Apple Discontinues iMac Pro Workstation: Get It While Supplies Last

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Apple cans all-in-one iMac Pro workstation

Apple
(Image credit: Apple)

Apple is about to discontinue its iMac Pro all-in-one workstation. The system is currently only available in the default configuration while supplies last, and no replacement is planned, at least for now. 

Apple confirmed that it is discontinuing the iMac Pro in an interview with MacRumours. The company said that no replacement for the iMac Pro was planned because for the vast majority of iMac Pro users the latest iMac 27-inch in its high-end configuration is the preferred choice, whereas customers who need serious performance and expandability could opt for the Mac Pro.  

The main idea behind the iMac Pro was to put in an Intel Xeon W processor with up to 18 cores along with a discrete AMD Radeon Pro Vega 64X graphics processor and up to 256GB of DDR4-2666 ECC memory into an all-in-one PC with a 27-inch 5K display. Apple launched the system in late 2017. Since Apple did not have a competitive desktop workstation in its fleet, it made a lot of sense for performance-demanding users who could plug in a larger monitor or two if they needed more screen real estate.

(Image credit: Apple)

After Apple released its Mac Pro workstation in late 2019, the appeal of the iMac Pro somewhat dropped as the full-blown desktop offers more performance with its Xeon W CPU with up to 28 cores, up to 1.5TB of DDR4-2933 memory, and up to two AMD Radeon Pro Vega II Duo MPX modules (4 GPUs in total). The Mac Pro also provides more expandability, as it can be equipped with the Apple Afterburner ProRes and ProRes RAW accelerator card or any other add-in-board supported by Apple's MacOS. 

Then Apple launched its latest iMac in mid-2020. The high-end version of the current iMac comes with a 27-inch 5K display, Intel's Core i7 processor with eight cores, up to 128GB of DDR4-2666 memory, and an up to Radeon Pro 5700 XT graphics processor. This system immediately made Apple discontinue the eight-core version of the iMac Pro. Still, even the 10-core iMac Pro model does not look too attractive at $4999 compared to a similarly configured iMac that costs over $1000 less.  

Right now, Apple is working on its next-generation iMac based on its own Apple Silicon SoC that is expected to beat the current iMac in terms of performance. Whether or not Apple will return to a concept of an all-in-one workstation is something that remains to be seen. 

Anton Shilov
Anton Shilov
Contributing Writer

Anton Shilov is a contributing writer at Tom’s Hardware. Over the past couple of decades, he has covered everything from CPUs and GPUs to supercomputers and from modern process technologies and latest fab tools to high-tech industry trends.

8 Comments Comment from the forums
  • MarsISwaiting
    Get what ? just buy it again ? That product is not only overprice , it uses slow CPU by today standards
    Reply
  • ginthegit
    All apple products are overpriced. They only operate well due to standardised hardware and that is it.
    Reply
  • Sippincider
    Come out with a stunning top-end product.
    Let it rot for years with minimal/zero changes.
    Discontinue it with no clear roadmap or successor.
    Wonder why you're not taken seriously in the the real pro market.
    Reply
  • crimsonfilms
    Sippincider said:
    Come out with a stunning top-end product.
    Let it rot for years with minimal/zero changes.
    Discontinue it with no clear roadmap or successor.
    Wonder why you're not taken seriously in the the real pro market.

    While I somewhat agree on the first 3, the 4 is way off - at least in the media and design market which they dominate.
    Reply
  • MarsISwaiting
    crimsonfilms said:
    While I somewhat agree on the first 3, the 4 is way off - at least in the media and design market which they dominate.

    Apple lost the design and 3D market long ago . Today they are just used for Video editing. and this is software related not hardware related . If some software house managed to make better software , no one would touch any MAC.
    Reply
  • crimsonfilms
    MarsISwaiting said:
    Apple lost the design and 3D market long ago . Today they are just used for Video editing. and this is software related not hardware related . If some software house managed to make better software , no one would touch any MAC.

    I work in media. Every company and design employee we deal with in the West Coast, Mid-West, East Coast, UK, and the rest of Europe are overwhelmingly Mac. And not only in the office but at home.

    Video editing? Both Adobe and Avid are available on both Mac and PC (and obviously FCPX in Mac only). All of these products are well supported on the Mac platform.

    You are correct with 3D, but that is no surprise. That started over almost 2 decades ago.
    Reply
  • jkflipflop98
    Yeah, but there's no real reason for it. It's not like Photoshop and Adobe work better on a MAC's Intel processor instead of a normal PC's Intel processor.
    Reply
  • funguseater
    crimsonfilms said:
    I work in media. Every company and design employee we deal with in the West Coast, Mid-West, East Coast, UK, and the rest of Europe are overwhelmingly Mac. And not only in the office but at home.

    The only reason for Apples strangle hold on media creation in Canada is that students are taught to use macs for media creation in Uni. They are NOT intrinsically easier to use or better for performance, it's almost cult-like here on the west coast.
    Reply