Apple Developing High-End iMac With M5 Max Chip [Leak]

Apple is testing an iMac configuration built around its upcoming M5 Max chip, according to leaked internal files obtained by MacRumors. If it ships, it would mark Apple's first truly high-end all-in-one since the iMac Pro was discontinued.



The report points to kernel debug kit files used by Apple engineers. These files list unreleased hardware by internal identifiers, including platform names and codenames, and can also include mappings that connect platform IDs to chip codenames and marketing names. MacRumors notes that separate summaries and screenshots tied to the same internal code have also circulated in the Chinese tech community over the past week, including posts on Weibo and BiliBili.


In the leaked data, an iMac with the identifier J833c appears alongside platform H17C. That platform is associated with the codename "Sotra C," which corresponds to the expected marketing name "M5 Max." In other words, Apple appears to be running an iMac build on pro-level silicon during active testing.

That said, the files also reference devices that seem intended purely for internal validation, such as iPad minis running tvOS and MacBooks with an A15 chip. So there's a chance this M5 Max iMac entry reflects a test platform rather than a product headed for stores. Still, the M5 Max is expected to arrive next year, and rumors about a higher-end iMac aimed at pros have been circulating for years. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has said Apple was still working on a larger-screen iMac for the professional market after the first Apple silicon iMac launched, and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has also pointed to a pro-focused iMac returning.

Beyond the iMac entry, the kernel debug kit lays out several additional future Mac configurations. It lists 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro variants with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, plus a 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M6 chip, and 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M6 Pro and M6 Max chips. The files also point to new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models with M5, Mac mini models with M5 and M5 Pro, and new Mac Studio variants with M5 Max and M5 Ultra. Finally, it includes a MacBook with an A18 Pro chip, which is widely believed to be a new low-cost model.

Please download the iClarified app or follow iClarified on X, Facebook, YouTube, and RSS for more Mac updates.