iMac Update to Haswell Expected in June or July as Shipments Sink

KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has released a brief research note today highlighting the status of the iMac, which he says will see shipments fall to roughly 650,000 units this quarter from 1.75 million units in the first calendar quarter. The drop is due in part to seasonality and in part to a natural decline from the pent-up launch demand during the first quarter. Most importantly for potential iMac customers, Kuo believes an iMac update that will bring Intel's new Haswell processors to the line is coming in June or July.

We attribute the shipments decline to the fact that new product shipments have peaked and due to the arrival of the consumer slow season. But we believe iMac shipments troughed in 2Q13. Apple is expected to upgrade iMac processor to Intel’s (US) latest Haswell processor in June or July. Meanwhile, the consumer peak season has arrived. Thus we expect shipments to reach 1.1mn units in 3Q13, up 69% QoQ. Full-year shipments are forecast to be 4.7mn units, up 31% YoY.

Kuo has been relatively accurate with his predictions over the past several years, and thus his information is closely watched. Today's prediction does, however, mark a shift from a roadmap published by Kuo in January in which he estimated that updated iMacs would arrive around the beginning of the fourth quarter.

2012-imac-gallery2_GEO_GB
Despite the arrival of Kuo's note coming just before the keynote of Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference, there has been no evidence that the company is planning to launch the updated iMacs at the event. Given that Apple just redesigned the iMac late last year, it will very likely maintain that same design for the next generation, making it a relatively standard update that Apple could simply launch without holding a keynote or dedicated media event to announce it.

Just last month, a Wi-Fi card essentially identical in shape and connectivity to the card currently used in the iMac surfaced, with the new card supporting the faster 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard. Apple has been rumored to be bringing the standard to its Mac lineup this year, perhaps as soon as today with any hardware announcements it may make.

Related Roundup: iMac
Buyer's Guide: iMac (Caution)
Related Forum: iMac

Popular Stories

apple store down feature

Here's Why the Apple Store is Going Down

Thursday November 27, 2025 1:01 pm PST by
Apple's online store is going down for a few hours on a rolling country-by-country basis right now, but do not get your hopes up for new products. Apple takes its online store down for a few hours ahead of Black Friday every year to tease/prepare for its annual gift card offer with the purchase of select products. The store already went down and came back online in Australia and New Zealand, ...
iPhone Pocket Short

iPhone Pocket is Now Completely Sold Out Worldwide

Tuesday November 25, 2025 7:16 am PST by
Apple recently teamed up with Japanese fashion brand ISSEY MIYAKE to create the iPhone Pocket, a limited-edition knitted accessory designed to carry an iPhone. However, it is now completely sold out in all countries where it was released. iPhone Pocket became available to order on Apple's online store starting Friday, November 14, in the United States, France, China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, ...
New Intel Logo

Apple and Intel Rumored to Partner on Mac Chips Again in a New Way

Friday November 28, 2025 7:33 am PST by
While all Macs are now powered by Apple's custom-designed chips, a new rumor claims that Apple may rekindle its partnership with Intel, albeit in a new and limited way. Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today said Intel is expected to begin shipping Apple's lowest-end M-series chip as early as mid-2027. Kuo said Apple plans to utilize Intel's 18A process, which is the "earliest...
streaming black friday 2025

Best Black Friday Streaming Deals - Save Big on Apple TV, Disney+, Hulu, and More

Thursday November 27, 2025 1:14 pm PST by
We've been focusing on deals on physical products over the past few weeks, but Black Friday is also a great time of year to purchase a streaming membership. Some of the biggest services have great discounts for new and select returning members this week, including Apple TV, Disney+, Hulu, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When...
iphone air camera

iPhone Air Flop Sparks Industry Retreat From Ultra-Thin Phones

Thursday November 27, 2025 3:14 am PST by
Apple's disappointing iPhone Air sales are causing major Chinese mobile vendors to scrap or freeze their own ultra-thin phone projects, according to reports coming out of Asia. Since the ‌iPhone Air‌ launched in September, there have been reports of poor sales and manufacturing cuts, while Apple's supply chain has scaled back shipments and production. Apple supplier Foxconn has...
iphone black friday gold

The Best Black Friday iPhone Deals Still Available

Friday November 28, 2025 6:24 am PST by
Cellular carriers have always offered big savings on the newest iPhone models during the holidays, and Black Friday 2025 sales have kicked off at AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and more. Right now we're tracking notable offers on the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air. For even more savings, keep an eye on older models during the holiday shopping season. Note: MacRumors is...
Apple Foldable Thumb

Foldable iPhone to Debut These Three Breakthrough Features

Tuesday November 25, 2025 7:09 am PST by
Apple's first foldable iPhone is expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models in fall 2026, and it's shaping up to include three standout features that could set it apart from the competition. The book-style foldable will reportedly feature an industry-first 24-megapixel under-display camera built into the inner display, according to a recent JP Morgan equity research report. That...

Top Rated Comments

omenatarhuri Avatar
163 months ago
Who needs an optical drive? Well.... I do for sure. An all-in-one isn't complete without opitcal drive. As long as there isn't any alternative for files larger than 2 GB this machine is limp.

IMO
Try the internet? Or thumbdrive?

I wish my mbp didnt have one.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jafingi Avatar
163 months ago
I can't remember when I've used a CD/DVD last time.

- Apps are downloaded from the web and the App Store.
- I get my music from iTunes, Spotify or Beatport.
- Movies are streamed through Netflix and other VOD services.
- OSX is downloaded from the App Store.

I don't see anything that justifies an optical drive in a 2013 computer. Maybe it's just me being modern. But I really don't think many uses the optical drive anymore.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JPLC Avatar
163 months ago
Who needs an optical drive? Well.... I do for sure. An all-in-one isn't complete without opitcal drive. As long as there isn't any alternative for files larger than 2 GB this machine is limp.

IMO
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
spazzcat Avatar
163 months ago
Did you ever uploaded a file bigger than 2GB? Takes ages... And I can't ask my clients to download these kind of files.

For professional usage an optical drive is very much appreciated. For old back-ups, input from outside the "apple cloud", fast and cheap sharing of data and no external hardware and/or cables needed.

I understand the choise to leave teh floppy drive because of the alternatives those days. Right now, nothing beats a DVD for me.

Then you have to buy an external drive. What you don't realize is you are in the minority.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Lancer Avatar
163 months ago
Who needs an optical drive? Well.... I do for sure. An all-in-one isn't complete without opitcal drive. As long as there isn't any alternative for files larger than 2 GB this machine is limp.

IMO

Thumb Drive
HDD
External DVD

I wanted to rip a DVD the other day, all I did was share the DVD in a PC on the same network, 15 minutes later the 90 min movie was a 600Mb mp4 on my iMac.

If you really need a DVD all of the time just get an external one, you don't even have to buy it from Apple.

Smell the coffee Apple is NOT going to put DVD back in the 2013 iMac.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
printz Avatar
163 months ago

I don't see anything that justifies an optical drive in a 2013 computer. Maybe it's just me being modern. But I really don't think many uses the optical drive anymore.
Playing old games that require a CD inserted to run. And there's no way to rip the contents of the CD into an ISO, because the game still would refuse to run. And even for the ripping process I need a secondary computer or external optical drive… And finally, just for playing old games, buying a detachable peripheral would be too much.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)