M5 Ultra Mac Studio Could Launch in 2026 With Up to 768GB of RAM

[MacRumors]

Despite price increases across the Mac line, Apple is still planning to release a new Mac Studio as soon as this year, reports Bloomberg.

Apple plans to introduce a new M5 Ultra chip as the final option in the M5 family before it transitions to the M6, M7, M7 Pro, and M7 Max. The M5 Ultra will come in a new version of the Mac Studio, which hasn't been updated since March 2025.

The Mac Studio refresh was supposed to come earlier in 2026, but Apple reportedly postponed the launch because of memory chip supply issues and price increases. In April, Bloomberg said the Mac Studio would launch sometime around October 2026.

It's not clear if Apple will make an October launch. The current M3 Ultra Mac Studio already has delivery estimates ranging into October.

The M5 Ultra chip is expected to have around 36 CPU cores and 80 GPU cores, which is not too far off from the M3 Ultra. The M3 Ultra has up to a 32-core CPU and up to an 80-core GPU. Apple has tested support for up to 768GB of unified memory, but supply constraints could prevent it from launching with an option for that much memory.

Apple was selling the M3 Ultra Mac Studio with up to 512GB RAM, but the 512GB model was removed back in March. Apple has been temporarily cutting higher-tier Macs, and the current M3 Ultra Mac Studio can only be purchased with 96GB RAM.

Even if Apple does plan to release a Mac Studio with an M5 Ultra chip and 768GB RAM, it would be astronomically expensive. When Apple raised Mac prices today, the 96GB Mac Studio went from $3,999 to $5,299, an increase of $1,300. 8x more RAM during the memory crisis could see the Mac Studio priced at over $10,000.

Article Link: M5 Ultra Mac Studio Could Launch in 2026 With Up to 768GB of RAM

 

[MacUserFella]

For the low price of both kidneys and the lungs, lovely!

 

[contacos]

Time to get that OF account I guess

 

[iLuddite]

Only $45k plus tax!

 

[adisor19]

LMAO they had to cut the M3 Ultra 512GB option cause they can't get enough RAM and you expect them to launch the M5 Ultra version with 768GB of RAM ?!

I'll eat my hat if that happens.

 

[Eminemdrdre00]

and it will cost $1 million dollars!

 

[De4our]

LMAO they had to cut the M3 Ultra 512GB option cause they can't get enough RAM and you expect them to launch the M5 Ultra version with 768GB of RAM ?!

I'll eat my hat if that happens.

M5 family does not use the same type of RAM as M3.

M5 Max MacBook Pro’s with 128GB of RAM have been readily available. They’ve clearly been stockpiling whatever memory they’ll need for the M5 Ultra Mac Studio, hence the long delay.

 

[McWetty]

I don’t think mathematics has calculated a number that can adequately represent the MSRP of that much RAM… $Google? Nah.

 

[RodThePlod]

and it will cost $1 million dollars!

…and we think you’re going to love it!

 

[Billy_Bob]

Back in 2019, a fully-maxed out Intel Mac Pro (1.5TB of ECC RAM, 8TB SSD, dual Radeon video cards, etc.) could cost you more than $50,000. And that's without a monitor (or $999 monitor stand). Maybe those days are returning.

 

[Hammerd]

It has to be a joke at this point

 

[psingh01]

Back in 2019, a fully-maxed out Intel Mac Pro (1.5TB of ECC RAM, 8TB SSD, dual Radeon video cards, etc.) could cost you more than $50,000. And that's without a monitor (or $999 monitor stand). Maybe those days are returning.

thats when apple could afford to sell it at such an affordable price.

 

[csalm87]

And cost 768,000 dollars lol

 

[HouseLannister]

Just introduce any desktop computer in 2026. Show us that is still a product category.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Only Apple Senior Execs will be able to afford it

 

[JosephAW]

Take my XRP money, oh wait never mind. 😛💰

 

[rick3000]

In this economy...

 

[Elwe]

I know people don’t want to hear or believe it, but Apple would sell a ton of these for $10k if it has that much memory. At least for a year or two, or until a drastic change in LLM models happens. I know my primary employer would purchase at least a hundred of these, given some of the token costs we are currently seeing.

Boards and CEOs are still spending stupidly on anything AI, because investors are mostly rewarding them for it. And I’m an investor, among other things. CFOs are beginning to wake up, but just barely. And many are just keeping their heads down, firing a ton of people, taking on massive debt—and praying they get out with their payday before the inevitable hits. It is really hard for any experienced CFO not to see what is happening, but they aren’t in charge right now. I very nicely read this organization’s CFO the riot act about this stuff about half a year ago, and he looked at me with eyes that said “and what exactly do you expect me to do about it”? This is a person I have immense respect for; he was accurately reflecting the situation. It would not do me nor him any good for him to quit in outrage. This is industries-wide, and the only thing we can do is minimize the damage. And if you are self-interested, get yours before the bottom falls out. It feels like this is a mix of the mid 1980s and 1999. There were success stories amongst all that carnage.

 

[BootsWalking]

DRAM pricing is so volatile these Macs will be like ordering fish at a restaurant.

"What is the market price for the 768GB Mac today? And does it come with fries?"

 

[Naraxus]

So many comedians here conveniently forgetting that this type of Mac isn't geared towards the average Joe Sixpack consumer. It's target market are professionals (not prosumers) that work in fields like animation, health care, other sciences.

In other words it's for companies for whom such an expense is the eqivalent of couch fishing coins for the rest of us.

But I suppose it's easier to make jokes than to apply critical thinking skills.....

 

[BeatsByTim]

When the AI bubble pops here soon then all the greedy South Korean memory producers will be forced to bring their prices back down to Earth, then Tim Cook will immediately lower prices again.

 

[CWallace]

The 512GB BTO option for the M3 Ultra was $4000, so my guess is the 768GB BTO option for the M5 Ultra will be $8000.

 

[Charlie Bonesx]

LMAO they had to cut the M3 Ultra 512GB option cause they can't get enough RAM and you expect them to launch the M5 Ultra version with 768GB of RAM ?!

I'll eat my hat if that happens.

Not the same ram

 

[turbineseaplane]

So many comedians here conveniently forgetting that this type of Mac isn't geared towards the average Joe Sixpack consumer. It's target market are professionals (not prosumers) that work in fields like animation, health care, other sciences.

In other words it's for companies for whom such an expense is the eqivalent of couch fishing coins for the rest of us.

But I suppose it's easier to make jokes than to apply critical thinking skills.....

Life is tough these days ... no need to be so serious about it all.
This is just a forum where we yap about Apple stuff after all.

It all matters not my friend. ✌️

 

[BeatsByTim]

So many comedians here conveniently forgetting that this type of Mac isn't geared towards the average Joe Sixpack consumer. It's target market are professionals (not prosumers) that work in fields like animation, health care, other sciences.

In other words it's for companies for whom such an expense is the eqivalent of couch fishing coins for the rest of us.

But I suppose it's easier to make jokes than to apply critical thinking skills.....

Nobody needs a Mac at all. They are luxury items.