iMac 2021 may be coming sooner than you think. when Apple discontinues a product, it's a sign of one of two things: either that product is no longer popular and headed for the scrap heap, or the company realizes it's time for a refresh and will stop building inventory in preparation for the next version.

In the case of the iMac, option 2 seems more likely, and MacRumors found that Apple has reduced the number of configurations available for the 21.5-inch version. The hardware 512GB and 1TB SSD configurations will no longer be available, leaving buyers with the less attractive option of a 256GB SSD or 1TB Fusion Drive SSD/HDD hybrid.

The 21.5-inch iMac is getting a bit old, given that it was last refreshed in 2019, but remains a popular line. The original HomePod was cut when the HomePod mini proved more popular, and the iMac Pro eventually reached the end of its life span as it was caught between two markets, but it would be surprising if the 21.5-inch iMac is not replaced, and sooner rather than later. [Inspired by the Apple Pro Display XDR, we expect a bold new look with a flatter back, fewer borders, and the removal of the metal jaws. If that seems a bit austere for your taste, there are rumors that Apple will offer the hardware in more playful color variations, a throwback to the colorful iMac G3 series.

Of course, the expected change is not only in the skin; the real star of the show will be the switch from Intel processors to the company's own Apple Silicon. The Apple M1 chip in the recent MacBook Pro M1, MacBook Air M1, and Mac mini M1i hardware impressed reviewers greatly with its performance and low power consumption.

Just last week, a crash report generated by DaftCloud pointed to the existence of ARM-based iMacs, so it appears that several hardware configurations are currently being tested. Bloomberg reported in December that Apple is testing a chip design with "as many as 32 high-performance cores" to accommodate all performance requirements.

The 21.5-inch iMac is an entry-level Apple desktop and priced accordingly, so it is possible that the new version will feature something less ambitious. However, Apple seems to be scaling back production of the current iMac model, so hopefully we'll know for sure soon.