Apple patent: Future iMac could get a carrying handle and dock

Moving an iMac is cumbersome – and for Apple itself, it becomes expensive when millions of them have to be packaged and shipped. A recently granted patent now reveals two ways this could be changed: a foldable stand that doubles as a handle, and a dock that holds half the computer.

The iMac is considered an elegant but bulky companion: large screen, thin casing, impractical portability. A newly granted Apple patent titled "Low profile computer support" addresses precisely this issue, outlining several approaches to improving portability. It joins a whole series of future ideas that also accompany the current rumors surrounding the upcoming iMac with the M5 processor – although there can be a world of difference between a patent and the final product.

Two ways to a more mobile desktop

The patent pursues two separate fundamental ideas. The first revolves around the stand: Instead of a rigid metal block, Apple describes a foldable stand with multiple joints that can be folded against the casing when needed. In this form, according to the patent, it could form a "carrying handle" that improves handling. Instead of the currently common fixed connection between the base and the back, the stand would pivot into the casing, revealing a recessed grip.

The second approach takes a different direction and separates the computer into two parts. The display and processing unit would no longer be permanently connected, but coupled via a slim electrical interface – similar to the Smart Connector used by the iPad.

The dock as the actual computer

In this second concept, a dock takes over the role currently played by the stand – but with significantly more functionality. Apple describes how such a dock could house components like the power supply, ports, speakers, cable management, or wireless charging pads. In the most extreme case, the entire processing unit would be located in the dock, while the display would serve only as a screen.

The practical advantage would lie in the packaging: If the computer and dock are separated, both parts could be similarly flat and stacked to save space – an approach familiar from flat-pack furniture. A storage area on the dock, as outlined in the patent, would also allow for wireless charging of multiple devices.

Why Apple is even researching this

Behind these ideas lies a real problem. The patent itself identifies the conflict of objectives: the drive for ever thinner devices with large displays has produced products that are difficult to move and inefficient to package and transport. For Apple, this is not just a matter of user convenience, but also of logistics – every bit of packaging height saved translates into significant savings across millions of shipped devices.

It is noteworthy that Apple avoids the word "iMac" throughout the patent in order to broaden the scope of protection. However, the accompanying drawings consistently depict an all-in-one computer that is exactly the same as this model.

From patent to product is a long way

Despite all the speculation, caution is advised: A granted patent primarily demonstrates Apple's research interest, not product planning. Furthermore, the current application is a continuation of filings dating back to 2019 – a sign of a long-term focus, not an imminent redesign. Among the inventors is Paul X Wang, an Apple engineer whose previous work involved dividing a MacBook Pro into individual modules. That Apple is seriously exploring modular and separable designs is also evident in a patent for a modularly upgradeable Vision Pro. Whether any of these concepts will ever find their way into a finished iMac remains to be seen. (Image: Shutterstock / Gabo_Arts)