Mac Studio gets updated with powerful M2 Max and M2 Ultra processors

Posted:
in macOS edited June 2023
Apple has announced a second generation of the Mac Studio, with the new version adding the M2 Max processor for up to 25% faster performance while retaining the same chassis as before.




Despite previous rumors that Apple would not update the Mac Studio, the company has used WWDC 2023 to unveil a new model. It had been speculated that the original Mac Studio was a stopgap while Apple worked on the Mac Pro, but this release means it will remain part of the Mac lineup.

The original Mac Studio was released in March 2022 in configurations with an M1 Max or an M1 Ultra processor. This new refresh offers M2 Max and M2 Ultra.

Speaking of the M2 Max, Apple's Jennifer Munn, Director, Engineering Program Management, said it is a "performance powerhouse."

"Developers can build new versions of apps at warp speed, with up to 25% faster performance than M1 Max," she said. "Motion Graphics designers using After Effects can render up to 50% Faster than M1 Max."

"Mac Studio with M2 Max is also four times faster than the most powerful Intel-based iMac," she continued.

Apple has announced that the newly updated Mac Studio starts at $1,999. Pre-orders start today, and shipping begins next week.

Mac Studio gains M2 Ultra

"It doubles the performance of M2 Macs," she said. "The 24-core CPU and M2 Ultra delivers 20% faster performance than M1 Ultra, and its 76-core GPU is 30% faster than M1 Ultra. Finally, the 32 core neural engine is 40% faster."

"And M2 Ultra can support and enormous 192GB of unified memory, which is 50% more than M1 Ultra," she continued, "enabling it to do things other chips just can't do."

Apple reveals updated Mac Studio
Apple reveals updated Mac Studio

"The new Mac Studio and Mac Pro with Apple silicon are the two most powerful Macs we've ever made," said John Ternus, Apple's senior vice president of Hardware Engineering. "Mac Studio has been a breakthrough for pros everywhere, and it's at the heart of hundreds of thousands of home and pro studios across the world."

Apple says that the new Mac Studio with M2 Max renders After Effects up to 50% faster than the original Mac Studio. Apple's Xcode can build new versions of their apps with 25% faster performance, too.

With the M2 Ultra, Apple says the Mac Studio offers twice the performance of the M2 Max "and is Apple's largest and most capable system on a chip (SoC) ever."

Comparing the Mac Studio with M1 Ultra to the new Mac Studio with M2 Ultra, Apple claims that Octane 3D images render up to three times faster. In addition, colorists in DaVinci Resolve will see up to 50% faster video processing.

Mac Studio connectivity

The new Mac Studio with M2 Max "now has higher-bandwidth HDMI," says Apple, "enabling up to 8K resolution and 240Hz frame rates."

With the M2 Ultra, Mac Studio can drive up to six Pro Display XDRs. It also comes with Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3.

Read on AppleInsider

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 15
    keithwkeithw Posts: 144member
    It will be very interesting to see the GPU benchmarks with the new M2 Ultra.  Regardless if you choose the Studio or the Mac Pro, there apparently will be NO discrete GPU options.
    williamlondon
  • Reply 2 of 15
    s.metcalfs.metcalf Posts: 978member
    They need a 120 Hz Studio display to compliment it.
    macxpressxixoh4y3s
  • Reply 3 of 15
    9secondkox29secondkox2 Posts: 2,835member
    A needed spec bump. 
  • Reply 4 of 15
    ApplePoorApplePoor Posts: 289member
    BIG $1,000 PRICE JUMP over my loaded M1 Ultra. The loaded Mac Pro Ultra is $11,799 while the fully loaded Studio is $8,799. The $3,000 extra gets access expansion slots...

    Sad that my fully loaded $7,200 2022 M1 Mac Studio Ultra has a trade in value today of only $1,500. That's about 80% depreciation in one year.....

    My jingle will remain in my pocket. 
    edited June 2023 williamlondonxixod_2
  • Reply 5 of 15
    anonymouseanonymouse Posts: 6,872member
    Hmmm, seems like only a short while ago that Bloomberg's Mark Gurman told us we wouldn't see these updated Mac Studios because Apple didn't know how to differentiate them from Mac Pros. Now we get both on one day. Maybe AI should start a Gurman Score Card, because everyone remembers when he gets something right, but no one usually talks about all the stuff he gets wrong. Is it even 50/50? Or is it just that he writes in an authoritative tone, so everyone thinks he's an oracle?
    thtforegoneconclusiondewmewilliamlondonmacxpressAlex_Vjony0
  • Reply 6 of 15
    chutzpahchutzpah Posts: 392member
    Hmmm, seems like only a short while ago that Bloomberg's Mark Gurman told us we wouldn't see these updated Mac Studios because Apple didn't know how to differentiate them from Mac Pros. Now we get both on one day. Maybe AI should start a Gurman Score Card, because everyone remembers when he gets something right, but no one usually talks about all the stuff he gets wrong. Is it even 50/50? Or is it just that he writes in an authoritative tone, so everyone thinks he's an oracle?
    In fairness to him, there is almost no differentiation between them on the inside apart from the amount of air; the only real variation is the slots and ports; Mac Pro has PCI, Mac Studio has SD.
    williamlondon
  • Reply 7 of 15
    ApplePoor said:
    BIG $1,000 PRICE JUMP over my loaded M1 Ultra. 
    M2 Ultra supports a higher level of unified memory than M1 Ultra...192 versus 128. 
    edited June 2023 williamlondon
  • Reply 8 of 15
    danoxdanox Posts: 3,043member
    s.metcalf said:
    They need a 120 Hz Studio display to compliment it.
    No, Games, AMD and Nvidia are dead to Apple.
    williamlondon
  • Reply 9 of 15
    swordpenswordpen Posts: 3member
    Gurman is a meathead drunk on his ego. I fully expect there are those at Apple who seed false information out there just to see him fall flat on his face. NO ONE requires inside sources to know the M3 is coming. He went past marginally amusing to outright buffoon when he authoritatively stated that the Mac Studio was End of Line. Me, a nobody, has been telling these jackasses in forums/YT vidz (Max Tech is the most idiotic) that OF COURSE there would be a M2 Studio. Apple had a sublime form factor and all they had to do was drop an updated motherboard inside. Gee and golly, today they did exactly that.
    macxpressAlex_Vjony0
  • Reply 10 of 15
    macxpressmacxpress Posts: 5,843member
    danox said:
    s.metcalf said:
    They need a 120 Hz Studio display to compliment it.
    No, Games, AMD and Nvidia are dead to Apple.
    Is that why Apple did a section of games on the Mac in the Keynote? Apple isn't interested in supporting power hungry video cards that need 1000watt power supplies and 15 cooling fans to function. That completely defeats the purpose of using Apple Silicon on any Mac in the first place. 
    edited June 2023 Alex_Vjony0
  • Reply 11 of 15
    macxpressmacxpress Posts: 5,843member
    swordpen said:
    Gurman is a meathead drunk on his ego. I fully expect there are those at Apple who seed false information out there just to see him fall flat on his face. NO ONE requires inside sources to know the M3 is coming. He went past marginally amusing to outright buffoon when he authoritatively stated that the Mac Studio was End of Line. Me, a nobody, has been telling these jackasses in forums/YT vidz (Max Tech is the most idiotic) that OF COURSE there would be a M2 Studio. Apple had a sublime form factor and all they had to do was drop an updated motherboard inside. Gee and golly, today they did exactly that.
    Mark Gurman is a complete egotistic dipshit. IDK why websites keep relying on him for what's called "accurate leaks". He just constantly throws all kinds of shit at the wall in hopes that one will stick so he can claim he was right. He's done this countless times. 
  • Reply 12 of 15
    xixoxixo Posts: 449member
    s.metcalf said:
    They need a 120 Hz Studio display to compliment it.
    it's called Apple Vision Pro

    at least nobody will have to buy two, unlike studio displays

    if I was samsung or sony or LG, i'd be worried

    for the price of their best 120" displays, you could outfit the entire family with Apple Vision Pros

    Apple Vision Pro is going to slaughter the external monitor / hi-def TV market
    edited June 2023 macike
  • Reply 13 of 15
    mac_dogmac_dog Posts: 1,071member
    xixo said:
    s.metcalf said:
    They need a 120 Hz Studio display to compliment it.
    Apple Vision Pro is going to slaughter the external monitor / hi-def TV market
    It’s also going to destroy theaters. 
  • Reply 14 of 15
    entropysentropys Posts: 4,212member
    I don’t know and out that. The vision pro might be great for personal viewing, but it is not really a social thing , like getting together to watch the footy over beer and Korean fried chicken. Or even top gun maverick.

    You would still want a big screen TV with home theatre for that.  
    edited June 2023 unbeliever2muthuk_vanalingam
  • Reply 15 of 15
    h4y3sh4y3s Posts: 83member
    "the footy"??
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