The Mac Studio reigns supreme as Apple’s most powerful desktop computer to date. However, when it comes to pitting the M3 Ultra Mac Studio vs. the M4 Max Mac Studio, which should you spring for?
The M3 Ultra processor packs up to a 32-core CPU and 80-core GPU. That’s a staggering amount of horsepower. However, the M4 Max uses a new CPU architecture, offering faster single-core performance.
So, which powerhouse Apple computer will suit your workflow better: Mac Studio with M3 Ultra or M4 Max? It depends on several factors.
Mac Studio M3 Ultra vs. M4 Max: How to decide between two powerhouse computers
Apple’s 2025 Mac Studio lineup presents power users with a tough choice. You can go all-in with the beastly M3 Ultra or ride the cutting edge with the brand-new M4 Max. Both processors deliver monstrous performance, but they shine in different workflows.
Whether you’re training AI models, editing 8K video, or just want blazing-fast single-core speed, this buying guide breaks down the differences to help you pick the Mac Studio that truly fits your needs (and your budget).
Dive into our M3 Ultra vs. M4 Max comparison to figure out which Mac Studio deserves a spot on your desk.
Table of contents: Mac Studio M3 Ultra vs. M4 Max
Mac Studio performance: M3 Ultra vs. M4 Max
Image: Apple
- Mac Studio with M3 Ultra: 28-core CPU with 20 performance cores and 8 efficiency cores, 60-core GPU (configurable with up to 32-core CPU and 80-core GPU), hardware-accelerated ray tracing, 32-core Neural Engine, four video encode and ProRes encode/decode engine, 819GB/s memory bandwidth, 96GB unified memory (configurable to 512GB), 1TB storage (configurable to 16TB)
- Mac Studio with M4 Max: 14-core CPU with 10 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores, 32-core GPU (configurable with up to 16-core CPU and 40-core GPU), hardware-accelerated ray tracing, 16-core Neural Engine, two video encode and ProRes encode/decode engine, 410GB/s memory bandwidth, 36GB unified memory (configurable to 128GB), 512GB storage (configurable to 8TB)
The M3 Ultra uses Apple’s older CPU architecture but makes up for it with more cores — up to 32 of them! The M4 Max uses a newer architecture, but you can only configure it with up to a 16-core CPU. That’s 50% less than the top-end M3 Ultra. You can configure the M4 Max Mac Studio with up to 128GB of unified memory (aka RAM) and 8TB of storage. For regular users, this might seem like a lot. However, for professionals heavily into AI, machine learning and similar workflows, this might not be enough.
With the M3 Ultra, you can equip the Mac Studio with 512GB of unified memory, ideal for running LLMs smoothly. This is not possible with the M4 Max, as it will run out of memory when running heavier LLMs. Plus, the M3 Ultra’s 32-core Neural Engine makes it ideal for running AI and machine learning tasks. After all, there’s a reason why the Mac Studio is the best AI computer you can buy today.
The M4 Max will shine in single-core CPU-dependent workloads. If you’re heavily into photo editing, you won’t notice a big performance difference when comparing the M4 Max vs. the M3 Ultra Mac Studios. In such cases, saving money and opting for the M4 Max model makes more sense.
For music and video production
For music production, the M3 Ultra will deliver better performance, since this workload requires lots of CPU cores and memory. This will enable the Mac Studio to handle more tracks in Logic Pro without running out of memory.
When it comes to video encoding and decoding, the M3 Ultra should generally deliver faster performance across most workloads, thanks to its four dedicated ProRes encode/decode engines. But the M4 Max’s faster CPU cores help level the playing field to a great extent.
While the M3 Ultra Mac Studio might offer better performance, it’s difficult to justify the additional $2,000 for the upgrade. (Apple does not allow you to upgrade the base Mac Studio with M4 Max to an M3 Ultra for $1,000. The upgrade also bumps the RAM to 96GB and the storage to 1TB for another $1,000.) You are better off saving your money and upgrading to the 16-core M4 Max and bumping the RAM to 48GB for an extra $700 instead.
Typically, video compositing, editing multiple 8K 10-bit HDR streams, and other such workloads require more than 128GB of unified memory. If you don’t do such stuff, stick to the M4 Max Mac Studio.
The M3 Ultra also uses a beefier copper heatsink. This allows it to run at cooler temperatures than the M4 Max, which relies on an aluminum heatsink. The latter also hits higher temperatures under intense, extended load. This can become an issue in certain scenarios. So if you want a Mac Studio that runs cooler, get the M3 Ultra variant.
Thanks to its additional GPU cores, the M3 Ultra-powered Mac Studio can drive up to eight (!) external displays of up to 8K resolution with up to 240Hz refresh rate. With the M4 Max, you are limited to five external displays using the rear Thunderbolt 5 and HDMI ports.
Apple will not launch an M4 Ultra chip, so there’s no reason to hold off on your Mac Studio purchase waiting for one.
Ports: Same with a Thunderbolt twist
Photo: Apple
- Mac Studio with M3 Ultra: 4 Thunderbolt 5 ports on the rear, two Thunderbolt 5 ports on the front, two USB 3 (USB‑A) ports, HDMI 2.1 port, 10Gb Ethernet port, 3.5 mm headphone jack, SDXC (UHS-II) card slot
- Mac Studio with M4 Max: 4 Thunderbolt 5 ports on the rear, two USB-C ports on the front, two USB 3 (USB‑A) ports, HDMI 2.1 port, 10Gb Ethernet port, 3.5 mm headphone jack, SDXC (UHS-II) card slot
Thanks to the higher bandwidth offered by the M3 Ultra, you get six Thunderbolt 5 (USB‑C) ports. That’s 120GB/s of bandwidth for each USB-C port on the machine.
The M4 Max-equipped Mac Studio also ships with six USB-C ports. However, only the four at the rear support Thunderbolt 5. The two front-facing USB-C ports support transfer speeds of up to 10Gb/s. That’s fast enough for external hard disks and most accessories, but not ideal for high-bandwidth devices and super-fast PCIe-based SSDs.
Price: 50% difference
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
- Mac Studio with M3 Ultra: Starts at $3,999
- Mac Studio with M4 Max: Starts at $1,999
The M3 Ultra-equipped Mac Studio costs twice as much as the M4 Max model. And that’s before you modify these machines based on your requirements.
A fully spec’d out M3 Ultra Mac Studio will cost you more than $14,000 before taxes. In comparison, a maxed-out M4 Max Mac Studio with 128GB of memory seems much more affordable at $5,899.
Mac Studio with M3 Ultra vs. M4 Max: Which one should you buy?
Most people typically don’t look for a value proposition when spending so much money on a machine. But then, not everyone can go ahead and buy the M3 Ultra. For most users, the M4 Max Mac Studio proves a better pick. Yes, the M3 Ultra will deliver better results in some workflows, but it’s not worth the extra money.
If your workflow includes video compositing, running LLMs, music production or AI tasks, the M3 Ultra is the better choice. Its extra CPU and GPU cores, along with expanded memory capacity, provide the performance headroom needed for these demanding workloads. It’s in these scenarios that the M3 Ultra lives up to its Ultra name, delivering unrivaled performance.
What’s the smarter choice on a tight budget: More RAM or a better chip?
You might have to pick between an M4 Max Mac Studio with more RAM vs. an M3 Ultra with less RAM due to budget restraints. In such a case, you need to decide based on your workflow. For running and training LLMs, more RAM will give you increased flexibility. Likewise, for heavy video compositing and other similar workloads, the more RAM your machine comes with, the merrier.
Yes, the M3 Ultra’s additional GPU cores and faster Neural Engine will finish tasks faster. But before that, you need to ensure the system does not run out of memory.
For photography-oriented workloads, the M4 Max’s faster CPU cores will benefit you more. Likewise, for most prosumer video editing needs, an M4 Max Mac Studio with more RAM would be a better choice.
Rajesh has been closely following and writing about the latest happenings in the world of mobile for nearly a decade now. While he prefers Android, he does not deny the superiority of Apple’s products and ecosystem.
