Apple Reportedly Developing High-End iMac with M5 Max Chip
Leaked internal software suggests Apple is testing a new iMac model equipped with the M5 Max chip, indicating potential plans for a high-performance desktop release.
Apple is reportedly developing a high-end iMac featuring the M5 Max chip, according to information from leaked internal software. The discovery originates from kernel debug kit files used by Apple engineers, which enumerate unreleased hardware through internal identifiers such as codenames and platform names. These files also include references mapping platform identifiers to chip codenames and marketing names.
The software contains references to an iMac with the identifier J833c running platform H17C. H17C is associated with the codename "Sotra C," which corresponds to the expected marketing name "M5 Max." This suggests that an iMac with the M5 Max chip is in active testing.
While some devices listed in the software are believed to be used exclusively for internal testing, such as iPad minis running tvOS and MacBooks with the A15 chip, the inclusion of the M5 Max iMac aligns with ongoing rumors about Apple reintroducing a high-end "Pro" iMac. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman previously indicated that Apple was still "working on a larger-screened iMac aimed at the professional market" following the launch of the Apple silicon iMac, a sentiment echoed by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
Beyond the iMac entry, the kernel debug kit outlines several additional future Mac configurations. It lists 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro variants with the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, a 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M6 chip, and 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with the M6 Pro and M6 Max chips. There are new 13- and 15-inch MacBook Air models with the M5 chip, Mac mini models with the M5 and M5 Pro chips, and new Mac Studio models with the M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips. The leak also lists a MacBook with the A18 Pro chip, which is widely believed to be an all-new, low-cost model.