Upcoming High-End iMac with M5 Max Chip Leaked from Internal Software
December 31, 2025
Apple appears to be developing a premium iMac model powered by the upcoming M5 Max chip, based on recent leakages from internal software used by Apple engineers.
This revelation comes from leaked kernel debug kit files that list unreleased Apple hardware by internal identifiers such as codenames and platform names. These files often include references that link platform identifiers to chip codenames and commercial marketing names. Over the past week, secondary summaries and screenshots referencing this internal code have circulated widely in the Chinese tech community on platforms like Weibo and BiliBili.
According to the software, an iMac with the identifier J833c running on platform H17C is associated with the codename "Sotra C," which is believed to correspond to the marketing name "M5 Max." This indicates that the high-end iMac with the M5 Max chip is currently in active testing stages.
The software also mentions various devices likely used for internal testing, such as iPad minis running tvOS and MacBooks equipped with the A15 chip. While this suggests the M5 Max iMac might currently be a test device, the presence of this leak hints at an impending product launch.
Industry insiders suggest that Apple plans to introduce the M5 Max-powered iMac next year. Rumors about a high-end "Pro" version of the iMac have persisted for several years, with Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo both indicating that Apple is working on a larger, professional-oriented iMac following the initial release of the Apple silicon iMac.
Beyond the iMac, the leaked internal files reveal plans for numerous future Mac configurations, including:
- 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro variants with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips
- 14-inch MacBook Pro with M6 chip
- 13- and 15-inch MacBook Air models with M5 chips
- Mac mini models with M5 and M5 Pro chips
- New Mac Studio models with M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips
- A MacBook featuring the A18 Pro chip, expected to be a lower-cost model
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