iMac Pro Features Apple's Custom T2 Chip With Secure Boot Capabilities

Apple today confirmed the iMac Pro is equipped with its custom T2 chip for enhanced security and integration. The chip is second-generation silicon, building upon the T1 chip in the latest MacBook Pro with the Touch Bar that authenticates and secures Touch ID and Apple Pay respectively.

imac pro rear
The T2 chip integrates several previously separate components, including the system management controller, image signal processor, audio controller, and SSD controller, for expanded capabilities on the iMac Pro.

For instance, Apple says the T2 chip's image signal processor works with the FaceTime HD camera to enable enhanced tone mapping, improved exposure control, and face detection-based auto exposure and auto white balance.

The T2 chip also has a Secure Enclave coprocessor that makes the iMac Pro even more secure with new encrypted storage and secure boot capabilities.

The data on your SSD is encrypted using dedicated AES hardware with no effect on the SSD's performance, while keeping the Intel Xeon processor free for your compute tasks. And secure boot ensures that the lowest levels of software aren't tampered with and that only operating system software trusted by Apple loads at startup.

Cabel Sasser, co-founder of software company Panic, recently shared a few screenshots of the Startup Security Utility powered by the T2 chip.

The settings reveal that users can enable a firmware password to prevent the iMac Pro from starting up from a different hard disk, CD, or DVD without the password. There are also three secure boot options and options to allow or disallow booting from external media devices such as USB and Thunderbolt drives.

"Full security" ensures that only the latest and most secure software can be run. Apple says this mode requires a network connection at the time of software installation. "Medium security" requires verifiable software to boot, but not the latest software, and "no security" lets the operating system boot freely.

iMac Pro became available to order today with 8- to 18-core configurations ranging in price from $4,999 to $13,199 in the United States. 14-core and 18-core models don't ship for an estimated 6-8 weeks.

Tag: T2 chip
Related Forum: iMac

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Top Rated Comments

nikosl7 Avatar
95 months ago
username: root
pass:<leave empty>

There you go. You are now in.
Score: 33 Votes (Like | Disagree)
guzhogi Avatar
95 months ago
wait so isn't T1 in the new MacBook pro ?
Yes, the MBP has a T1. The iMac Pro has a T2. And the T101 will go back in time to kill Sarah Connor. Sorry, couldn't resist.
Score: 30 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Bryan Bowler Avatar
95 months ago
Why in the world would anyone buy one of these?
You obviously don’t need one and it’s a secret as to why a lot of folks need one, so I can’t tell you.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BMcCoy Avatar
95 months ago
I wonder if they considered sticking in a FaceID camera?

Presumably they'll show up on all Apple devices over the next couple of years..?
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Zarniwoop Avatar
95 months ago
Sunset for Hackintosh era has started.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
guzhogi Avatar
95 months ago
Yes, the MBP has a T1. The iMac Pro has a T2. And the T800 will go back in time to kill Sarah Connor. Sorry, couldn't resist.
I just remembered: Apple also has a patent for Liquid Metal. OMG! Apple's SkyNet!
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)