Later this year, Apple will be debuting an updated version of the Mac Studio with M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips – a long awaited refresh. The current Mac Studio, released in early 2025, includes an M4 Max and M3 Ultra chip, so at least on the high end, it’s pretty behind.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the M5-based Mac Studio, which should just be a chip upgrade, is still on track to launch this year. Looking ahead to 2028, there may be more interesting changes in the pipeline.
If you’ve been in the market for a Mac Studio, I’m sure you’ve already felt enough pain. Between incredibly long wait times due to a demand surge and lack of supply, the fact that the computer is already dated with the M3 Ultra chip, and the fact that you’ll now have to stomach much higher prices thanks to the recent price hike.
Luckily, things should be looking up – at least slightly.
M5 refresh coming later this year
I know, stop me if you’ve already heard this – but a new Mac Studio should be coming soon. Reports from last year stated that this refresh should’ve been on market by around WWDC. That went out the window once the memory crisis arose, but nonetheless, a longer wait is never fun.
Luckily, your wait should be over soon, with the M5 Ultra version being “due this year,” per Mark Gurman. There won’t be any sort of design overhaul with this new design, just new chips. The next iteration, though, could be a different story.
M7 Ultra in 2028
In 2028, Apple has some more interesting changes in the pipeline for Mac Studio, which should be equipped with the M7 Ultra. In case you missed it, Apple is reportedly skipping all of the high end chips with the M6 family, so there’ll be a base M6 but no M6 Pro, Max, or Ultra. From the report:
There are two Mac Studio updates in Apple’s pipeline: an M5 Ultra version due this year and an M7 Ultra update targeted for 2028. I’m told Apple has also been working on internal changes to the high-powered desktop, including a better heat sink to improve thermal performance as the machine takes on more demanding on-device AI workloads. I’m not expecting a major redesign, at least not with the M5 Ultra model.
A better heatsink is most definitely a welcome addition to anyone who’s already pushing their Mac Studio to its limits, though it isn’t clear if this change is in reference to the M5 Ultra model or the M7 Ultra model.
Gurman also mentioned the possibility of the M7 Ultra model receiving a redesign, though he also noted that Apple tends to keep desktop designs around for a long time.
All in all, if you’re a Mac Studio fan or prospective buyer, hopefully this is some positive news for you.
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