Apple has launched a new version of the Mac Studio, featuring the M3 Ultra and M4 Max chips. This update brings better performance, but it has also caused some confusion. Instead of introducing an M4 Ultra chip, Apple has chosen to keep the M3 Ultra alongside the M4 Max. This decision makes the lineup a bit harder to understand.
M4 Max and M3 Ultra chip specifications
The M4 Max chip comes with up to 16 CPU cores and 40 GPU cores. It is expected to perform about 30% better in single-core tasks compared to the previous generation. On the other hand, the M3 Ultra chip has 32 CPU cores and 80 GPU cores, making it much stronger in multi-threaded and graphics-heavy tasks. This means users who need power for video editing, 3D design, or other demanding work will likely prefer the M3 Ultra.
One of the biggest advantages of the M3 Ultra chip is its memory capacity. It can support up to 512 GB of unified memory, which is shared between the CPU and GPU. The memory bandwidth is 819 GB/s, which helps with handling large files and complex workloads. This much memory is not useful for most regular users, but professionals working with high-end applications will find it beneficial. Apple also allows users to upgrade the storage up to 16 TB, though it comes at a very high price.
Mac Studio performance stats
The new Mac Studio comes with a wide range of ports. On the back, it has two USB-A ports, four Thunderbolt 5 ports, an HDMI 2.1 port, a 10G Ethernet port, and an audio jack. The front side has differences depending on the model. The M3 Ultra version includes two Thunderbolt 5 ports, while the M4 Max version has two USB-C ports. Both models have an SD card slot. Wireless connectivity includes Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, but Apple has not included Wi-Fi 7, which some might find disappointing.
Apple Mac Studio pricing
As for pricing, the base model with the M4 Max chip, 36 GB of memory, and a smaller GPU starts at $1,999. The M3 Ultra version with 96 GB of memory starts at $3,999. If someone wants the most powerful setup with 512 GB of memory and 16 TB of storage, the price reaches $14,099. A more reasonable option would be the version with 256 GB of memory and 2 TB of storage, priced at $7,499.
Apple claims that these new chips bring big improvements in performance, but actual tests will show how much better they really are. For now, Mac Studio users will have to wait for independent reviews to see how these changes impact real-world usage.
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