Apple's Intel iMac Pro Turns Seven: A Refresh Unlikely?
Seven years since the launch of the Intel-based iMac Pro, a refresh seems unlikely as Apple focuses on affordable Apple Silicon Macs.
Today marks seven years since the launch of Apple's Intel-based iMac Pro. With the rise of Apple Silicon, and no new version in sight, a refresh of this workstation is looking increasingly improbable. The iMac Pro's Legacy The iMac Pro was a departure from previous models, featuring a stunning 27-inch 5K Retina display and a premium unibody aluminum chassis. It was powered by workstation-class Intel Xeon processors, with options for AMD Vega graphics, ECC RAM, and other high-end configurations, starting at $4,999. The Apple Silicon Shift The introduction of Apple Silicon in 2020, starting with the M1, has led to the development of high-performance, affordable Macs. With the M4 Mac mini starting at $579, and the M4 MacBook Pro available for $1,449 (both with 16GB RAM and 256GB/512GB storage), the idea of a similarly priced iMac Pro seems illogical. An Apple Silicon-powered iMac Pro, potentially with an M4 Ultra chip, would likely be too expensive to be competitive. Apple has shif…