Apple is clearly eager to promote its new M3 iMac, and they've made it clear that they won't be releasing a 27-inch iMac running on Apple Silicon. This means that those hoping for a direct successor to the 27-inch iMac from the Intel era will be disappointed. However, it's worth noting that Apple's statement specifically mentions the 27-inch model, leaving the possibility open for a future iMac with an even larger display.
Not too long ago, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman mentioned that Apple had been considering a 32-inch iMac with plans to launch it in 2025. So, there might still be a big Apple Silicon desktop in the works, but it could be some time before it becomes available. On the other hand, these plans could be scrapped and never come to fruition.
During a recent event, Apple's Senior Vice President, John Ternus, emphasized that the new 24-inch M3 iMac display was the "perfect size and resolution to replace both the 4K and 5K Intel-based models." While the 24-inch size falls between the old 21.5-inch and 27-inch options, it doesn't quite match the 27-inch all-in-one. The 24-inch screen has a resolution of 4.5K, whereas the older 27-inch iMacs boasted a full 5K resolution. This means that the 27-inch Apple Studio Display offers more screen real estate when paired with devices like the Mac mini or Mac Studio.
Furthermore, the current iMac only offers basic performance with the base M3 chip. In contrast, the older Intel iMac Pro featured 28-core Xeon CPUs, making it attractive for demanding computational tasks. The Apple Silicon M2 Max, M2 Ultra, and M3 Max chips are only available in high-end MacBook Pro models, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro.
This is why the rumor of a 32-inch iMac made so much sense, as it would provide professional users with a larger screen and more power in an all-in-one design. Going from 21.5-inch to 24-inch was somewhat expected, and a move from 27-inch to 32-inch on the high-end would have been in line with that progression.
However, Apple's recent statement specifically addresses the 27-inch size in the context of Apple Silicon. So, the fate of the rumored 32-inch iMac remains uncertain for the time being.
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