The newly announced Mac Studio is a much smaller yet extremely powerful device that's a bit like a miniature version of Apple's most expensive computer, the Mac Pro. Taking up a fraction of the space and sporting a new Apple Silicon processor, it's an intriguing middle ground that shows Apple is seeing enough growth in the computer division that it's ready to expand its desktop Mac lineup.
The Mac Pro is the most powerful computer Apple has ever made available to the public. The last update was in 2019, which is not unusual since this computer packs enough performance to hold a solid lead over most other computers for many years. The first Mac Pro was launched in 2006, followed six years later by the second generation model. All three are based on Intel's super fast Xeon chips that dominate even Apple's M1 Max chip in multi-core benchmarks. Packed full of heavy-duty technology with significant energy demands, the Mac Pro is a 40 pound beast of a computer.
Apple's newly announced Mac Studio is a powerful device with incredible performance, the maximum configuration exceeding even Apple's top-of-the-line MacBook Pro. Its new M1 Ultra chip sports 16 performance cores, four efficiency cores, and an incredible 64 graphics cores. Apple claims this new processor is twice as fast, beating Intel's best desktop PC chip and Nvidia's top graphics chip, using a fraction of the power needed by the top-performing chips from competitors. The entry-level model is also super-fast, powered by the M1 Max that gives the 2021 MacBook Pro its speed. Clearly, the Mac Studio will easily surpass the Mac Pro in single-core speeds since even the M1 Mac mini does. It isn't as clear which Mac computer will be the fastest in multi-core tests. However, it should be very close. If Apple's M1 Ultra does double performance across the board, it might be the fastest Mac even when pitted against a $6,000 Mac Pro.
Mac Studio Price & Availability
Apple's Mac Studio is a very exciting new desktop computer, and there is no doubt it will sell quickly. Starting at just $1,999 for the entry-level M1 Max configuration, it's a massive upgrade over an M1 Mac mini. The super-powerful M1 Ultra version has twice the performance at twice the price, costing $3,999. That's not a small investment but provides performance that most likely surpasses every other desktop personal computer on the market, making it a bargain if that much power is needed.
With the same footprint as a Mac mini, 7.7 by 7.7-inches, and a height of only 3.7-inches, the Mac Studio is tiny for such a powerful computer. It's easy to add accessories with four Thunderbolt 4/USB-C ports, two USB-A, HDMI, Ethernet and a headphone jack. Naturally, Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 are built-in, and up to 128 gigabytes of memory along with eight terabytes of storage can be configured. Apple's new Studio Display would complete an ultimate desktop Mac experience nicely. The Mac Studio is an incredible computer, and it's available to order right now, with shipping starting on March 18, 2022.
Source: Apple