2026 iMac may arrive with new colour options, bring chip upgrade

Apple could soon refresh the iMac with a new range of colour options. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the upcoming update to Apple’s all-in-one desktop may introduce a revised colour palette. Apart from visual changes, the next iMac is also expected to bring internal upgrades.

Next iMac refresh to arrive in new shades

Gurman suggests that the next iMac model will feature updated colour choices, marking the first major refresh to the colour palette in several years. Apple introduced the current design with the M1 iMac in 2021, offering a distinctive set of bright colours that made the machine visually different from previous generations.

The design uses a two-tone approach, where the back of the iMac and the stand appear in a deeper shade, while the front chin below the display carries a lighter version of the same colour. Apple kept the display bezel white across all variants to maintain a cleaner look while using the screen.

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When the M1 model debuted, the iMac was available in seven colours including blue, green, pink, yellow, orange, purple and silver. Apple retained the same options when the M3 iMac launched in 2023, although the tones were adjusted slightly during the M4 refresh in 2024. Those revisions made some colours appear more saturated or vibrant while still keeping the original palette.

Launch timeline and expected hardware upgrades

The upcoming iMac refresh is likely to arrive after Apple updates the Mac Studio models, which Gurman believes could appear around the middle of 2026. This means the consumer-focused Mac mini and the 24-inch iMac may launch later in the year, possibly during Apple’s usual September to October release window.

Silicon processor. Reports suggest that the next iMac could move to the M5 chip, while the Mac mini may receive both M5 and M5 Pro variants. A report from December last year claimed that an iMac Pro with M5 Max could also be in the works. The Mac mini itself is not expected to change visually and may retain the same design as the current generation.

While Gurman did not specify which colours Apple plans to introduce, the refreshed palette may either include entirely new shades or revised versions of the existing options. Either way, the change could give Apple’s colourful desktop lineup a fresh visual update for the first time in years.

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Are you looking for the 2026 iMac? Do share your thoughts in the comments below.