It's a testament to the iMac that, despite boasting a design that's not changed since 2012 (and only slightly since 2009), it still looks pretty fresh in 2021. But Apple’s reportedly set to give its all-in-one desktop a design overhaul in the near future.
According to Bloomberg, Apple's new iMac will reduce the thick black borders that surrounds the iMac screen. It will also get rid of the metal chin to create a design that looks more like Apple's Pro Display XDR monitor.
Redesigned iMac and Mac Pro
The new iMac will reportedly have a flat back, as opposed to the subtly curving bulge on the back of present day Macs. Apple will stick to the same 21.5-inch and 27-inch display sizes, the report claims, citing sources familiar with Apple's plans.
As expected, the new iMacs will adopt Apple Silicon chips, joining the M1 Mac mini and MacBooks that Apple introduced at the end of 2020 in moving away from Intel chips. It is likely that they will employ the next iteration of Apple's own-designed Apple Silicon chips. It's not clear exactly when the refreshed iMacs will be announced by Apple.
That's not the only desktop Mac that's getting a redesign, Bloomberg says. Apple is also said to be working on a new Mac Pro that will boast a design similar to the Power Mac G4 Cube.
The G4 Cube, launched in 2000, was one of Apple's most stunning ever Mac designs. It was then-CEO Steve Jobs' second stab at creating a cube-shaped computer, following the NeXTcube, which he released during his time running NeXT after leaving Apple in the mid-1980s.
Neither the NeXTcube nor the Power Mac G4 Cube were commercial hits, although both were heavily praised for their innovative and attractive appearance. Hopefully Apple will be able to break that sales trend with its new Mac Pro---although holding onto the critical acclaim of those two earlier computers.
Lower Priced Options As Well
The report additionally claims that Apple is planning to launch another Mac Pro, which will continue using the same design as its 2019 version. This may continue running Intel processors, as opposed to jumping to Apple Silicon.
Finally, Apple is supposedly in early stage development of a new, lower-priced external monitor. Its current Pro Display XDR, which arrived in 2019, costs $5,000 with a $1,000 stand. This new monitor would be aimed at regular customers, as opposed to professionals, and could be a successor of sorts to the $1,000 Thunderbolt Display Apple sold from 2011 through 2016.
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