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Mac Studio

Mac Studio with M2 Max or M2 Ultra
Mac Studio with M2 Max or M2 Ultra

Mac Studio is a professional-grade macOS desktop. Although not technically Apple’s premiere model, it’s available with insane power.

The latest version can be configured with either a speedy Apple M4 Max chip or an even faster M3 Ultra processor. It can be pre-configured with up to 32 CPU cores, 80 GPU cores, 512 GB of RAM and 16TB of SSD storage.

The desktop offers a wide array of ports: up to six Thunderbolt 5/USB-C ports, up to two USB-A ports, HDMI, Ethernet and more. The exact number of ports varies by configuration.

Read Cult of Mac’s latest posts on Mac Studio:

Why Apple pulled high-end Mac mini and Mac Studio models from sale

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Mac Mini and Mac Studio sold out on Apple store.
You can no longer buy high-end Mac Mini or Mac Studio variants from Apple.
Image: Apple/Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac

Apple no longer accepts orders for certain high-end Mac mini and Mac Studio models. As of Sunday, the company’s online store lists the computers as “currently unavailable.”

This comes after delivery times for most Mac mini and Mac Studio models slipped to a few months.

Global RAM shortage fuels ridiculous Mac wait times

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AI-generated image of inside of an Apple Store, with a sign that says,
Don't expect to find an M3 Ultra Mac Studio with lots of RAM.
AI image: Gemini/Cult of Mac

Order a Mac Studio or Mac mini that’s loaded up with RAM, and you’ll wait until August for the delivery. Yes, August.

A rumor going around blames the shortage on people snapping up high-end machines to run local AI models. But there’s another explanation.

Mac mini and Mac Studio face long shipping delays

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2025 Mac Studio
M5 refresh around the corner?
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Getting your hands on a Mac mini or Mac Studio might be harder than expected. Delivery times for even the basic configurations now stretch to four weeks, with high-end models showing lead times of up to five months.

Apple either appears to be struggling to meet demand or gearing up for an imminent M5 refresh.

Apple quietly kills Mac Pro

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Image of 2019 Mac Pro
So long, you gorgeous beast of a machine.
Photo: Apple

Apple officially pulled the plug on the Mac Pro on Thursday, scrubbing its most expensive desktop computer from its website. Links that used to go to the top-end machine now redirect to the overall Mac page.

Quietly killing the machine brings an ignominious end to the $6,999 computer that Apple had not updated in years.

Apple’s not done: 3 more products coming this spring

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3 fresh Apple products expected in spring 2026
There are still great products coming from Apple this spring.
AI image: Apple/Gemini/Cult of Mac

Apple released no fewer than seven products last week, including the MacBook Neo, the M5 MacBook Air, the iPhone 17e and much more. But there are still three more products likely to be coming out of Cupertino this spring — and one of them is among Apple’s most popular offerings.

Here’s what new Apple products we can look forward to in the next few months across multiple categories.

Power to burn: Top 10 Mac Studio setups

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Mac Studio display
The user liked their dual 27-inch monitors, but likes the ultra-wide even better, comparing it to having three screens.
Photo: [email protected]

Since Apple introduced Mac Studio in spring 2022, the powerful and compact desktop machine has become a favorite centerpiece for ambitious computer workstations. It’s not hard to see why, considering its amazing design and computing chops. But it is pretty hard to choose the best Mac Studio Studio setups we’ve seen. Yet we’ve done so below, with the top 10 Mac Studio setups. 

Apple quietly kills M3 Ultra Mac Studio with 512GB of memory

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2025 Mac Studio
The 2025 Mac Studio now tops out at 256GB memory.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

You can no longer buy an M3 Ultra Mac Studio with 512GB of unified memory from Apple. Instead, the machine can now be configured with a maximum of 256GB of memory.

Apple also raised the price for upgrading the memory from 96GB to 256GB by $400.

Here’s a hopeful sign the M5 Mac Studio isn’t too far away

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M5 Max-Ultra Mac Studio launch
Get excited about Mac Studios powered by M5 Max and M5 Ultra processors.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

Buying some configurations of the Mac Studio now means lengthy wait times. While that’s surely frustrating for those shopping for the powerful macOS desktop, this can be taken as a sign that it might be better to hold off on the purchase.

That’s because a new version is on the way.

Maximum fun: Top 10 multi-Mac setups

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M2 Ultra Mac Pro with Pro Display XDR
So ... crippled by envy much? This one has a high-end M2 Ultra Mac Pro, a Mac Studio, a Pro Display XDR and two Studio Displays.
Photo: [email protected]

For Apple enthusiasts, one Mac is great — but two or more? That’s when things get seriously interesting. Years of Cult of Mac Setups coverage has showcased hundreds of impressive workstations. But these top 10 multi-Mac setups stand out as particularly fascinating examples of how power users leverage Apple’s ecosystem to its fullest potential.

From new M4-powered machines paired with vintage “trash can” Mac Pros to dual MacBook configurations seamlessly integrated with desktop Macs, these workstations demonstrate that having multiple Macs isn’t just about redundancy. It’s about optimizing workflow, separating concerns and yes, indulging in a bit of Apple-fandom excess.

15 new products to expect from Apple in 2026

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Apple products due to launch in 2026
Apple has a busy 2026 in store. Which of these new and upgraded products can we expect?
AI image Google Gemini/Cult of Mac

With more than a dozen new Apple products in the pipeline, 2026 is shaping up to be a busy and important year for the company. Among a plethora of high-profile device launches, we should see the first folding iPhone next year

If all the rumors prove true, Apple’s 2026 product road map looks bold, exciting and ambitious. Check out all the new products Apple likely will launch in 2026.

Top 10 high-end Apple setups you wish you could afford

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M2 Ultra Mac Pro with Pro Display XDR
So ... crippled by envy much? This one has a high-end M2 Ultra Mac Pro, a Mac Studio, a Pro Display XDR and two Studio Displays.
Photo: [email protected]

For years I’ve showcased cool Apple-centric computer setups for Cult of Mac. I never seem to get tired of drooling over the sweetest of the bunch. Sometimes that’s about the most awesome possible computers and monitors — Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR, anyone? — and sometimes it’s about a whole package, including fabulous audio gear and more. I selected a bunch of drool-worthy setups with stratospheric price tags for you below. 

When to expect more M5 MacBooks and Mac desktops

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M5 Mac release dates
An M5 MacBook Air, Mac mini and Mac Studio are all on the way.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

The Apple M5 chip jumped from rumor to reality Wednesday with the launch of MacBook Pro and iPad Pro models running the new cutting-edge processor. But so far, there’s been no official mention of an M5 Mac mini, M5 MacBook Air, M5 Studio or M5 iMac.

Here’s when the next generations of these Macs are rumored to reach customers, along with the probable launch dates of the M5 Pro and M5 Max versions of the MacBook Pro.

How much is too much screen space? This, maybe. [Setups]

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4 display setup
A 4-display setup is one thing. But in this rig, the monitors are massive.
Photo: [email protected]

Today’s featured Mac Studio setup may win the external display arms race — for bigger monitors and for more of them. A 4-display setup displayed on social media is not super rare, but one sporting such large screens is. This one pushes the limit of too much screen space with two stacked 57-inch curved ultra-wide Samsung displays bookended by two 32-inch Samsungs in portrait (vertical) orientation. Yikes, that’s a lot of screen.

LG 5K monitor pairs beautifully with Studio Display [Setups]

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LG 5K display for mac
The LG 5K display and the Studio Display work beautifully together, the user said.
Photo: [email protected]

Apple’s beautiful, high-resolution Studio Display is notoriously expensive, starting at about $1,600 — so dual Studio Display computer setups are pretty rare. I also see Studios Displays paired with other options for external displays, as in today’s great-looking Mac Studio setup. And it turns out there are reasons beyond identical resolution to choose the LG 5K UltraFine display the users selected and loves.

And another cool item in the setup hides behind the displays. Bower & Wilkins’ aged-yet-still-awesome MM1 computer speakers make a rare appearance.

Mac Studio-wielding designer adores dual Studio Displays [Setups]

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dual Studio Displays
A Mac Studio and dual Studio Displays? What could be better.
Photo: [email protected]

Two of the common laments among Mac users talking computer setups online? Too bad Studio Displays are so expensive, and when will Apple jack up that 60Hz refresh rate? But of course the monitors have legions of fans, especially among folks like designers. With today’s featured setup, a designer and video editor loves his pair of Studio Displays and says why. And other commenters get into a little dust-up defending Mac Studio from those who think the small-but-mighty M4 Mac mini is even better.

Powerful Mac Studio drives epic ultra-wide display [Setups]

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Mac Studio display
The user liked their dual 27-inch monitors, but likes the ultra-wide even better, comparing it to having three screens.
Photo: [email protected]

I’m currently enjoying a pair of 27-inch 5K resolution touchscreen monitors, but many people prefer to go with one ultra-wide display — especially a big, curved one. Today’s featured setup uses a Mac Studio to drive a 49-inch, curved Samsung gaming monitor. The user loves it, but said it took some getting used to. They graduated to it from two 27-inch 4K displays, actually, very similar to what I used until recently.

5-computer workstation boasts gargantuan 57-inch display [Setups]

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huge computer monitor
Three Macs and two PCs work with that 57-inch Samsung curved ultra-wide monitor.
Photo: [email protected]

Believe it or not, today’s magnificent featured setup includes five computers — each with a job to do, even the ol’ trash-can Mac Pro — and one absolutely huge computer monitor. It’s a 57-inch curved ultra-wide Samsung. What, 49 inches wasn’t big enough for ya?

And the workstation includes other great features. Those include a Rode PodMic, the same great open-back Sennheiser headphones I own, and powerful Klipsch bookshelf speakers paired with a subwoofer that I wish I owned.

I want everything in this Mac Studio workstation [Setups]

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pegboard stands
Pretty much every piece of this setup is enviable.
Photo: [email protected]

Today’s featured computer setup pretty much has it all in terms of enviable gear, though it could use better lighting. Its M1 Max Mac Studio may not be the latest Apple M-series desktop, but it’s still formidable. And it drives a Pro Display XDR, perhaps the ultimate external monitor. And the setup even excels at the little things, including great audio gear and a pair of illuminated pegboard stands I’ve never seen before.

M3 Ultra vs. M4 Max: Which Mac Studio chip should you pick?

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Mac Studio with M3 Ultra or M4 Max chip?
Pick wisely between the M3 Ultra and M4 Max Mac Studio.
Photo/Graphics: Apple/Rajesh Pandey

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.

Affordable Aune open-back headphones thrill for the price [Setups]

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aune
Two rarities here: Aune open-back headphones and Wobkey mechanical keyboard.
Photo: [email protected]

I love a solid setup featuring Apple’s killer Mac Studio desktop computer — and all the more so if some of the peripherals look fantastic and are completely new to me. Today’s compact workstation, for example, features a cool Wobkey 80 mechanical keyboard. But I was even more distracted by a fascinating set of relatively affordable open-back headphones — Aune AR5000.

When I think at a glance that it’s a pair of $2,000 headphones, but they only cost $300 despite having premium features, I get excited.

How Apple accidentally made the best AI computer

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2025 Mac Studio
2025 Mac Studio
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple is perceived as a laggard in the AI race — despite that, Apple has developed the single best computer for AI research. The new Mac Studio with an M3 Ultra chip, which supports up to 512GB of unified memory, is the easiest and cheapest way to run powerful, cutting-edge LLMs on your own hardware.

The latest DeepSeek v3 model, which sent shockwaves through the AI space for its comparable performance to ChatGPT, can run entirely on a single Mac, Apple AI researchers revealed Monday.

It’s a machine that fits comfortably on your desk, rather than a server farm; it costs the same as a used Honda Civic, not a new Lamborghini.

How did this happen? Most remarkably of all — by sheer coincidence. Here’s why the Apple silicon architecture makes for the best AI hardware, a use case Apple didn’t mean to design it for.

Mac Studio vs. Mac Pro: M3 Ultra makes all the difference

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Mac Studio vs Mac Pro
Mac Studio vs Mac Pro: A new champion.
Photo: Cult of mac

Comparing Mac Studio vs Mac Pro shows the benefits from Apple’s ever-improving processors. Mac Studio just got a major chip upgrade, and can now be configured with an M3 Ultra. The last new Mac Pro version came in 2023, and it’s therefore stuck with an M2 Ultra.
Read on to see how much of a difference that makes. (Spoiler alert: It a big difference.)