Mac Studio
{{Short description|Desktop computer by Apple Inc.}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox computing device
| name = Mac Studio
| logo = File:Mac Studio (logo).svg
| image = Mac Studio (2022) front.jpg
| image_size = 200px
| developer = Apple Inc.
| type = Compact desktop
Workstation
| releasedate = {{Start date and age|2022|3|18}}
| soc = Apple M series
| os = macOS
| website = {{URL|https://apple.com/mac-studio}}
| family = Macintosh
}}
The Mac Studio is a small-form-factor workstation computer developed and marketed by Apple Inc. It is one of four desktop computers in the Mac lineup, sitting above the consumer-range Mac Mini and iMac, and positioned below the Mac Pro. It is configurable with either the M4 Max or M3 Ultra system on a chip.
Overview
File:Mac Studio (2022) rear.jpg
The Mac Studio is a desktop personal computer, designed to sit between the consumer-level Mac Mini and the professional-targeted Mac Pro.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/gadgets-tech/apple-mac-studio-display-preorder-b2033866.html|title=Mac studio: Everything we know about Apple's powerful new desktop computer|newspaper=The Independent|date=March 11, 2022|access-date=March 15, 2022|archive-date=May 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510215848/https://www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/gadgets-tech/apple-mac-studio-display-preorder-b2033866.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Apple's Mac Studio Is the iMac Pro Reboot You've Been Waiting For |url=https://www.pcmag.com/opinions/apples-mac-studio-is-the-imac-pro-reboot-youve-been-waiting-for |website=PCMAG |access-date=12 July 2022 |language=en |archive-date=July 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706071343/https://www.pcmag.com/opinions/apples-mac-studio-is-the-imac-pro-reboot-youve-been-waiting-for |url-status=live }} The Mac Studio has an identical width and depth to the contemporary Mac mini, {{convert|7.7|inch}}, but it stands taller at {{convert|3.7|inch}}.
The Mac Studio was initially offered in two ARM-based SoC: the M1 Max or the M1 Ultra, which combines two M1 Max chips in one package.{{cite news|url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/9/22968611/apple-m1-ultra-gpu-nvidia-rtx-3090-comparison|title=Apple's new M1 Ultra aims to beat Nvidia's RTX 3090|work=The Verge|date=March 9, 2022|access-date=March 10, 2022|archive-date=March 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220310012538/https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/9/22968611/apple-m1-ultra-gpu-nvidia-rtx-3090-comparison|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Apple M1 Ultra Chip Is Nearly 3 Times Bigger Than AMD's Ryzen CPUs, Benchmarks Show Desktop Intel & AMD CPUs Still Ahead|url=https://wccftech.com/apple-m1-ultra-chip-is-nearly-3-times-bigger-amd-ryzen-cpus-benchmarks-show-intel-amd-cpus-still-ahead/|date=March 19, 2022|access-date=March 21, 2022|website=wccftech.com|archive-date=March 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321033043/https://wccftech.com/apple-m1-ultra-chip-is-nearly-3-times-bigger-amd-ryzen-cpus-benchmarks-show-intel-amd-cpus-still-ahead/|url-status=live}} It has four Thunderbolt 4 (USB 4) ports, two USB 3.0 Type-A ports, HDMI (up to 4K @ 60 Hz), 10Gb Ethernet with Lights Out Management{{Cite web |title=Lights Out Management MDM payload settings for Apple devices |url=https://support.apple.com/guide/deployment/lights-out-management-payload-settings-dep580cf25bc/web |access-date=2022-05-20 |website=Apple Support |language=en |archive-date=April 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220427195841/https://support.apple.com/guide/deployment/lights-out-management-payload-settings-dep580cf25bc/web |url-status=live }} and a headphone jack. The front panel has two USB-C ports (Thunderbolt 4 in M1 Ultra models) and an SD card slot (that supports SDXC cards and UHS-II bus), making it the first desktop Mac since the 2012 Mac Pro to have I/O on the front. It is cooled by a pair of double-sided blowers and a mesh of holes on the bottom and back of the case, which helps reduce the noise of fans spinning.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/story/apple-mac-studio-and-studio-display/|title=Apple's Mac Studio Is a Mightier Desktop for Creative Pros|magazine=Wired|date=March 8, 2022|access-date=March 10, 2022|archive-date=March 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220309162202/https://www.wired.com/story/apple-mac-studio-and-studio-display/|url-status=live}} Nevertheless, there have been reports of excessive fan noise.{{cite web|url=https://umatechnology.org/some-mac-studio-owners-are-not-happy-with-a-high-pitched-noise-coming-from-the-fan/|title=Some Mac Studio owners are not happy with a high-pitched noise coming from the fan|work=UMA Technology|date=February 2, 2025|accessdate=March 12, 2025}}
Mac Studio models with the Ultra SoC are heavier than the Max-equipped models, as they exchange the aluminum heat sink for one composed of copper.{{cite news|url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/9/22969101/apple-mac-studio-m1-ultra-max-explains-weight-mystery|title=Apple explains why the M1 Ultra-equipped Mac Studio is two pounds heavier|work=The Verge|date=March 9, 2022|access-date=March 10, 2022|archive-date=March 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220310002355/https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/9/22969101/apple-mac-studio-m1-ultra-max-explains-weight-mystery|url-status=live}} Apple says the Mac Studio performs 50 percent faster than a Mac Pro with a 16-core Intel Xeon processor.
The Mac Studio was introduced alongside the Apple Studio Display, a 27-inch 5K monitor with an integrated 12 megapixel camera, six-speaker sound system with spatial audio and Dolby Atmos support and a height adjustable stand. Customers reported months-long shipping delays for the Mac Studio, attributed to a global chip shortage.{{cite news |date=March 8, 2022 |title=Delivery Estimates for Mac Studio and Studio Display Slip to April |url=https://www.macrumors.com/2022/03/08/mac-studio-studio-display-delivery-estimates-april/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220309195444/https://www.macrumors.com/2022/03/08/mac-studio-studio-display-delivery-estimates-april/ |archive-date=March 9, 2022 |access-date=March 10, 2022 |website=Mac Rumors}}{{cite news |date=March 8, 2022 |title=Mac Studio shipping dates already slipping to April and May |url=https://appleinsider.com/articles/22/03/08/mac-studio-shipping-dates-already-slipping-to-april-and-may |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220310101254/https://appleinsider.com/articles/22/03/08/mac-studio-shipping-dates-already-slipping-to-april-and-may |archive-date=March 10, 2022 |access-date=March 10, 2022 |work=Apple Insider}}
= Updates =
On June 5, 2023, during WWDC, Apple introduced updated Mac Studio models based on the M2 Max and M2 Ultra chips. Updates include Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 6E, the capability of running up to six 6K monitors, and support for 8K displays over Thunderbolt and HDMI.{{Cite web |title=Apple unveils new Mac Studio and brings Apple silicon to Mac Pro |url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2023/06/apple-unveils-new-mac-studio-and-brings-apple-silicon-to-mac-pro/ |access-date=2023-06-06 |website=Apple Newsroom |language=en-US}}
On March 5, 2025, updated Mac Studio models were announced with M4 Max and M3 Ultra chips, which began shipping on March 12. Updates include Thunderbolt 5, and memory configurable up to 512 GB and storage configurable up to 16 TB on the M3 Ultra models.{{cite web |last=Cunningham |first=Andrew |date=March 5, 2025 |title=Apple intros new Mac Studio models with M4 Max and… M3 Ultra? |url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/2025/03/apple-intros-new-mac-studio-models-with-m4-max-and-m3-ultra/ |access-date=March 5, 2025 |website=Ars Technica}} Despite the M4 chips being a newer generation than the M3 chips, the M3 Ultra was included in the high-end model due to there being no existing Ultra chips in the M4 line.https://arstechnica.com/apple/2025/03/apple-announces-m3-ultra-and-says-not-every-generation-will-see-an-ultra-chip/
= Repairability =
File:Mac Studio with Studio Display, Magic Keyboard, and Magic Trackpad in Apple Store.jpg, Magic Keyboard, and Magic Trackpad in an Apple Store]]
Mac Studio has two removable flash storage ports, with one or two of them in use, the latter in models with 4 or 8 TB of storage.{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Jon |date=March 24, 2022 |title=iFixit teardown offers a detailed look inside the Mac Studio and Studio Display |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/24/22994255/ifixit-mac-studio-display-teardown-ssd-removable-webcam-iphone-11 |access-date=March 30, 2022 |website=The Verge |language=en |archive-date=April 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220415012816/https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/24/22994255/ifixit-mac-studio-display-teardown-ssd-removable-webcam-iphone-11 |url-status=live }} While it is possible to swap the flash storage card between same size models, with an Apple Configurator restore,{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/iFixit/status/1506360427755712512 |date=2022-03-23 |title=iFixit on Twitter |access-date=April 20, 2022 |archive-date=April 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421113037/https://twitter.com/iFixit/status/1506360427755712512 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.ifixit.com/News/57898/mac-studio-teardown |title=Mac Studio Teardown: No Upgradable Storage … Yet |website=ifixit |date=2022-03-21 |access-date=April 21, 2022 |archive-date=April 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220420043526/https://www.ifixit.com/News/57898/mac-studio-teardown |url-status=live }} upgrading is not supported officially.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-23 |title=DIY storage upgrade for a Mac Studio |url=https://talk.tidbits.com/t/diy-storage-upgrade-for-a-mac-studio/28683 |access-date=2025-05-02 |website=TidBITS Talk |language=en}} Some reviewers have criticized this decision as unfriendly for right to repair, while Ars Technica notes this limitation may be due to the design of Apple silicon that implements the SSD controller into the system on a chip rather than the drive itself for encryption purposes.{{Cite web |last=Cunningham |first=Andrew |date=March 22, 2022 |title=Explaining the Mac Studio's removable SSDs, and why you can't simply swap them out |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/03/explaining-the-mac-studios-removable-ssds-and-why-you-cant-just-swap-them-out/ |access-date=March 30, 2022 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us |archive-date=May 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524041711/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/03/explaining-the-mac-studios-removable-ssds-and-why-you-cant-just-swap-them-out/ |url-status=live }} The positioning of components such as the SSD beneath an exposed power supply has also been criticized.{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/21/22989226/apple-mac-studios-removable-ssd-blocked-software-replacement|title=The Mac Studio's removable SSD is reportedly blocked by Apple on a software level|work=The Verge|date=March 22, 2022|access-date=March 22, 2022|archive-date=June 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220602193453/https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/21/22989226/apple-mac-studios-removable-ssd-blocked-software-replacement|url-status=live}}
Reception
{{section-stub|date=March 2025}}
Specifications
| class="wikitable collapsible" style="text-align:center; width:100%; font-size: 85%"
! Model ! colspan="2" | 2022{{Cite web|title=Mac Studio (2022) – Technical Specifications |url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/111900|access-date=2024-08-03|website=support.apple.com}} ! colspan="2" | 2023{{Cite web|title=Mac Studio (2023) – Technical Specifications |url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/111835|access-date=2025-03-16|website=support.apple.com}} ! colspan="2" | 2025{{Cite web|title=Mac Studio (2025) – Technical Specifications |url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/122211|access-date=2025-03-16|website=support.apple.com}} |
| Announced date
| colspan="2" | March 8, 2022 | colspan="2" | June 5, 2023 | colspan="2" |March 5, 2025 |
|---|
| Released date
| colspan="2" | March 18, 2022 | colspan="2" | June 13, 2023 | colspan="2" |March 12, 2025 |
| Discontinued date
| colspan="2" | June 5, 2023 | colspan="2" | March 5, 2025 | colspan="2" |In production |
| Chip
|10-core Apple M1 Max {{gray|Configurable to 10-core CPU, 32-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine}} |20-core Apple M1 Ultra {{gray|Configurable to 20-core CPU, 64-core GPU, and 32-core Neural Engine}} |12-core Apple M2 Max {{gray|Configurable to 12-core CPU, 38-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine}} |24-core Apple M2 Ultra {{gray|Configurable to 24-core CPU, 76-core GPU, and 32-core Neural Engine}} |14-core Apple M4 Max {{gray|Configurable to 16-core CPU, 40-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine}} |28-core Apple M3 Ultra {{gray|Configurable to 32-core CPU, 80-core GPU, and 32-core Neural Engine}} |
| Memory
| 32 GB | 64 GB | 32 GB | 64 GB |36 GB |96 GB |
| Storage
| colspan="4" | 512 GB (Max) or 1 TB (Ultra) SSD | colspan="2" |512 GB (Max) or 1 TB (Ultra) SSD |
| Wireless
| colspan="2" | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | colspan="4" | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) |
| Connectivity
| 4× Thunderbolt 3/USB4 USB-C ports (up to 40 Gbit/s) | 6× Thunderbolt 3/USB4 USB-C ports (up to 40 Gbit/s) | 4× Thunderbolt 4/USB4 USB-C ports (up to 40 Gbit/s) | 6× Thunderbolt 4/USB4 USB-C ports (up to 40 Gbit/s) |4× Thunderbolt 5/USB4 USB-C ports (up to 120 Gbit/s) |6× Thunderbolt 5/USB4 USB-C ports (up to 120 Gbit/s) |
| Power
| colspan="4" | 370 W | colspan="2" |480 W |
| Dimensions
| colspan="6" | {{convert|3.7|in|cm|abbr=on}} x {{convert|7.7|in|cm|abbr=on}} x {{convert|7.7|in|cm|abbr=on}} |
| Weight
|{{convert|5.9|lb|kg|2|abbr=on}} |{{convert|7.9|lb|kg|2|abbr=on}} |{{convert|5.9|lb|kg|2|abbr=on}} |{{convert|7.9|lb|kg|2|abbr=on}} |{{convert|6.1|lb|kg|2|abbr=on}} |{{convert|8.0|lb|kg|2|abbr=on}} |
| Greenhouse gas emissions
| 262 kg CO{{Sub|2}}e (32 GB memory and 512 GB storage){{Cite web |date=March 18, 2022 |title=Product Environmental Report Mac Studio (2022) |url=https://www.apple.com/environment/pdf/products/desktops/Mac_Studio_PER_March2022.pdf |access-date=August 3, 2024 |website=Apple}} | 375 kg CO{{Sub|2}}e (64 GB memory and 1 TB storage) | 290 kg CO{{Sub|2}}e (32 GB memory and 512 GB storage){{Cite web |date=March 5, 2025 |title=Product Environmental Report Mac Studio (2025) |url=https://www.apple.com/environment/pdf/products/desktops/Mac_Studio_PER_March2025.pdf |access-date=March 5, 2025 |website=Apple}} | 346 kg CO{{Sub|2}}e (64 GB memory and 1 TB storage) |276 kg CO{{Sub|2}}e (36 GB memory and 512 GB storage) |382 kg CO{{Sub|2}}e (96 GB memory and 1 TB storage) |
Software and operating systems
The macOS operating system has been pre-installed on all Mac Studio computers since release, starting with version macOS Monterey, which is the first release of macOS to ship with the original Mac Studio.
| class="wikitable" font-size:90%; text-align:center"
|+Supported macOS releases |
| OS release
!2022 !2023 !2025 |
|---|
| 12 Monterey
|{{Ya|text=12.2}} |{{n/a}} |{{n/a}} |
| 13 Ventura
|{{Ya}} |{{Ya|text=13.4}} |{{n/a}} |
| 14 Sonoma
|{{Ya}} |{{Ya}} |{{n/a}} |
| 15 Sequoia
|{{Ya}} |{{Ya}} |{{Ya|text=15.2}} |
{{Timeline of Power Macintosh, Pro, and Studio models}}
Notes
{{reflist|group=note}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website}}
{{Apple Inc.}}{{Apple hardware since 1998}}
{{Apple hardware}}
Category:Computer-related introductions in 2022