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Every year, the one part of Apple’s Mac lineup—the one begging the most for a glow-up—gets sidelined instead for the age-old MacBooks. But why should Apple buyers have to buy an expensive screen and an expensive Mac when they can get them all in one enormous, expensive desktop? Yes, the iMac may finally see the return of a “Pro” version, and it may just be what the all-in-one needs.
Apple is set to launch a smorgasbord of new products in 2026. That includes a new Studio Display 2. If Apple does refresh the 27-inch 5K Retina display, why not just stick that sucker full of Mac Studio guts while we’re at it? According to MacRumors, based on leaked internal software, there are a few references to a new iMac model. The identifying code for the platform it’s running on reportedly relates to a still-unanounced M5 Max chip. Apple discontinued the iMac Pro in 2021 after just a few years on store shelves.
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Apple didn’t release any M5 Pro or M5 Max chips with this year’s MacBook Pro refresh. It limited its new stock to a base M5 on a 14-inch MacBook Pro. We fully expect Apple to launch its higher-end chips in 2026 alongside all new MacBook models, including one—finally—with an OLED screen for better contrast. Bloomberg’s regular Apple leaker, Mark Gurman, previously suggested that Apple was working on a larger-screen iMac that could be built for professionals.
The last few iMac all-in-one models have been relatively blasé affairs. The 2023 model came with a base M3 chip, while the 2024 refresh received the upgrade to M4. These 24-inch screens are designed for home use; hence, they come in a range of rainbow colors that would make a Skittles fiend blush. However, in the apocryphal days pre-M-series and pre-pandemic era, Apple was also keen on 27-inch screens, namely the larger iMac Pro that came with an Intel processor. Apple hasn’t felt a need to bring back a more powerful all-in-one model, but that may change in the new year.
An iMac with Mac Studio levels of performance would be an enticing proposition. The 16-core CPU and 40-core GPU on the M4 Max proved to be a strong performer in our tests with the 2024 Mac Studio. If Apple upgrades the display from the age-old Retina display (it’s Apple’s own blend of LCD technology that usually boasts higher pixel counts), it would offer one of the best all-in-one experiences. Let’s be honest, how often are you taking your gigantic brick of a Mac Studio with you on the road?
The bigger issue for the iMac Pro would be price. A 24-inch iMac currently starts at $1,300 for an 8-core CPU/GPU M4. The 10-core version demands $1,500. Meanwhile, the 27-inch Studio Display starts at $1,600. If you combine that with a $2,000 M4 Max Mac Studio, you’re looking at a combo that would cost $3,600. The iMac Pro from 2017 cost $5,000 as a starting price. Little wonder why that device didn’t take off. Maybe, with Apple’s M-series silicon in tow, we won’t have to sit back and guess why Apple’s Mac Pro desktop tower is once again “on the back burner,” according to Gurman.
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