iMac 2017 release date, news & update: Next iMac may be the perfect gamer's desktop

Emmanuelle Espiritu Tuesday, November 01, 2016

A sales assistant shows features of iOS 9 on an Apple iMac at an Apple reseller shop in Bangkok September 18, 2015. | Reuters/Chaiwat Subprasom

Since no new iMac was announced at any Apple event held this year, the Mac desktops may be looking at an early 2017 release instead. The delay may also lead to more high-end features such as the highly anticipated Kaby Lake processors, as well as Thunderbolt 3 support and virtual reality (VR) capabilities.

Rumors about the iMac 2017 possibly sporting Intel's 7th generation processor were reportedly fueled by the accidental listing of a Kaby Lake-powered iMac on a U.S.-based retailer's site. The ad has since been taken down, but speculations about this possible feature have already been doing the rounds prior to the reported slip-up.

If Apple does manage to squeeze in a Kaby Lake processor into its next iMac update, it could make the tech company's flagship personal computers more able to decode Ultra HD videos without causing too much heat on the machine. The processor also provides support for Thunderbolt 3, USB 3.1, as well as DisplayPort 1.2, and can Turbo Boost to higher speeds for longer amounts of time.

On the other hand, Thunderbolt 3, which is also dubbed the "USB-C that does it all," brings Thunderbolt compatibility to USB-C with speeds of up to 40 Gbps. It is a single compact port that can deliver quick and versatile connections to any dock, display, or data device. This feature may enable the iMac 2017 to transfer or migrate files faster as well as provide quicker access to data storage.

Further speculations about the iMac 2017 are building it up as the perfect desktop for gamers with its rumored VR capabilities coupled with the latest Polaris AMD chipsets. If the iMac 2017 does end up being powered by a Polaris graphics chip, this may mean that the Mac desktop may operate at improved speed levels and provide high-end resolutions without increasing the computer's power consumption.

The iMac has not had a major upgrade for some time, and fans believe that the first quarter of 2017 may finally see some significant changes in Apple's flagship computers.

But these will all remain rumors and speculations until Apple itself releases an official statement regarding an iMac 2017 release.