On the 31st of last month, Apple unveiled a new lineup of Mac computers based on the M3 chip. The company revealed the MacBook Pro lineup equipped with M3 chips, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips, as well as a 24-inch desktop iMac equipped with the M3 chip. The M3 chip family, designed based on a 3-nanometer process, is Apple’s PC chip that integrates more transistors than its predecessor, improving task processing speed and efficiency. As a result, the performance of the computers unveiled this time has significantly improved.
The rendering performance of the Final Cut Pro video editing program on the 14-inch MacBook Pro equipped with the M3 chip is up to 60% faster than the 13-inch MacBook Pro equipped with the M1 chip. Also, when running Adobe Photoshop on the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros equipped with the M3 Pro chip, it’s up to 40% faster than the 16-inch MacBook Pro equipped with the M1 chip. It shows superior performance in performing complex tasks than before.
A new product after two years… iMac with M3 chip makes a flashy comeback
In particular, the 24-inch iMac attracted much attention on the day. The new iMac was the most rumored product before its release. Some claimed that Apple would not release the new 24-inch iMac until next year, but fortunately, the company unveiled it on the day. It was the most welcome news for those who wanted to buy Apple’s all-in-one desktop, as a new product was released after two years.
Apple released the 24-inch iMac equipped with the M3 chip in seven colors: green, yellow, orange, pink, blue, purple, and silver. It boasts a work speed up to twice as fast as the previous generation product equipped with the M1 chip. It is also up to 2.5 times faster than the 27-inch iMac based on Intel chips, which was the most popular iMac for a long time.
In addition, the new product will offer a 4.5K retina display that implements 11.3 million pixels and over a billion colors, faster wireless connection speed, and smoother connectivity with iPhones. The price starts from 1.99 million won (approximately USD 1,670).
No 27-inch M3 iMac? Apple: “No plans for release”
Apple previously discontinued the 27-inch iMac based on Intel chips last year. This model was once the most popular model among Apple’s all-in-one desktop PCs. With the release of the new 24-inch iMac, people naturally focused their attention on whether Apple would release a 27-inch iMac equipped with the M3 chip. However, disappointing news came for those who had high hopes.
On November 6th (local time), the IT media The Verge reported that Apple has no plans to release a 27-inch iMac equipped with its self-designed M3 chip. Starlayne Meza, Apple’s PR representative, told the media, “Apple will not release an M3 chip iMac to replace the 27-inch Intel-based iMac discontinued last year.” Instead, he emphasized that Apple is revising the iMac lineup for the recently unveiled 24-inch iMac.
No larger iMac anymore… Insiders say, “32-inch is still possible”
Starlayne Meza recommended that those who want a larger iMac use the ‘Studio Display’ with a 27-inch 5K display and ‘Mac Mini’ instead of the all-in-one iMac. The 27-inch iMac represented a popular desktop computer for Apple and found frequent use in homes, studios, editing rooms, and offices. However, many people have moved to the Mac Pro or Mac Mini to enjoy the latest performance as the company has not recently released an iMac equipped with its silicon.
However, the fact that the company did not release a 27-inch iMac does not necessarily mean that a larger all-in-one Apple desktop will not be released at all. The Verge still saw the possibility of releasing a larger desktop. Last month, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman claimed that Apple will release a 32-inch iMac Pro by the end of next year or in 2025. Analyst Ming Chi Kuo also expects a 32-inch iMac to be released in 2025. So, if you’re waiting for a ‘larger’ all-in-one desktop, not a 27-inch, you might need a little more time.
By. Lee Soo Hyun
Most Commented