The iMac Retina 5K, the most powerful Mac available aside from the aging Mac Pro, isn’t likely to get a redesign this year, as that would work against Apple’s traditional tick-tock cycle of releasing brand new products every other year, which makes the MacBook Pro a much more likely candidate for a reboot which has been rumored for some time.
Still, sources cited by Apple World, do mention that “...a new iMac will launch in the last quarter of the year with either the latest Intel chipset, Kaby Lake, or AMD’s Zen processor, as well as AMD’s Polaris Graphics set...”.
The keyword here is “updated”. When it comes to Mac products, a distinction needs to be made between “updated/refreshed”, and “all-new”. With that said, this alleged update of the iMac Retina, according to Apple World will be something that gamers, may want to pay attention to, particularly in reference to the integration of AMD’s new Polaris GPUs, and Zen CPUs.
Apple has yet to provide a Mac with enough graphic capabilities to play Triple-A titles, except for the Mac Pro, which is the last Mac computer featuring a GPU architecture that is capable of high-performance computing. Also, Windows 10 gaming laptops and desktops currently make up for the majority of machines registered on the Steam gaming network.
A 4K or 5K iMac Retina powered by an 8-core AMD Zen CPU, as well as a Polaris GPU, is certainly an enticing prospective for Mac users, who would finally have an option other than a Windows 10 PC, to play premium titles like Doom, or Tom Clancy’s The Division, at full settings.
A 4K or a 5K iMac capable of such performance, would be a killer option for gamers, also due to the stunning display that comes with the machine. The iMac Retina is a formidable desktop, which includes built-in hardware that is almost built for single and multiplayer gaming, such as the integrated FaceTime HD camera, and dual beam-forming microphone, and high-quality stereo speakers, to which a Bluetooth subwoofer can be added for additional bass, by purchasing an external sub such as 12-South BassJump, or similar options.
As usual, the phrase “could be in the works” is an indication that these rumors, while they sound solid according to common sense, they may not ultimately reflect the reality of Apple’s own private designs.
The idea of an iMac Pro is an amazing concept, at least on paper, but also one that may very well be the spawn of frustration and yearn for Apple’s return to a high-performance computing philosophy that has been in limbo since the Power Mac.
Until we know more, the iMac Retina 4K/5K is still the better option for consumers who want a top-of-the-line Mac desktop, with the added bonus of being one of the few Mac products that allows to upgrade its memory.
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