Apple Mac Studio - Computers with M1 Max or M1 Ultra

In addition to a new one iPhone SE and a new one iPad Air did Apple during yesterday “Peek Performance” special events also introduced a new computer. The Mac Studio is a mixture of Mac Mini and Mac Pro. However, it is not intended to replace either of the two Mac variants, but rather offers a (possibly mobile) professional solution that combines the advantages of both. This happens, among other things, with the last new version of the M1 chip. The most powerful SoC of this series is called "M1 Ultra" and consists of two "M1 Max" chips. Technical data, pictures and the prices of the configurations can be found in this article.

The new Apple Mac Studio combines the high performance of the Mac Pro with the space-saving dimensions of the Mac Mini. Numerous connections make it suitable for all peripherals.
Max M1 and M1 Ultra provide the best performance for music, video editing, 3D content, programming and much more.” width=”1024″ height=”484″ /> The new Apple Mac Studio combines the high performance of the Mac Pro with the space-saving dimensions of the Mac Mini. Numerous connections make it suitable for all peripherals. M1 Max and M1 Ultra ensure the best performance for music, video editing, 3D content, programming and much more.

Mac Studio Specifications

Since you can optionally use the Apple Mac Studio Max M1 or M1 Ultra as SoC, I have listed the technical data of the new computer from Cupertino in a comparison table. In the following overview you can compare the two versions and find the variant that suits you and your workload. For specs that apply to both SoC models (e.g. the connections on the housing), the cell with the information extends over both columns.

Mac Studio with Max M1 Mac Studio with M1 Ultra
Dimensions (H x W x D) 9,5 cm x 19,7 cm x 19,7 cm
Weight 2,7 kg. 3,6 kg.
Processor 10-core CPU with 8 performance and 2 efficiency cores 20-core CPU with 16 performance and 4 efficiency cores
graphics processor 24 core GPU 48 core GPU
Neural Engine 16-core 32-core
Memory Bandwidth 400 GB / s 800 GB / s
optional equipment Max M1 with 32-core GPU M1 Ultra with 64-core GPU
Media Engine (Similarities) Hardware accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes and ProRes RAW, decode engine
Media Engine (differences) 2 engines for video encoding and 2 engines for encoding and decoding ProRes 4 engines for video encoding and 4 engines for encoding and decoding ProRes
random access memory 32 GB or 64 GB 64 GB or 128 GB
Internal memory 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB or 8TB SSD 
Video video output via HDMI and Thunderbolt 4 (incl. DisplayPort via USB-C), connection of up to 5 displays
Audio Output via integrated speakers, HDMI, USB accessories and/or 3,5 mm jack connection
Connections (rear) Power supply, 4 x Thunderbolt 4, 1 x 10 GBit Ethernet, 2 x USB-A, 1x HDMI, 1 x headphone jack
Connections (front) 2 x USB-C (up to 10 GBit/s) and SDXC card reader (UHS-II) 2 x Thunderbolt 4 (up to 40 GBit/s) and SDXC card reader (UHS-II)
WiFi 802.11ax WLAN 6, compatible with IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth Bluetooth 5.0
What's in the box Mac Studio, power cord
Price from € 2.299,00 from € 4.599,00

Mac Studio compared to older professional computers from Apple

For professional users, the new Apple Mac Studio is in competition with the current iMac with a 27-inch display and the Mac Pro presented in 2019. Both deliver their performance via Intel processors and other individual components. Of course, the new Mac Studio can come along Apple silicon go one better as a proprietary SoC. More computing power is provided with the same energy consumption or the same computing power is offered with less power consumption. In the Official press release there are these comparisons: 

Mac Studio with the power of Max M1 enables:

  • Up to 2,5 times faster CPU performance than the fastest 27″ iMac with 10-core processor
  • Up to 50 percent faster CPU performance than Mac Pro with a 16-core Xeon processor
  • Up to 3,4x faster graphics performance than the 27″ iMac and over 3x faster than the Mac Pro with the most commonly used graphics card
  • Up to 7,5x faster than the 27-inch iMac and up to 3,7x faster than the 16-core Mac Pro in video transcoding

Mac Studio powered by the M1 Ultra enables:

  • Up to 3,8 times faster CPU performance than the fastest 27″ iMac with 10-core processor
  • Up to 90 percent faster CPU performance than Mac Pro with 16-core Xeon processor
  • Up to 60 percent faster CPU performance than the 28-core Mac Pro
  • Up to 4,5 times faster graphics performance than the 27-inch iMac and up to 80 percent faster than the fastest graphics card for the Mac currently available
  • Up to 12x faster than the 27-inch iMac and up to 5,6x faster than the 28-core Mac Pro in video transcoding

Apple Mac Studio - Prices of the different versions

If you want to buy the new Apple Mac Studio as a professional computer with Apple silicon as the SoC and comparatively very good performance and (according to Apple) the best power management, then you are spoiled for choice. Because you can't just go out Max M1 and M1 Ultra, but choose from two versions for each chip as well as 32 to 128 GB RAM and 512 GB to 8 TB storage. I have listed the resulting prices for you in the following tables.

That's what the Mac Studio with M1 Max costs

Mac Studio pricing is based on a variety of factors. Let's start with the model Max M1 at. In the table below you can find the prices for the different options of SoC, memory and hard drive storage. The prices range from 2.299 euros to 5.749 euros.

SoC and memory SSD storage Price
Max M1 with 24-core GPU and 32 GB RAM 512 GB 2.299,00 €
1 TB 2.529,00 €
2 TB 2.989,00 €
4 TB 3.679,00 €
8 TB 5.059,00 €
Max M1 with 32-core GPU and 32 GB RAM 512 GB 2.529,00 €
1 TB 2.759,00 €
2 TB 3.219,00 €
4 TB 3.909,00 €
8 TB 5.289,00 €
Max M1 with 24-core GPU and 64 GB RAM 512 GB 2.759,00 €
1 TB 2.989,00 €
2 TB 3.449,00 €
4 TB 4.139,00 €
8 TB 5.519,00 €
Max M1 with 32-core GPU and 64 GB RAM 512 GB 2.989,00 €
1 TB 3.219,00 €
2 TB 3.679,00 €
4 TB 4.369,00 €
8 TB 5.749,00 €

That's what the Mac Studio with M1 Ultra costs

The pricing of the new Apple Mac Studio with M1 Ultra is similarly complex. Again, you can choose two versions of the SoC (either 48-core GPU or 64-core GPU) and opt for either 64 GB or 128 GB of memory. The third factor is the SSD size. In the end, prices range from 4.369 euros to 9.199 euros.

SoC and memory SSD storage Price
M1 Ultra with 48-core GPU and 64GB RAM 512 GB 4.369,00 €
1 TB 4.599,00 €
2 TB 5.059,00 €
4 TB 5.749,00 €
8 TB 7.129,00 €
M1 Ultra with 64-core GPU and 64GB RAM 512 GB 5.519,00 €
1 TB 5.749,00 €
2 TB 6.209,00 €
4 TB 6.899,00 €
8 TB 8.279,00 €
M1 Ultra with 48-core GPU and 128GB RAM 512 GB 5.289,00 €
1 TB 5.519,00 €
2 TB 5.979,00 €
4 TB 6.669,00 €
8 TB 8.049,00 €
M1 Ultra with 64-core GPU and 128GB RAM 512 GB 6.439,00 €
1 TB 6.669,00 €
2 TB 7.129,00 €
4 TB 7.819,00 €
8 TB 9.199,00 €

Mac Studio and Peek Performance event on video

If you want to watch the Mac Studio in moving images, you can do that on YouTube, among other places. Because Apple has uploaded a video for each of the newly introduced devices. There is also yesterday's Keynote as video-on-demand. So that you don't have to search long, I've embedded both videos for you below.

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In the Sir Apfelot Blog you will find advice, instructions and reviews on Apple products such as the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods, iMac, Mac Pro, Mac Mini and Mac Studio.