We may see an updated 24-inch iMac this year, after all

Apple may be proceeding with plans to release a new Mac model this month, according to “potentially related information” obtained by MacRumors. We might see an upgraded 24-inch iMac this year, after all.

Details pertaining to imminent changes to Mac trade-ins provided to MacRumors by a verified source suggest that Apple will likely begin accepting new models for trade-in this month, the article says. 

In an August “Power On” newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said continues to ramp up testing of Macs with the new M3 chip, which could debut as early as October. He’s reported on several next-generation machines in testing, including new iMacs, as well as entry-level and high-end MacBook Pros. However, he also thinks that Apple is working on an M3-equipped Mac mini.

However, on September 8 analyst Ming-Chi Kuo tweeted thatApple is unlikely to release any new MacBook models with the M3 chip this year. The Sellers Research Group (that’s me) will split the different between Gurman and Kuo’s predictions. I say we’ll see an updated iMac before year’s end, but no updated laptops or Mac mini.

Gurman has also said that Apple is working on a 30-inch plus iMac. If/when it arrives (and that could be a year or two), it will likely see the revival of the “iMac Pro” moniker.

However, I’m even more stoked for an upgraded version of the 24-inch iMac. As I’ve previously written, I think the smaller all-in-one (which, let’s face it, isn’t really that small) is Apple’s most (only?) fun device. And it’s an important product as it’s the computer that helped “save” Apple upon Steve Jobs’ return, as well as being the tech giant’s best-selling desktop.

The iMac has 10% share of total sales and approximately half of all desktop sales, according to a report from the folks at Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP). As for other desktop models, the Mac Pro accounts for 9% of all Mac sales, the Mac Studio 1%, and the Mac mini 3%.

If it arrives this year, the updated 24-inch iMac will likely pack an M3 processor. And if the M3 chip faces any delays, it could be early 2024 before we see the updated-with-M3 all-in-one. 

The upgraded chip will be a great feature. New color options would be sweet. But if Apple really wants to wow us, it could make the 24-inch iMac the first Mac with FaceID. And how about an iMac with a ProMotion display to make it better for gaming?

Whatever the features, I’ll almost certainly be replacing my M1 iMac with the newer model. How about you?