Along with its new Macbook Air, Apple has unveiled the latest iteration of its Mac Studio. This beast is now powered by the M4 Max and the all-new M3 Ultra chips. Designed for professionals in video editing, software development, engineering, and digital art, the new Mac Studio delivers unprecedented speed and efficiency.
Performance Boost: M4 Max and M3 Ultra Take Center Stage
The original Mac Studio debuted in 2022 with the M1 Max and M1 Ultra. This latest update brings significant improvements across the board.
- M4 Max Chip: The new entry-level Mac Studio now features the M4 Max, configurable with a 14-core or 16-core CPU, a 32-core or 40-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine. It includes 36GB of unified memory (expandable up to 128GB) with a memory bandwidth of 546GB/s. Storage starts at 512GB and maxes out at 8TB.
- M3 Ultra Chip: For those demanding extreme power, the M3 Ultra delivers a 28-core or 32-core CPU, a 60-core or 80-core GPU, and a 32-core Neural Engine. Unified memory starts at 36GB (instead of 32GB on previous models) and can be configured up to a staggering 512GB with an 800GB/s bandwidth. Storage options now go up to 16TB.
Apple claims that the M3 Ultra version achieves 1.8x faster CPU performance and 2.6x faster GPU rendering compared to the M1 Ultra. It can even run large language models (LLMs) with over 600 billion parameters directly in memory—ideal for AI researchers and data scientists.
Unmatched Media and Display Capabilities
For content creators, the M3 Ultra Mac Studio is a powerhouse. It supports 24 simultaneous 8K ProRes video streams, making it a top choice for high-end video production. Thanks to H.264, HEVC, and ProRes encoding/decoding, editing high-resolution content has never been smoother.
The new Mac Studio can also power up to 8 external displays, making it an excellent choice for professionals who need expansive digital workspaces.
Ports and Connectivity: Thunderbolt 5 Takes Over
Both models come loaded with connectivity options:
- Back Panel: 4× Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C), 2× USB-A, 1× HDMI 2.1, 1× 10Gb Ethernet, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
- Front Panel (M3 Ultra only): 2 additional Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C) ports.
- Front Panel (both models): UHS-II SDXC card reader.
- Wireless: Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3.
Pricing and Availability
The new Mac Studio lineup offers a range of configurations:
- M4 Max model: Starts at $1,999.
- M3 Ultra model: Starts at $3,999.
- Top-tier configuration (512GB RAM + 16TB SSD): Costs a jaw-dropping $14,099.
Pre-orders are open now, with deliveries beginning on March 12. You can visit the Mac Studio configurator page.
Final Thoughts
Apple’s latest Mac Studio models cater to professionals who need extreme computing power. Whether you’re an AI developer, a filmmaker working with 8K footage, or a 3D artist, this machine is built to handle it all.
