position as the most affordable new model in Apple's lineup. According to recent reports, the iPhone SE 4 will sport a ...
iPhone SE 4 Thumb 1

iPhone SE With Apple Intelligence, New iPad Air, and More Reportedly Launching 'Early Next Year'

Tuesday October 1, 2024 12:38 pm PDT by
Apple plans to release a new iPhone SE with Apple Intelligence support, new iPad Air models, and an updated Magic Keyboard for the iPad Air at some point "early next year," according to a report today from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The next iPhone SE will have a similar design as the iPhone 14, including an edge-to-edge screen with a notch, according to Gurman. This means the device will...
m3 mbp space black

What to Expect From an Apple Event in October: iPad Mini 7, Redesigned Mac Mini, and More

Friday September 27, 2024 11:47 am PDT by
Apple will likely hold another event in October this year to announce new Macs and iPads. If so, it would be the fourth time in the last five years that Apple has held an event in October. Last year, Apple held a virtual event on Monday, October 30 to announce new MacBook Pro and iMac models with the M3 series of chips. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Below, we...
Generic iOS 18

iOS 18.0.1 Coming Soon: What to Expect for Your iPhone

Wednesday October 2, 2024 5:50 am PDT by
Following the release of iOS 18 for the iPhone last month, Apple is preparing to release iOS 18.0.1 with bug fixes in the near future. We previously reported that Apple has been internally testing iOS 18.0.1, and today a private account on X with a proven track record of sharing iOS-related information said the update will have a build number of 22A3370. We expect iOS 18.0.1 to be a minor ...

Top Rated Comments

Cirillo Gherardo Avatar
1 week ago
Just seems unlikely. The fact is Apple can satisfy that market almost completely with a Mac mini or Mac Studio + a Studio Display.

Gone are the days where Apple basically gives away a Mac inside of a case that is holding a 5K display. From 2014-2019 those 27" machines were some of the best deals on the planet, because Apple did not mark them up according to both the value of the display itself and the Mac inside it. You basically paid for the display, and got the Mac for free, unless you upgraded it. You're not going to see a deal like that again. Not from this Apple.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mrkevinfinnerty Avatar
1 week ago
sell a studio display plus Mac Mini/Mac studio or put that all in one package and sell it for less?

Yeah that's going to be a

Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
satchmo Avatar
1 week ago
People wouldn't be screaming (as much) for a 5K 27" iMac, if the Studio Display wasn't frickin' $1999!

And that doesn't include any height adjustment or coatings.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
d4cloo Avatar
1 week ago
I think Apple kit releasing a large iMac is a good thing.

Once you get to larger monitors, the user expectation for it to last longer and operate independently from the computer, increases.

It’s also more sustainable. Throwing away a 32” monitor when the computer technically is working, or vice-versa, feels…perverse.

The only issue right now is the lack of an affordable Apple monitor, which means that users have to ditch the Apple aesthetics and features.
I would love to see a sub-$1000 monitor that is more in line with today’s competitor specs and radiates the Apple look and feel.
For their more expensive offering I would then demand - as a consumer - 120-144Hz refresh rate, excellent color reproduction and well backlit, and a Thunderbolt 4 dock integrated, plus a decent Web Cam.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HiVolt Avatar
1 week ago
Folks just need to get used to the idea of buying your own monitor for a a mini or studio. You can get much better monitors for less money than what Apple sells with the Studio Display.

And for crying outloud bring macOS out of the stone age and fix the scaling issue. Windows has been able to do this for over 10 years.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kurtfoster Avatar
1 week ago
A significant portion of my clients are still hoping for a 32 inch iMac. One or two have purchased a Mac mini with external display, but the majority of them are still waiting for a larger iMac, as am I.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)