There Won’t Be a New Mac Pro Until 2019

Apple power users have been left without a modern desktop computer for a long time now. The last update to Apple’s Mac Pro was way back in 2013, and five years later, they’ll have to keep on waiting. Apple confirms it’s looking at 2019 as the right time to launch a new Mac Pro. When it does arrive, the new Mac Pro will likely be a totally different product.

There are a few reasons Apple is taking its time with the updated Mac Pro. For one, most Apple customers, even those using systems for business, are perfectly happy to buy a MacBook Pro. There are any number of fancy docking stations that provide a desktop-like experience without sacrificing mobility. And then there’s the iMac Pro, which just launched several months ago. This system has significant crossover with likely Mac Pro buyers, but Apple is being unusually transparent with the timing here. By offering a general timeline, some buyers might decide to hold out for the revamped Pro next year.

Perhaps the single most significant reason the Mac Pro refresh is taking so long is that Apple is starting from scratch. Apple designed the last Mac Pro with a custom enclosure that quite frankly looked like a trashcan. It’s not the trashcan vibe that led Apple to take a ground-up approach — it’s the custom part. The components were packed so tightly that the chassis wouldn’t work with newer generations of hardware. Faced with a complete redesign, Apple has opted for something more future-proof. Well, as future-proof as a computer can be.

To make the Mac Pro refresh happen on time, Apple has set up a new internal team called the Pro Workflow Team. This unit is tasked with coordinating hardware and software efforts for its Pro line of devices. For example, professional users will demand excellent Final Cut Pro performance on the new Mac Pro. Thus, the Pro Workflow Team works with the Final Cut team and Mac hardware team to make sure that happens. The Pro Workflow Team also communicates with pro consumers and community members using Macs in industries like film and design.

Whenever the new Mac Pro arrives, it’ll inevitably be a very nice, very expensive computer. The iMac Pro already costs $5,000 with an integrated 5k display. The current trashcan Mac Pro starts at $3,000. It wouldn’t be surprising if the new Mac Pro ends up more expensive. Start saving up for this one now.