Apple might release M3-powered iMac in the 2nd half of 2023

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There might be a 24-inch iMac coming as early as the second half of 2023. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that the development of two new iMac models is in their "late stage," with the company recently starting its manufacturing tests. Gurman doesn't expect volume production to start at least three months from now, but it will bring a handful of improvements. Most significantly, this will run on Apple's next-generation M3 system-on-a-chip. This new version of Apple's chip is expected to get significant performance and power efficiency gains as it'll supposedly run on TSMC's upcoming 3nm process.

The internals of this new iMac is expected to get redesigned as well. Apple is reportedly planning a "different" manufacturing process for attaching the stand. But you can expect this all-in-one to have a 24-inch display and come in the same cheerful colourway as its 2021 predecessor.

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Some Apple iMacs 2013 and 2014 models are now obsolete

Apple has updated its vintage and obsolete product list to add a few products. Several 2013 and 2014 iMac models have been designated obsolete by the company. They were previously on the vintage list, but now under its new designation, it means these computers are no longer eligible for repair. The obsolete Macs include late 2013 21.5- and 27-inch iMacs, mid-2014 21.5-inch iMac, and late 2014 27-inch Retina 5K iMac. Apple typically renders products obsolete seven years after they were last on sale. All hardware service is discontinued for obsolete products, and service providers can't order parts for these devices.

Apple has also marked the Apple Watch Series 2 as vintage, joining the original Apple Watch on this list. Vintage products are those that Apple has stopped distributing for sale (typically between the fifth and seventh year since they launched). Apple can still service and provide parts for these devices up to the seventh year. But repairs are also subject to parts availability.

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Apple discontinues 27-inch iMac

Source: Apple

It's been around for over 12 years, but now the 27-inch iMac is no more. Apple has removed the listing from its Mac category, leaving the 24-inch Apple Silicon-based iMac on sale. The company launched its new Mac Studio and Studio Display the other day, which it is positioning to replace that iMac instead of a rumoured new large-sized iMac. This just-discontinued model running on Intel's processor first debuted in August 2020, and it had the nano-texture anti-glare display option that the new Studio Display gets.

The iMac was first introduced in 1998, and the 27-inch model first came out in 2009. And as Apple Insider pointed out, it was the first post-Steve Jobs return product. It transitioned to the Intel processor in 2006 until it moved to the ARM-based Apple Silicon architecture in 2021. 

Apple's 21.5-inch iMac is discontinued

Apple

Apple has quietly gotten rid of its Intel-powered 21.5-inch iMac. This move comes around half a year after it introduced the M1 model. Apple has been selling a single dual-core option through a hard-to-find page, but it's nowhere to be found now.

Engadget noted that Apple has a history of keeping its legacy Macs around before silently discontinuing them. But this new move shows the company has confidence in its processors, and it looks like they want the market only to get that option for this size. You can still get a 27-inch iMac or a legacy Mac mini if you still aren't ready to use an Apple Silicon-powered computer.