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Apple rumored to release 27-inch iMac with mini-LED display in early 2022

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Apple is preparing to launch a 27-inch iMac with mini-LED and ProMotion technology in the early part of 2022, according to analyst Ross Young.

Young in a tweet on Tuesday said an upcoming 27-inch standalone display (later clarified to be the screen component of a future iMac) is predicted to launch in the first quarter of 2022 with advanced technologies first seen on Apple's Pro Display XDR.

The analyst and CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants in a statement to MacRumors said that the desktop will boast mini-LED technology. So far, all Apple products with mini-LED screens — from the Pro Display XDR to the 12.9-inch iPad Pro and new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models — have received XDR branding, suggesting that the new iMac will follow suit.

The rumored iMac model is also predicted to feature ProMotion, enabling dynamic screen refresh rates from 24Hz to 120Hz. Apple's iPhone 13 Pro and the recently released MacBook Pro models are the latest hardware from Cupertino to boast the variable refresh rate technology.

Young has a commendable track record when it comes to predicting Apple's display-related moves. In July, he accurately pegged the sixth-generation iPad mini's screen size. Before that, Young predicted the inclusion of ProMotion on iPhone 13 nearly a full year before its debut.

Apple's 27-inch iMac is one of the last Mac models to be powered by Intel processors. The company is at the tail end of a two-year initiative to transition its entire computer line to in-house designed Apple Silicon, an effort that most recently culminated in the launch of new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros powered by M1 Pro and M1 Max chips.

This story has been updated to reflect a correction from Young, who previously stated that the above information applied to a 27-inch standalone display.



29 Comments

22july2013 11 Years · 3736 comments

May I ask if ProMotion on the new MacBooks applies only to the built-in monitor, or also any external monitors. And how would I know if my current external monitor on my Mac Mini would support ProMotion?

FileMakerFeller 6 Years · 1561 comments

"Just" wrap the new MBP display in a standalone shell. Plenty of people would be happy with that.

mr lizard 15 Years · 354 comments

"Just" wrap the new MBP display in a standalone shell. Plenty of people would be happy with that.

Not sure how big the market is for a 16” standalone display. Those were popular in the early 2000’s, but people buy 24-32” external display now, and bigger. 

opinion 10 Years · 111 comments

Apple is so good at building their eco system and a new 27-inch iMac (or bigger) with maybe some variant of the M1 processor is surely welcomed to the lineup. But one thing puzzles me. Displays. To end the 27-inch Thunderbolt display and replacing it with nothing (well the LG one simply could not match the design but I have to say that their adjustable stand is a good idea) is a mystery. Later the Pro display came but a display that is more expensive than some of the computers in their line up is not the option for many of us. Just the stand is more expensive than a Mac mini. We who want to stay in the Apple eco system should have the option of buying a great but affordable Apple display.

fastasleep 14 Years · 6451 comments

vedelppa said:
I'm affraid those "Mac Mini Pro"s will only come with the AS Mac Pros (and maybe as a "Mac Pro Mini", or the current Mac Pro will become the Mac Pro Max and Mac Pro will be that.. OK, last theory: I think the processors for that will be called M2 Studio so add "Studio" to the moniker-mix! :D), if ever :/.. What a shame a mid-level headless desktop is out of their interest! :( Anyway I don't like this mini-LED thing they push, with its local dimming zones instead of per-pixel dimming. Does it even deserve the "pro" moniker? Feels like a "good enough" for the price of a used car..

Are you really upset that microLED tech isn't ready yet, so they picked the next best thing to them? You think they didn't test OLED in the process? REALLY?