Apple discontinued the 8-core model on August 4, 2020, making the 10-core model upgrade option the base model. Configuration options for 256 GB of memory and a Vega 64X GPU were added on March 19, 2019.

The Mac Pro received minor updates after release. The configurations included an 8-, 10-, 14-, or 18-core Intel Xeon processor, 5K display, AMD Vega graphics, ECC memory, and 10 Gigabit Ethernet. Apple billed it as 'the most powerful Mac ever made'. The iMac Pro was introduced at WWDC on June 5, 2017, and was released in December 2017. It theoretically can be replaced as it is possible to remove it, although doing so requires an extensive disassembly, and only some drives are compatible. This results in a non-user-replaceable solid state drive as the SSD modules are paired cryptographically with the T2 chip, even though the SSD is not soldered on the motherboard like many MacBook models. The iMac Pro was the first Mac equipped with Apple's T2 chip, a custom Apple coprocessor. Unlike the 27-inch iMac, the iMac Pro does not have a memory access hatch memory upgrades require disassembling the display. The processor, memory, and storage are not soldered and can be removed. Internally, the machine was completely reconfigured. The mount uses zinc screws that may be prone to breaking. The iMac Pro's stand was user-replaceable with a licensed OEM VESA mount kit sold by Apple. The iMac Pro also has more connectivity options than the iMac, with four Thunderbolt 3 ports, two USB-A ports, a headphone jack, ethernet port, and SDXC card slot. The iMac Pro's chassis is the same as the 27-inch iMac it was sold alongside, but comes in a darker 'space gray' finish, with the Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad accessories color-matched. As part of the announcement, a new monitor and Mac Pro were announced, but would not arrive that year instead, Apple referenced new iMacs to fill the gap.

In April 2017, Apple convened a roundtable of journalists and executives to restate their commitment to professional Macs.

The machine languished for years without any updates, and Apple later admitted that its small design and focus on dual graphics-processing unit had been a mistake. In 2013, Apple replaced its tower Mac Pro workstation with a radically-redesigned model.

While it was sold, it was one of four desktop computers in the Macintosh lineup, sitting above the consumer range Mac Mini and iMac, and serving as an all-in-one alternative to the Mac Pro. The iMac Pro is an all-in-one personal computer and workstation designed, manufactured, and sold by Apple Inc.

Imac pro 2017 vesa mount