A third-generation, speed improved version of the Mac Studio is reportedly on Apple’s agenda for around the middle of 2024. An Apple M3 Ultra processor will supposedly be the highlight of the next iteration of the professional-grade macOS desktop.
The last upgrade reached customers in June 2023.
Mac Studio is Apple’s answer for real pros
Apple created the Ultra line of processors for the original Mac Studio, which launched in 2022. The desktop is bigger than a Mac mini, giving room for an array of connectivity options. There are four Thunderbolt ports, two USB-A ports, Ethernet, HDMI and more.
The first model ran an M1 Ultra. This was followed by a speed-enhanced version with an M2 Ultra in 2023. And now that the M3 family launched in autumn 2023, an Ultra version is apparently on the way.
That’s what the Korean-language site The Elec reports, indicating that an M3 Ultra-powered Mac Studio is launching around the middle of the year.
A release at Apple’s WWDC2024 developers conference isn’t unlikely. The second-generation version launched at WWDC2023.
More about the Apple M3 Ultra
As its name suggests, Ultra chips are Apple’s top-of-the-line processors. The current version, the M2 UItra, features a 24-core CPU, a 76-core GPU and a 32-core neural engine. It can support 192GB of unified memory.
Like the rest of the M3 family of chips, the upcoming Ultra will be made with a 3nm process, down from the 5nm one used with its predecessors. Shrinking the chip’s components allows them to work faster while generating less waste heat.
Price?
The 2024 version of the Mac Studio will likely also be available with an M3 Max chip at a lower price. And that’s important — the M2 Ultra version starts $3,999, and the next version will surely be at least as expensive.
The Elec made no mention of a new integration of the Mac Pro with an M3 Ultra.
