iMac 2016 release date, specs rumors: Will the upcoming desktop be VR-ready?

Emmanuelle Espiritu Sunday, October 02, 2016

A man inspects an Apple iMac at an electronics store in Mumbai, India, July 23, 2015. | Reuters/Danish Siddiqui

Although barely hinted at in the past few months, an iMac 2016 update may just make a surprise appearance alongside the Macbook Pro 2016 this October.

With the hype about the iPhone 7 and Apple Watch series 2 finally dwindling following their release last September, rumors about the possible release of a new addition to Apple's all-in-one desktop line have begun picking up pace.

Apple's iMac lineup was last refreshed in October 2015, and according to Mobile & Apps this could mean that some major changes on the tech giant's flagship desktop may be afoot. However, there have also been reports that the iMac, if and when it does receive an update this year, may only see some minor improvements to its overall system.

Indeed, very little is known about the rumored iMac 2016 update, and contradicting reports can be expected. ENSTARS cited differing rumors about the upcoming desktop's processing unit. Some reports say that the iMac 2016 may be equipped with an Intel Kaby Lake chip, while others speculate that the iMac 2016 may come equipped with Advanced Micro Device's Zen central processing unit (CPU). Both rumors are possible, iMac enthusiasts claim, with Apple using the Intel Kaby Lake chip in entry level models of the iMac while reserving the more powerful AMD Zen for higher iMac variants.

Additionally, the iMac 2016 may feature an option for the newest AMD graphics cards. This speculation is based on a report by WCCF Tech earlier this year that AMD had won the contract to provide future Apple devices with its Polaris 10 and 11 graphics chips. If this rumor proves to be true, iMac 2016 may just be virtual reality (VR) ready. This could put the rumored desktop update at par with its competitors who have been gearing their devices up with VR technology.

If the rumored HD 5K display also pushes through, the iMac 2016 could easily become a hit among gamers and office professionals alike.

These rumors may or may not translate into reality when the iMac 2016 finally gets released. Fans should take these speculations with a grain of salt until Apple itself releases an official announcement regarding the iMac 2016.