Apple has effectively discontinued the Mac Pro. The Mac Studio is now Apple's most powerful desktop – and is poised for its biggest update yet. All current rumors point to a mid-2026 release, equipped with the M5 Max and a brand-new M5 Ultra. We've summarized what's known so far.
Since its introduction in 2022, the Mac Studio has established itself as a compact workstation for professional users. Video editing, 3D rendering, music production, and more recently, local AI workloads – the Mac Studio delivers computing power in a compact form factor. In our Mac buying guide: Mac mini vs. Mac Studio vs. iMac, we have already compared the current models in detail.
But the next chapter is about to begin. The M5 Max chip is already installed in the MacBook Pro M5 and is therefore officially in production. The M5 Ultra, however, would be a completely new product – Apple famously skipped the M4 Ultra generation. Below, we summarize all the current rumors regarding the design, chip, memory, release, and price of the upcoming Mac Studio.
The most important points in brief
| Detail | Expectation |
|---|---|
| Models | M5 Max and M5 Ultra |
| Release | Mid-2026, presumably for WWDC in June |
| Design | No changes expected |
| Starting price | Expected to start at €2,299 (M5 Max) |
| Special feature | First Mac Studio with M5 Ultra – M4 Ultra was skipped. |
Design: Everything remains the same
According to multiple reports, the Mac Studio's external appearance will remain unchanged. The compact aluminum enclosure with its rounded corners will be retained. At 9.4 cm high and 19.7 cm wide, the Mac Studio is still significantly smaller than the discontinued Mac Pro and fits easily on any desk.
The ports are also likely to remain largely identical: Thunderbolt 5, USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, SD card reader, 10 Gigabit Ethernet and the 3.5 mm headphone jack.
Chip: M5 Max and M5 Ultra
M5 Max
The M5 Max is already installed in the current MacBook Pro and is therefore officially in production. The chip is based on Apple's new Fusion architecture, in which the CPU and GPU are located on separate blocks. This allows for more flexible configurations – for example, a powerful GPU with a moderate CPU, or vice versa. A similar principle of modularity is already familiar from the MacBook Air vs. MacBook Pro 2026, where the choice of chip makes the crucial difference.
The most important expected specs:
- 18-core CPU
- 40-core GPU
- Up to 128 GB Unified Memory
- Memory bandwidth of approximately 614 GB/s
M5 Ultra
The M5 Ultra will consist of two connected M5 Max dies – as is common with previous Ultra chips. This doubles the number of cores:
- 36-core CPU
- Up to 80-core GPU
- Up to 256 GB Unified Memory
- Significantly higher storage bandwidth
Apple completely skipped the M4 Ultra. There is no M4 Ultra – the current Mac Studio still uses the M3 Ultra from the previous generation. This means the jump from the M3 Ultra to the M5 Ultra is particularly significant.
Initial benchmark rumors suggest multi-core scores of around 41,000 points. This would make the M5 Ultra the biggest performance leap in the Ultra series to date.
Storage and Ports
The base storage is expected to increase: the M5 Max will likely start with a 1 TB SSD, and the M5 Ultra with 2 TB. Both variants will probably use the faster SSDs that Apple has already introduced in the M5 MacBook Pro.
However, there is one limitation regarding RAM: Apple has already removed the 512GB RAM option from the current Mac Studio. This is due to the high demand for memory chips driven by the AI boom. It is unclear whether this option will return in the new model.
On the networking side, Apple's new N1 chip is expected, which will bring Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. Currently, the Mac Studio supports a maximum of Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. More information about the N1 chip and its limitations can be found in our article Apple N1 Chip Brings Wi-Fi 7 – But with Limitations.
Display: Studio Display and Studio Display XDR are already available
Apple introduced the new Studio Display and Studio Display XDR in March 2026 – both ideal companions for the Mac Studio. Those interested in the differences can find all the details in our Studio Display vs. Studio Display XDR comparison.
Release: When will the new Mac Studio be released?
Several sources – including Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman – expect the release in mid-2026. WWDC in June is considered the most likely timeframe. This would fit the historical pattern: Two of the three previous Mac Studio generations were unveiled in March, and one in June at WWDC. Since the March slot in 2026 was already occupied by the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and iPad Air, June remains the logical date.
Gurman wrote that the new Mac Studio models should be released "not too long after the spring Mac update." A macOS Tahoe code leak also supports a summer 2026 timeframe. References to the M5 Max and M5 Ultra were also discovered in the release candidate version of iOS 26.3.
Price: Will the Mac Studio become more expensive?
The current Mac Studio starts at €2,299 (M4 Max) or €4,599 (M3 Ultra). Apple traditionally keeps the prices of its Mac desktops stable. However, US tariffs on imported components could affect pricing. In a recent earnings call, Apple already hinted that supply chain costs could rise.
A realistic starting price for the M5 Max model remains in the range of €2,299 to €2,499. The M5 Ultra is likely to start at €4,599 or higher.
Mac Studio: Who should wait?
The Mac Studio with M5 Max and M5 Ultra is aimed at professional users: video editing, 3D rendering, music production, software development, and increasingly, local AI workloads. The M5 Ultra will be able to run large AI models entirely in memory—an advantage no other consumer desktop can offer.
Anyone currently using a Mac Studio with an M4 Max will hardly notice the difference in everyday use – the M5 Max is an iterative improvement. However, those still using an M1 or M2 Mac Studio, or upgrading from an M3 Ultra to an M5 Ultra, will get a significant performance boost with the new model.
Our recommendation: If you're planning on buying a high-performance desktop Mac, you should wait until at least June. The new Mac Studio is practically confirmed and could be by far the most powerful Mac update of the year. The best products for you: Our Amazon storefront offers a wide selection of accessories, including those for HomeKit. (Image: Shutterstock / Wachiwit)
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