iMac 2017 release date, specs news: Will Apple use the Xeon or the Kaby Lake?
Apple hasn't even announced the new iMac yet, but some reports are saying it may be the best thing since sliced bread. So, when will it come out? The company hasn't mentioned the desktop computer in its events this year. And since the year is about to end, sources believe Apple will unveil it in one of the company's press events next year.
Apple has yet to reveal anything regarding the iMac 2017, but reports say the desktop computer is going to be equipped with Intel's seventh-generation core processor — the Kaby Lake. It is rumored that Apple intentionally delayed the new iMac so it can put the latest processor on the device. Industry insiders believe Intel may unveil the Kaby Lake at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) trade show in Las Vegas on Jan. 5 to 8.
Sources also say Apple is considering using Intel's 10-core Xeon E7 processor. This chip is used in high-end workstations and servers, so it will be interesting to see if the company really decides to equip this on the new iMac. The price tag for a unit may surprise some buyers.
Aside from the processor, the iMac 2017 will allegedly feature an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) touch bar, USB Type-C Thunderbolt 3 ports and a virtual reality-ready graphics card from AMD. It is rumored that the card will be Polaris-based, so it should be one of the Radeon 400 series graphics cards.
Reports note that the model with the 27-inch display will support 5K Retina display, while the 21.5-inch model will feature 4K Retina display. The smaller model will supposedly use a graphics card based on Broadwell microarchitecture.
Right now, readers are advised to take everything with a grain of salt since Apple has yet to reveal that it is indeed working on a new iMac. Until a confirmation is made, all reports concerning the desktop computer should be considered as rumors.
