Mac Studio Buyer's Guide: Comparing the Generations
Little over a year since its introduction in 2022, Apple refreshed the Mac Studio, adding the M2 Max and M2 Ultra chips, so should you upgrade from the first- to the second-generation model? Likewise, is it still worthwhile buying the original Mac Studio?
The new Mac Studio's main upgrade is its chip, moving from the M1 Max and M1 Ultra to the M2 Max and M2 Ultra. Compared to their predecessors, the M2 Max and M2 Ultra feature a more powerful CPU that is 20 percent faster, a larger GPU that is up to 30 percent faster, and a Neural Engine that is up to 40 percent faster. The new chips also allow for larger amounts of memory, additional external displays, and newer Wi-Fi and Bluetooth specifications.
See the breakdown below for each new feature, change, and improvement that was added with the latest Mac Studio compared to the original model:
Mac Studio (Second-Generation, 2023)
- Apple M2 Max or M2 Ultra chip
- Up to 24-core CPU
- Up to 76-core GPU
- Up to 192GB unified memory
- HDMI 2.1 port
- Support for up to eight 4K displays, six 6K displays, or three 8K displays
- 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6E
- Bluetooth 5.3
Mac Studio (First-Generation, 2022)
- Apple M1 Max or M1 Ultra chip
- Up to 20-core CPU
- Up to 64-core GPU
- Up to 128GB unified memory
- HDMI 2.0 port
- Support for up to four Pro Display XDRs and one 4K display
- 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6
- Bluetooth 5.0
For most current Mac Studio users, it will likely not be worth upgrading to the new model. It is only worth upgrading if you need more than 128GB of memory, or can take advantage of the four additional CPU cores and 12 additional GPU cores of the M2 Ultra chip. Similarly, if you need to use more than four 6K external displays or even utilize an 8K external display, the new model unlocks these capabilities. Many of these improvements will only be directly relevant to a very small number of users. Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 are simply specification improvements and while they may offer minor benefits in specific instances and make the new Mac Studio more future-proof, they are not must-have upgrades.
On this basis, if you currently do not have a Mac Studio, it may still be worth buying the original model if you can find it for a substantially lower price with a third-party retailer or second-hand. The original model still offers outstanding performance that is better than the vast majority of Macs, with almost all of the same ports and connectivity as the new model.
Popular Stories
iOS 17.2 has been in beta testing for over a month, and it should be released to all users in a few more weeks. The software update includes many new features and changes for iPhones, including the dozen that we have highlighted below. iOS 17.2 is expected to be released to the public in mid-December. To learn about even more features coming in the update, check out our full list. Journal ...
Unidentified governments are surveilling smartphone users by tracking push notifications that move through Google's and Apple's servers, a US senator warned on Wednesday (via Reuters). In a letter to the Department of Justice, Senator Ron Wyden said foreign officials were demanding the data from the tech giants to track smartphones. The traffic flowing from apps that send push notifications...
Apple today released new firmware update for both the Lightning and USB-C versions of the AirPods Pro 2. The new firmware is version 6B34, up from the 6B32 firmware introduced in November. Apple does not provide details on what features might be included in the refreshed firmware beyond "bug fixes and other improvements," so it is unclear what's new in the update, but prior software releases ...
Apple's Korean suppliers have begun developing smartphone under-display cameras (UDC), paving the way for the first iPhone with a true "all-screen" appearance. According to The Elec, LG Innotek has entered the preliminary development of the UDC, which sits under the display and does not result in a visible hole in the panel when the camera is not in use. A UDC differs from a typical front ...
The iOS 17.2 update that Apple is set to release to the public in the near future will bring support for the next-generation Qi2 wireless charging standard to the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 models. Qi2 was mentioned in the release notes for the RC version of the update that came out today. With the addition of support for the new standard, iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 models will work with Qi2...
Recently, MacRumors has received details on the battery currently being tested on the upcoming fourth-generation iPhone SE, and the information corroborates previous findings in relation to the device. The iPhone SE 4, known by its device identifier D59, is expected to use the exact same battery found in the base model iPhone 14. Partially assembled prototypes of the next iPhone SE have been ...
Today we're tracking a collection of deals that are matching - or nearly matching - the same all-time low discounts we saw during Black Friday. This includes the AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C, 9th generation iPad, and M1 MacBook Air. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the ...
Meta has revealed plans to end Instagram users' ability to chat with Facebook accounts later this month, rolling back a feature that it introduced over three years ago. In September 2020, Meta (then Facebook) announced it was merging its Facebook Messenger service with Instagram direct messaging, allowing Instagram users to chat with Facebook users and vice versa using the same platform....
Top Rated Comments