The Next Mac Studio: What to Expect from Apple's Powerful Desktop in 2026

Apple is actively developing an updated version of its Mac Studio, the company's most powerful desktop machine. This new iteration is expected to launch sometime in 2026, as supplies of existing machines are currently running low. This situation generates significant anticipation among the professional and creative community regarding Apple's upcoming innovations.

We do not expect significant design changes for the Mac Studio. The device will maintain its characteristic "squircle" design with rounded corners, similar to the Apple TV or Mac mini. Its compact dimensions, measuring 3.7 inches tall and 7.7 inches wide, distinguish it as a highly efficient desktop workstation. The next version will also support Thunderbolt 5, and there are no rumors of any changes to the port configuration.

The major highlight will be the adoption of M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips. Apple already debuted the M5 Max with the MacBook Pro models released in March, but the M5 Ultra remains a mystery. The current M5 Max offers up to an 18-core CPU and a 40-core GPU, with up to 614GB/s memory bandwidth. Apple states the M5 Max delivers up to 30 percent faster CPU performance for professional workloads than the M4 Max.

The M5 Ultra promises even better performance. Historically, Apple's Ultra chips have linked two Max chips together. This could mean up to a 36-core CPU and an 80-core GPU for the M5 Ultra. It is important to note that the current Mac Studio uses a mix of M4 Max and M3 Ultra chips, as Apple did not design an M4 Ultra chip. The M5 cycle is expected to unify the Mac Studio chip options to a single generation.

The current Mac Studio uses a mix of M4 Max and M3 Ultra chips, but the M5 cycle is expected to unify the chip options to a single generation.

In addition to the new processors, the upcoming Mac Studio could feature a faster SSD. The M5 MacBook Pro models already received this improvement, with speeds up to twice as fast as the SSD in the M4 MacBook Pro models. This optimization would result in significantly shorter loading and file transfer times for users.

RAM presents a particular challenge. Due to global RAM shortages, Apple discontinued the 512GB Mac Studio earlier this year. The current machine maxes out at 256GB RAM, a limitation we could also see with the next Mac Studio. The M5 Max MacBook Pro supports up to 128GB RAM, which will be the ceiling for the M5 Max Mac Studio. The M5 Ultra model, however, could support up to 256GB.

RAM shortages are expected to continue throughout the year. Companies manufacturing memory are prioritizing orders from companies building AI servers, which require huge amounts of RAM. This leaves little supply for consumer products, causing prices to increase. While many PC and smartphone makers have raised prices on existing machines, Apple has not changed current Mac Studio pricing.

Supply difficulties are already evident. Apple stopped accepting orders for some Mac Studio configurations in early April, and several models are now out of stock. Configurations with 128GB or 256GB of RAM can no longer be ordered. This does not necessarily signal an imminent new machine launch, but rather reflects Apple's challenges with soaring DRAM and NAND flash prices.