Mikey Campbell
Apple is expected to grow iMac sales to one million units during the upcoming quarter on the back of new, more powerful models with enhanced display technology, according to well-connected KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
In a note to investors obtained by AppleInsider on Sunday, Kuo said he expects iMac sales to grow 100 percent quarter-over-quarter, ending the upcoming September period with one million units shipped.
Spurring sales will be new models featuring faster processors and "much better" display quality, Kuo said. Last October Apple introduced one of the highest-resolution screens available in an all-in-one machine with its 5K iMac. This year, Kuo predicts a focus on image quality, specifically color saturation enhancements with a new LED phosphor material called KSF.
Kuo gave no indication that rumors regarding an 8K iMac were valid. In a press release in April, Apple display supplier LG suggested a super high-resolution iMac would debut later in 2015, though Apple has yet to announce any such device.
Accounting for at least part of iMac's sequential sales growth is a lower than normal base established over the trailing quarter, which Kuo attributes to inventory corrections on Apple's part. Also playing a factor will be upcoming promotional pricing and standard price reductions that sometimes come alongside product refreshes.
According to market research firm IDC, Apple was the only computer manufacturer to see positive growth in quarter two, yet again bucking a declining worldwide PC market. Apple revealed during a recent quarterly results conference call for investors that Mac sales jumped 9 percent year-over-year.
If Apple sticks to its anual product cycle, new iMacs could reach store shelves in time for the holidays.
Amber Neely
Andrew Orr
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
AppleInsider Staff
Chip Loder
57 Comments
5K (or 8K) Skylake iMac with TB3 and USBc and I'll walk into the store today!
How do you get "much better" than a 5K display?
Are they seriously suggesting that the rumour that Apple will go 8K with the iMac is correct?
I know nothing about display procurement, but if 8K significantly adds to the 5K price I think Apple should hold off another year. Customers this fall will be very price-conscious.
How do you get "much better" than a 5K display?
Well, it seems like this is what they are talking about, if these rumors are even true, that is (emphasis mine):
I've been looking to update my iMac for a while now. I could see a significantly improved display to be the final straw for me. It would definitely make Lara Croft look better when I kill her every few minutes in the new game (I actually had to take a break -- I was feeling guilty! LOL). :)
Been waiting a while for this! Time to upgrade my 2009 Mini.
Long ago, before the iPod and iPhone, professionals were an important target customer for Apple. But that hasn't been true for a long while, despite the "can't innovate my ass" cylindrical Mac Pro. As such, most iMac buyers probably wouldn't notice any improvement from "KSF" LED phosphor tech. One thing that would be noticeable would be BETTER COOLING. Everyone enjoys less noise. Fan noise is no fun. Although the 4-core Mac Pro loses in many quick benchmark tests to the iMac, long renders or other heavy CPU utilization will increase the heat of the iMac much faster than a Mac Pro, causing the iMac to decrease it's clock speed accordingly, and all the while the iMacs fans are blasting. Heat doesn't drop the clock speed of Mac Pros so much because they are much better cooled. And although SkyLake may run cooler, Apple should find a way to keep the iMac cooler. Or they could just beef up the CPU in the Mac Pro, halve the cost, and then we can buy that instead. :-)