The iMac has been Apple's most colorful Mac since 2021 – and in 2026 it will not only receive a new chip, but also a new color palette. The M5 update is expected to be released in the second half of the year and will bring more performance while maintaining the same design. There are also rumors of a possible comeback of the iMac Pro with a larger display.
The 24-inch iMac is Apple's all-in-one solution for those who appreciate a clutter-free desk and a straightforward setup. Display, speakers, camera, keyboard, and mouse – all in one device. In our Mac buying guide: Mac mini vs. Mac Studio vs. iMac, we've compared the iMac to the other desktop Macs.
The last update arrived in October 2024 with the M4 chip. Since then, Apple has already introduced the M5 in several MacBooks and the iPad Pro. The iMac is the next logical candidate. At the same time, code discoveries point to a possible iMac with the M5 Max – which could mean the return of an iMac Pro. Below, we summarize all the known rumors.
The most important points in brief
| Detail | Expectation |
|---|---|
| Chip | M5 (definitely), possibly M5 Max (iMac Pro) |
| Release | Second half of 2026, after Mac Studio and Mac mini |
| Design | Same 24-inch chassis, but new colors |
| Starting price | Expected to start from €1,499 |
| Highlight | New color palette confirmed by Mark Gurman |
Design: New colors, same shape
The 24-inch iMac design dates back to 2021 and is still considered modern. The 11.5 mm thin chassis with color-matched stand, keyboard, and mouse is retained in the M5 update.
The most exciting change concerns the colors. Mark Gurman reports that the M5 iMac will receive a "refreshed color palette." Exactly which colors will be available is still unclear. Currently, there are seven options: blue, purple, pink, orange, yellow, green, and silver. With the M4 update in October 2024, the shades were already slightly adjusted - green became lighter, pink more vibrant, and yellow softer. Apple could introduce bolder colors for the M5, possibly inspired by the successful MacBook Neo.
The display size remains unchanged: 24 inches with 4.5K Retina resolution, 500 nits brightness, and P3 color gamut. OLED is not expected until 2027 or later.
Chip: M5 – and maybe M5 Max
M5 in the standard iMac
The 24-inch iMac will be equipped with the M5 chip – the same chip already used in the MacBook Air M5 and the 14-inch MacBook Pro. The improvements over the M4 are:
- Up to 15% faster CPU performance with the %
- Up to 45% faster GPU performance (%)
- Four times the AI performance thanks to Neural Accelerator in every GPU core
- 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
For the iMac, this means: noticeably more power for photo and video editing, smoother work with multiple apps, and significantly better performance for Apple Intelligence features.
iMac Pro with M5 Max?
The codename "H17C" was discovered in Apple's kernel debug files – the processor identified as the M5 Max, used in an iMac case. This suggests that Apple is testing at least one iMac with the M5 Max.
Whether this will become a product is uncertain. Apple internally tests many configurations that never reach the market. Since the discontinuation of the 2021 iMac Pro and the 2022 27-inch iMac, a large all-in-one Mac has been missing. Apple is instead directing professional users to the Mac Studio in combination with the Studio Display.
Should Apple bring back an iMac Pro, a larger display (30 to 32 inches), Mini-LED technology, and the M5 Pro or M5 Max would be conceivable. The price would likely start at a minimum of €2,000.
RAM and Storage Space
The standard iMac with M5 is expected to have the same configurations as the M4 model:
- Entry-level model (8-core GPU): 16 GB, configurable to 24 GB, max. 1 TB SSD
- Standard model (10-core GPU): 16 GB, configurable to 24 GB or 32 GB, max. 2 TB SSD
Doubling the base storage to 512 GB – as has happened with the current MacBooks – would be possible, but could increase the starting price.
Connectivity
The current iMac uses Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. The M5 update is expected to include Apple's N1 chip, which brings Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. Since the N1 chip is already used in the MacBook Air M5, an upgrade for the iMac seems likely.
It remains to be seen what will happen with the Thunderbolt ports: The entry-level model currently has two Thunderbolt 4 ports, while the more expensive model has four. Whether Apple will upgrade to Thunderbolt 5 is unclear – the MacBook Pro with the base M5 processor retained Thunderbolt 4.
Release: When will the new iMac be released?
According to Mark Gurman, the iMac will be released after the Mac Studio and the Mac mini. Since both are expected in mid-2026, the second half of the year – probably September or October – is the most plausible timeframe for the iMac.
This fits the historical pattern: The M4 iMac arrived in October 2024, the M1 iMac in April 2021. Apple has also skipped chip generations in the past with the iMac (there was no M3 iMac), but with the M5, everything points to an update.
Price: Will the iMac remain affordable?
The current 24-inch iMac starts at €1,499 (entry-level model with an 8-core GPU) and goes up to €3,249 in the highest configuration. Apple is likely to maintain this pricing structure – unless the base memory doubles, which could lead to a slight price adjustment.
A potential iMac Pro with M5 Max would cost significantly more – estimated at €2,000 to €2,500.
iMac: Who should wait?
The iMac with M5 is ideal for anyone looking for a straightforward all-in-one Mac: office work, photo editing, creative projects, streaming, and homeschooling. The new colors also make the upgrade visually appealing.
Those who currently own an M4 iMac will hardly notice the performance difference in everyday use. However, for users of an M1 or older Intel iMac, waiting for the M5 is well worth it – the performance leap is significant.
Professional users hoping for a large all-in-one should keep an eye on the rumors surrounding an iMac Pro. Whether it will actually be released, however, is still uncertain. The Mac Studio with Studio Display remains the reliable alternative. The best products for you: Our Amazon storefront offers a wide selection of accessories, including those compatible with HomeKit. (Image: Apple)
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