The long-awaited refresh of the Apple iMac line could finally arrive in 2017 if rumors running rampant online are anything to go by. iMac fans have been restlessly waiting for Apple to refresh their lauded line of all-in-one desktop computers.

However, the Cupertino-based tech giant turned a deaf ear to their requests. If recently surfaced reports are anything to go by, that's about to change soon. Apple iMac featuring Retina-screen and powered by Intel's Skylake processors was launched back in 2015.

Since then, the company seems to have totally neglected the line. Now, with Intel releasing its new Kaby Lake series of processors, some optimistic tech pundits believe a 2017 refresh of the iMac equipped with the said chip could be in the offing.

With Microsoft's new Surface Studio loaded with cutting-edge hardware hitting the stores, Apple is reportedly hard at works on what could be the company's answer to Microsoft's newfangled device. Notably, Apple chief executive Tim Cook brought up iMac while explaining what people can expect from Mac desktop down the line, MacWorld reported.

Tim Cook confirmed that Apple has great desktops in its roadmap while responding in a post on the company's Employee Discussion Board. He urged iMac fanatics not to have qualms about that. As Fortune reports, this could be a clear indication that a 2017 refresh of the iMac is just around the corner.

iMac 2017 Release Date

Apple usually takes the wraps off its new Mac PCs during the fall season, but much to the dismay of iMac fans, that did not come to fruition last year despite a Mac-focused event taking place in Oct. 2016. However, Apple unveiled a new MacBook Pro sporting a touch bar.

According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the long-awaited iMac refresh could be released in first half of 2017. Meanwhile, other reports allude to a March release date for the iMac 2017.

iMac 2017 Specs

The refreshed iMacs are likely to boast Intel's newly-launched Kaby Lake processors, which are built on a 14nm manufacturing process. Aside from that, the new processors support USB 3.1, ThunderBolt 3 and DisplayPort 1.2.

Furthermore, the 2017 iMac is likely to pack one of the best mainstream processor, the Core i7-7700K. Also, Apple is expected to use the AMD Polaris graphics chips for the iMac 2017. It is also believed that the new iMac could feature Intel's Iris Pro 6200 which comes paired with Kaby Lake processor.

But that's not all; the next generation iMacs are likely to boast VR compatibility, a feature missing on the current Macs. In addition, the purported iMac refresh could feature flash storage making the device much faster as no mechanical parts are involved.

More details are likely to surface online as the rumored release date for the iMac 2017 draws near. Stay tuned for more updates.