Stunning iMac concept is the refresh we want for 2020

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Next-gen iMac design
Hello again, circa 2020.
Photo: Kevin Kal/Hacker 34

Apple hasn’t changed the physical design of its regular iMac in years — but that’s not enough to stop Apple fans dreaming up drool-inducing concepts.

The latest is from Kevin Kal, a 20-year-old engineering student in Paris, France. (Who, by my count, would have been in middle school the last time Apple changed up the iMac design.) His concept for the iMac boasts a slimmer bezel and chin, Face ID camera, and a next-gen trackpad that also charges your iPhone. Check it out below.

“I was inspired by the Pro Display XDR‘s minimalistic design,” Kal tells Cult of Mac, referring to the cheese grater-esque grill on the back of the device. “I really love this design. Not only [does] it look great, but from an engineering perspective its vent holes are useful for cooling. The minimal bezel feels futuristic compared to the [current] iMac design.”

Hello again… again

Kal imagines his “uncompromised Mac” as having a larger, 23- or 28-inch 5K display, offering up to 600 nits brightness. Internally, there’s a 10th-gen Intel Core i9 and Radeon Pro Vega 56 processor and GPU, 64GB DDR4 RAM, and 4TB NVMe SSD for blinding fast speeds. There’s also a 1080P TrueDepth camera for Face ID and Animoji.

iMac new gen concept
Do some work, grate some cheese. Repeat.
Photo: Kevin Kal/Hacker 34

Of course, a lot of this is just wishful thinking. But Kal notes that his concept is rooted in some degree of reality. For instance, the concept imagines a Magic Trackpad 3 with wireless charging and Apple Pencil support. He says that this was patented by Apple just last month, suggesting that someone in Cupertino is not thinking all that different than he is.

“The actual iMac feels a little outdated if you put this one against it,” Kal said. “[Apple’s current] design is nearly eight years old. I think it really needs to change, to be more consistent with other Apple products like the Pro Display XDR, Mac Pro, MacBook Pro, and even the iPad Pro — with the minimal bezel and sharp edges. If we look at the iPhone 12 rumors, its design is also going the same way.”

Would you put down your hard-earned money for this iMac? What changes would you like to see Apple make to its Macs? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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