Is the Apple iMac 5K Dead as a Product Line?

Consult with Lloyd on your computer or photographic purchase, backup strategy, archival and storage strategy, etc.

With the recent announcement of the Apple Mac Studio and its logical pairing the Apple Studio Display 5K, certain sources are quoting statements by Apple that while not explicitly so, in effect strongly suggest the the iMac 5K is a goner (“end of life” or EOL is the term).

See the MPG Mac wishlist and related ports and storage.

The iMac 5K is surely the best Mac design of all time, and I rely on my 2019 iMac 5K for travel, so I find the of it EOL'ing a bit distressing. I would dearly love to have the M1 Ultra chip in an iMac 5K form factor.

An Apple Mac Studio + separate display is a huge upcharge: until recently you could purchase an about $1500 iMac 5K. To get the absolute minimum rough equivalent with a Mac Studio, it’s about $1599 for the Apple 5K display plus another $1999 for the entry-level Mac Studio = $3600! That’s $2000 more than the entry-level iMac 5K!

Given those numbers, it is hard to believe that Apple will be end-of-lifing the iMac 5K. But perhaps we cannot rule out Apple insisting that it’s either an iMac 4K or a Mac Studio. We’ll have to see how it sorts out.

There are still brand-new iMac 5K for sale at B&H Photo for now, and you can buy refurbished ones over at OWC.

CLICK TO VIEW: Apple Studio Mac and Displays