Later this year, Apple will debut an updated version of Mac Studio powered by the M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips. This is a much-needed revamp. The current Mac Studio, released in early 2025, has M4 Max and M3 Ultra chips, so it’s quite a bit behind, at least on the high end.
The M5-based Mac Studio, which is supposed to be just a chip upgrade, is still on track to launch this year, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Garman. As we look to 2028, there may be more interesting changes in the pipeline.
If you’re considering Mac Studio, you’ve probably already experienced enough pain. Between the incredibly long wait times due to the surge in demand and lack of supply, the fact that the M3 Ultra chip in this computer is already obsolete, and the fact that you’ll have to put up with a much higher price thanks to recent price hikes.
Fortunately, things should look at least slightly up.
M5 refresh expected later this year
Stop if you’ve already heard it. But a new Mac Studio should be coming soon. According to a report last year, this refreshed version was supposed to hit the market by around WWDC. It wasn’t a problem when a memory crisis occurred, but it’s still never fun to wait that long.
Luckily, you won’t have to wait very long, as the M5 Ultra version is “slated for release this year,” according to Mark Gurman. This new design does not include a complete design overhaul, but simply adds new chips. However, the next iteration could be a different story.
2028 M7 Ultra
In 2028, Apple has some more interesting changes in the Mac Studio pipeline that should bring the M7 Ultra. In case you missed it, Apple is reportedly skipping all the high-end chips in the M6 family, so there will be a base M6 but no M6 Pro, Max, or Ultra. From the report:
Apple has two Mac Studio updates in the pipeline. The M5 Ultra version is expected this year, and the M7 Ultra update is scheduled for 2028. We’ve heard that Apple is also working on internal changes to its high-power desktops, including improved heatsinks to improve thermal performance for more demanding on-device AI workloads. We don’t expect a major redesign, at least not on the M5 Ultra model.
The better heatsink is definitely a welcome addition for those already pushing their Mac Studio to its limits, but it’s not clear whether this change refers to the M5 Ultra or M7 Ultra models.
Garman also mentioned the possibility of the M7 Ultra model being redesigned, but also noted that Apple tends to maintain desktop designs over time.
Overall, if you’re a Mac Studio fan or considering purchasing one, we hope this is positive news for you.
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