YP101

I don't think Apple update 24' iMac with M3 at this point. With same price level M2 is more logical choice.
if Apple release M3 for 24' iMac then price increase is coming.
I think Apple will update 24' iMac with M2 and then end of 2024 27' or 32' iMac with M3 & M3 Pro.

24' iMac always get base M2 only. 27' or 32' iMac will get either base M3 or M3 Pro as Mac mini current spec bump.

If 27' or 32' iMac case design adapt from Pro XDR than M3 Max is possible. The iMac screen will be always 4K or 5K only.
Forget about 6K. Unless you want to pay more than $7000 or more.

If 27' IMac with 5K display + M3 Pro will be ended up around $2999. If M3 Max then $3999. 
If Apple lunch 32' 5K iMac than starting $3999 at least.

I think Apple will introduce stepping release of M CPU for Pro and none Pro model like iPhone and iPhone Pro did.
Mac mini, iMac, Air will always get 1 level lower than Pro model. Such as Pro notebook and mac Studio will get M3 first 2024.
2025 will release M3 for none Pro models and 2026 M4 will release for Pro models.

As we already see intel 14th gen CPU harder better then 13th gen. it will happen to M series CPU as well.
So why bother update every year for M3, M4? 
It will be tick tock. 2024 M3 and Me Pro, 2025 M3 Max and Ultra, 2026 M4, M4 Pro, 2027 M4 Max & Ultra. 
So Apple R&D will have 2-3 years term to develop.

Well, Apple just buy Nintendo will solve the problem. Nintendo gets M1 CPU will resolve the current hardware limitation.
Apple will receive all retro games on Apple TV.

I think Apple should drop some model and rethink how to deploy the M chip interval.

Apple should delete old 13' Pro and only make 14' & 16' for Pro model.
Air should keep 13' & 15'.  So don't give consumer to choice dilemma based on screen size. 
Entire notebook line is 13', 14', 15' 16'. 
The Pro model should have always newer M chip like iPhone Pro and none pro. 
So Air always get previous M chip. The M2 chip currently good enough to skip upgrade. The Pro model get M3, M3 pro & max.
When M4 release, the Air should get M3.

In that way, Apple get little less chip shortage apply through entire mac line up and Apple can drop some price from Air model.

Well, if you don't play game and don't take lots of picture or video then 128GB storage is enough.
I am currently using iPhone 15 Pro with 128GB storage and still have more than 50% free space. If I am moving all pictures, then it should free up to 80%.
Question is how long Apple can charge storage and RAM price as much as 3-4 times higher than normal market price.

I don't think Apple will kill 128GB base line soon, so only choice is reducing price to upgrade but if that happen most people buy higher capacity.
If that so then why bother. Just kill base 128GB and move on to 256GB as new base.

According to wiki, iPhone storage upgrade from 32 to 64 at XR, and then 13 to 128 as base. So Around 4 years term Apple upgrade base storage.
So, I guess iPhone 17 or 18 will be 256 as base. At least Pro line up bump up first.

I am not sure about iPhone X mentioned on other comment.
Far as I remember when iPhone X introduced, there was no Pro line up. And iPhone X price started $999.
After that XS and XS MAX which ended up the Pro line up.

Far as I can see price tag $ amount did not changed much. The Value of dollar changed.
Also other countries price hiked but not in USA this year.

I think Apple maybe up $50 and titanium case model $150 or Pro Max maybe only model price hike.
If Apple hike price for entire Pro line up for more than $100 then they should start at 256GB not 128GB and ditch 128GB.

Thanks Mark. More reason to use iOS device.

I wonder how that fix went through inhouse QA testing?

shamino said:

YP101 said:

I don't think user upgradeable for storage anyway. This was same for Mac Studio.
Apple coded each storage for specific unit so user can't upgrade. Unless Apple change the way.

Except that, as the hacker community discovered, if you use new (that is, never-been-written) flash chips, you can use Apple's Configurator 2 utility to initialize them and install macOS.  This will set up the cryptographic pairing.  You can't wipe used flash modules (e.g. to move storage from one Mac to another), but it does means that upgrades are possible.

So far, we've just seen some people making bare circuit boards and you need the microsoldering skills necessary to attach new flash chips to those boards, but I think it's just a matter of time before someone starts selling boards with chips pre-installed.  So even if end-user upgrades won't be practical, I think we will soon see independent repair shops that can do it.

Well, so far even OWC not selling mac studio storage unit. So it does not matter hacker group somehow pull that off or not.
Where are you going to buy new unused storage unit from? China?
Unless general consumer able to purchase the replacement parts from reputable retailer and install mac os on it, it does not mean much. It just possible. 

After Apple start solder all their components, it reminds me as all Apple products has Apple timer. Like Sony timer. 
Anyway, I'm already planed all my Apple product replace within 2-3 years with Apple trade in. There is no reason hold aged product anymore.
2-3 years new cpu perform better and faster with update ports. 
I checked my M1 mini with 8GB ram and 512GB trade in value is $300. I am going to buy it around black Friday sales.

I don't think user upgradeable for storage anyway. This was same for Mac Studio.
Apple coded each storage for specific unit so user can't upgrade. Unless Apple change the way.
This is just for Apple service purpose. They realize replace storage unit is cheaper than replace mother board within warranty period and for the trade in unit.
Simply replace storage unit and reinstall os to sell higher price.