Apple’s latest events do a lot for creators and professionals. Studio Mac is a powerful desktop for musicians, artists, photographers, video editors, and 3D modeling. This is the first (currently the only) device to carry the stellar M1 Ultra. Apple has paired the Studio Mac with a 27-inch Studio Display with equivalent functionality.
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What is a Mac Studio Desktop?
Mac Studio is a desktop computer similar to the Mac mini. That said, the Mac Studio is thicker than the Mac mini. You can choose between M1 Max and the new M1 Ultra chip. Mac Studio with class-leading connectivity.
Plus, with support for 18 streams of ProRes video, it’s perfect for studio setup. Let’s take a closer look at what MacStudio offers and everything.
Apple Mac Studio Specifications
Mac Studio is available in a variety of configurations. Customize the processor, unified memory, and SSD storage to create the perfect combination.
| hardware | Mac Studio with M1 Max | Mac Studio with M1 Ultra |
| processor | M1 max 10 core CPU 24-core GPU 16-core neural engine |
With M1 Ultra 20 core CPU 48 core GPU 32-core neural engine |
| Unified memory | 32GB, expandable up to 64GB | Expandable up to 64GB, up to 128GB |
| Storage | 512GB SSD that can be expanded up to 8GB | 2TB SSD, expandable up to 8TB |
| Connectivity | Thunderbolt 4 DisplayPort USB 4 (up to 40GB / sec) USB 3.1 (up tp 10Gb / s) 2xUSB-A port HDMI port 10Gb Ethernet 3.5mm headphone jack |
Thunderbolt 4 DisplayPort USB 4 (up to 40GB / sec) USB 3.1 (up tp 10Gb / s) 2xUSB-A port HDMI port 10Gb Ethernet 3.5mm headphone jack |
| audio | Built-in speaker 3.5mm audio jack HDMI port |
Built-in speaker 3.5mm audio jack HDMI port |
Design and thermal
The Mac Studio is definitely bigger than the Mac mini. In numbers, it’s thicker, 3.7 inches high. The rounded aluminum chassis and precision machined speaker grille give it a sleek look. Looking at things, Mac Studio is still pretty compact for everything it offers.
The first question that comes to my mind is what about thermals? Mac Studio is one of the most powerful desktops with a footprint of 7.7 inches. Apple has worked extensively on thermals. A double-sided blower that draws in air and circulates internal components is a clever bit. Hot air dissipates from the bottom.
Nearly 4000 perforations at the top and bottom make this possible. It’s an impressive design and engineering feat (given that it works as advertised). I didn’t like the fact that Mac Studio is only available in silver color.
performance
Mac Studio has no performance issues. Get Mac Studio with Apple’s most powerful M1 Max and M1 Ultra chipsets. The newly announced M1 Ultra chipset can drive 18 streams of 8K ProRes. Looking for performance? It can be supported with 128GB of unified memory.
What can I get with M1 Max Mac Studio?
Mac Studio with M1Mac has a 10-core CPU, a GPU with up to 32 cores, 64 GB of unified memory, and 400 GB / s of bandwidth. Chipset offers-
- CPU performance up to 2.5 times faster than the finest iMac.
- CPU performance up to 50% faster than a Mac Pro with a 16-core Xeon processor.
- GPU performance up to 3.4 times faster than the iMac.
- Up to 3.7x video transcoding speed when compared to the 27-inch iMac.
What do you get with the M1 Ultra Mac Studio?
The M1 Ultra consists of a 20-core CPU, a GPU with up to 64 cores, 128 GB of unified memory, and a memory bandwidth of 800 GB / sec. The chipset offers:
- Up to 4.5x better graphics performance, in contrast to the 27-inch iMac.
- Machine learning is up to 3 times faster than the 27-inch iMac.
- CPU performance is up to 3.8 times faster than the 10-core 27-inch iMac.
Connect to port
Mac Studio comes with a set of connection ports. It has a Thunderbolt 4 port, an Ethernet jack, a USB-A port, an HDMI port, and a standard headphone jack. Below is a list of Mac Studio connection ports.
- 4 x Thunderbolt 4 ports
- 2 x USB-A port
- HDMI port
- 10GB Ethernet jack
- Pro Audio Headphone Jack
That’s not all! Apple has improved accessibility with two USB-C ports on the front. This simplifies plugins and removes frequently used accessories / devices. Mac Studio supports up to 4 Pro Display XDRs. Alternatively, you can check out the latest Apple Studio display.
MacStudio pricing and availability
Base Mac Studio with M1 Max starts at $ 1,999. You can get an M1 Max chip with a 10-core CPU, a 24-core GPU, and a 16-core neural engine. In front of the storage is 32GB of Unified Memory and 512GB of SSD storage.
Meanwhile, a Mac Studio based on the M1 Ultra chip costs $ 3,999. Here you can get an M1 Ultra chip with a 20-core CPU, a 48-core GPU, and a 32-core neural engine. Memory options include 64GB of unified memory and 1TB of SSD storage. MacStudio accepts orders in the United States. However, shipping will be from March 18th.
Is Mac Studio upgradeable?
You can upgrade your Mac Studio to order before you buy. Apple will only start creating these customized orders after you place an order. Probably, it will take time to deliver the made-to-order product. Below is a list of all available MacStudio options and associated additional costs.
| hardware | Constitution | Additional cost |
| processor | M1 Max, 10 core CPU 32-core GPU 16-core neural engine |
$ 200 |
| M1 Ultra with 20 core CPU 48 core GPU 32-core neural engine |
$ 1,400 | |
| M1 Ultra with 20 core CPU 64-core GPU 32-core neural engine |
$ 2,400 | |
| Memory / RAM | 64GB unified memory | $ 400 |
| 128GB Unified Memory | $ 800 | |
| SSD storage | 2TB | $ 400 |
| 4TB | $ 1,000 | |
| 8TB | $ 2,000 |
The above costs are added to the base variant. The finest Mac Studio with M1 Ultra costs $ 7,999. Only the power cord is in the box. Other accessories such as keyboards, mice and monitors must be purchased separately.
Is your Mac’s Trash back?
I vividly remember the redesigned Mac Pro released in 2013. It was named because it resembled a trash can. The redesign meant that Apple needed to stack powerful CPUs and GPUs in a compact space. As a result, thermal management did not reach its goal. Immediately, users reported frequent thermal shutdowns and performance issues.
We hope Apple has organized the latest Mac Studio thermal management. The top and bottom vents are similar to those of the older Mac Pro. Using the M1 chip reduces heating problems.
that’s it!
I like the number of ports added to MacStudio. On top of that, it comes with a powerful chip, which makes it even more powerful! What do you think of Mac Studio? Please share in the comments below.
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