Gurman: Mac Studio Isn't One-Off Stopgap Product, New Models Planned

[MacRumors]

Apple plans to release at least two new Mac Studio models in the future, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. This information suggests that the Mac Studio was not a one-off stopgap product amid the wait for the first Mac Pro with Apple silicon.

In his newsletter today, focused on new MacBooks and other announcements planned for WWDC, Gurman briefly mentioned that "there are also two Mac Studio follow-ups planned, but their timing is less clear." He did not share further details about the new models, so tech specs and release timing remain unknown for now.

Apple released the Mac Studio and its companion Studio Display in March 2022. The high-end desktop computer is available with Apple's M1 Max and M1 Ultra chips, with pricing for these configurations starting at $1,999 and $3,999, respectively. The higher-end Mac Studio with the M1 Ultra chip is currently the fastest Mac ever released.

In February, Gurman said the next Mac Pro would be equipped with an M2 Ultra chip and offer "very similar" functionality as the Mac Studio. As a result, he said it "wouldn't make sense" for Apple to release a Mac Studio with an M2 Ultra chip, suggesting that the computer might not be updated until M3 Max and M3 Ultra chips are ready at least. If so, the next Mac Studio would likely be released in 2024 at the earliest.

Article Link: Gurman: Mac Studio Isn't One-Off Stopgap Product, New Models Planned

 

[rxse7en]

So glad they finally have a “mid-range” upgradeable Mac back in the lineup.

 

[ThisBougieLife]

It will be interesting to see how the Mac Pro is differentiated from the Mac Studio, if they will end up using the same processors.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Can we get a new Mac Studio in new colors, please?

 

[Ethosik]

Just please fix the annoying fan whine issue. I would take a louder fan over a very faint whine that is nails on a chalkboard. If this is done this will be a perfect product that fits my needs.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

It will be interesting to see how the Mac Pro is differentiated from the Mac Studio, if they will end up using the same processors.

Mac Pro you will be able to customize it freely which Mac Studio you won't be able too.

 

[Realityck]

Gurman briefly mentioned that "there are also two Mac Studio follow-ups planned, but their timing is less clear." He did not share further details about the new models, so tech specs and release timing remain unknown for now.

I think Apple created their own problem here or mess depending how you look at this, there is only one Mac Model utilizing a M1 Ultra the Mac Studio, necessitating a M2 Ultra before you can update the Mac Studio with newer M2 MaX SoC's.

They badly need to have a second product, say the AS Mac Pro that also uses M2 Ultras.

 

[Mac Hammer Fan]

I am looking forward to the Mac Studio M3 Max with the 3 nm chip. Until then, my current Mac Studio is perfect for my needs. No need for me for other colors in the future.

 

[Ceecephous]

Mac Pro you will be able to customize it freely which Mac Studio you won't be able too.

Can we put a rtx 4090 in there ?

 

[macsplusmacs]

For the love of Pete, Apple, PLEASE at least show us a Mac Pro preview at WWDC.

 

[Alan Wynn]

Can we put a rtx 4090 in there ?

Do you mean put it in and use it, or just have it there as a place to store it? If the former, quite unlikely, if the latter, certainly possible.

 

[GMShadow]

For the love of Pete, Apple, PLEASE at least show us a Mac Pro preview at WWDC.

The last four generations of professional Macs have been announced at WWDC, i expect the fifth will be.

 

[blazerunner]

Tim Cook flapped his gums about another intel based mac pro.. That was 3 years ago.

 

[JPack]

I don't think anybody in the world thought it was a stopgap.

Mac mini tops out at $1,299. Mac Pro starts at $5,999. Having a product in between makes sense.

 

[ThisBougieLife]

Tim Cook flapped his gums about another intel based mac pro.. That was 3 years ago.

Did he? I thought he simply said there were more Intel Macs coming (which ended up being the final update to the 27" iMac).

 

[CWallace]

For what I need, the M2 Pro Mac mini will be my next Mac (replacing my 2020 iMac 5K), but I am glad that Apple is continuing to refresh the Mac Studio as that would be my upgrade path should I ever need more performance.

 

[CWallace]

It will be interesting to see how the Mac Pro is differentiated from the Mac Studio, if they will end up using the same processors.

My guess would be PCIe expansion slots for things like storage, video capture and audio equipment connectivity since it is said to use the 2019 Mac Pro's case and the M2 Ultra and it's on-package RAM won't need anywhere near the space the Xeon and RAM DIMMs do so it will have a shedload of open volume.

 

[MGrayson3]

The mac Mini and Studio are part of a single product line. The price depends on which processor, how much memory, how much storage .. some of those combinations are called a Mini - some are called a studio. I wouldn't be surprised if the Pro were just a continuation of that product into the >$8,000 regime with more cores, RAM, and SSD.

 

[paradox00]

I don't think anybody in the world thought it was a stopgap.

Mac mini tops out at $1,299. Mac Pro starts at $5,999. Having a product in between makes sense.

The Mac mini tops out at $4499 (with all upgrades included), not $1299. A Mac mini with its best CPU and configured with 32 GB ram and 512GB SSD like the base Mac Pro costs $1999, which is also greater than $1299.

I'm not pointing this out because it refutes your point, but because it's an example of why you need to actually need to configure the Macs if you're going to compare prices. Just looking at the base prices Apple lists paints a very incomplete picture.

 

[rpmurray]

I don't think anybody in the world thought it was a stopgap.

Mac mini tops out at $1,299. Mac Pro starts at $5,999. Having a product in between makes sense.

I thought it was a stopgap, much like the iMac Pro. Once the new Mac Pro is released I don't see Apple doing anything else with the Mac Studio.

 

[nihil0]

I wrote it before and I'll write it again: One of the greatest benefints regarding Apple's own CPUs was that they will no longer have to rely on other party to provide them with upgrades and there will be shorter upgrade cycles between devices. Yet, M2 chips have been out for some time, 12-core M2 Pro is beating 10-core M1 Max in CPU related tasks and yet, no upgrade for Mac Studio.

 

[turbineseaplane]

So glad they finally have a “mid-range” upgradeable Mac back in the lineup.

It’s not upgradable

I think you mean configurable at the time of purchase

All Macs are configurable at the time of purchase as well as expandable
(external storage and other external peripherals)

Upgradable ≠ Configurable ≠ Expandable

All different terms that mean very different things.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Mac Pro you will be able to customize it freely which Mac Studio you won't be able too.

This remains the one and only point of differentiation anyone can think of, and I hope it's true. But I kind of doubt it. Unified memory kind of rules out RAM modules. Apple's feud with nVidia rules out any RTX cards. The architecture makes video cards as a whole questionable. What's left? USB add-in cards, sound cards, network cards, etc. Nothing exciting, but better than nothing. Highly niche though, even more than it was.

I hope I'm wrong but it seems like the modularity might be much more limited than it used to be, at which point why pay so much more?

 

[ThisBougieLife]

The latest rumors indicated only storage would be upgradable. That certainly isn’t enough to justify a $5K starting price…

 

[Realityck]

The architecture makes video cards as a whole questionable. What's left?

Plug in Cards that have the CPU/RAM/SSD that can be swapped was one working theory of what Apple might show off for a modular AS Mac Pro. There was also discussion of an Apple GPU Plug in card. This is not been verified, but its possible.