Apple Opens Pre-Orders for Mac Studio with M5 Max and M5 Ultra Chips
Apple’s Most Powerful Desktop Gets an Upgrade
Apple has opened pre-orders for the new Mac Studio with M5 Max and M5 Ultra, giving buyers access to Apple’s latest high-performance desktop before general availability begins on September 22, 2026. Pre-orders started on August 25 through Apple’s online store and Apple Store app in 30 countries and regions.
| Model | Starting Price | Education Pricing (US) |
|---|---|---|
| Mac Studio M5 Max | $2,499 | From $2,299 |
| Mac Studio M5 Ultra | $5,499 | From $5,099 |
Note: Apple is also offering configure-to-order options for buyers who need additional GPU cores, unified memory, or SSD storage.
Mac Studio M5 Max vs M5 Ultra: Specs Comparison
| Specification | M5 Max | M5 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 18 cores | Up to 36 cores |
| GPU | Up to 40 cores | Up to 80 cores |
| Base Unified Memory | 36GB | 96GB |
| Maximum Memory | 128GB | 512GB |
| Base Storage | 512GB SSD | 1TB SSD |
| Memory Bandwidth | Up to 614GB/s | Up to 1.2TB/s |
| Starting Price | $2,499 | $5,499 |
M5 Max Mac Studio: High-Performance Workhorse
The M5 Max Mac Studio is designed for professionals who need exceptional performance for demanding workflows.
Key Specifications
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| CPU | 18-core CPU |
| GPU | Up to 40-core GPU with Neural Accelerators in every core |
| Unified Memory | 36GB base, configurable up to 128GB |
| Memory Bandwidth | Up to 614GB/s |
| Base Storage | 512GB SSD |
Who It’s For
The M5 Max Mac Studio is ideal for:
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Video editors working with 4K, 6K, or 8K footage
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3D artists and animators
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Software developers compiling large codebases
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Music producers with complex DAW projects
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AI developers running local models
M5 Ultra Mac Studio: The Ultimate Desktop
The M5 Ultra represents the pinnacle of Apple Silicon performance. Apple builds M5 Ultra by connecting two dual-die M5 Max chips through its next-generation UltraFusion architecture.
Key Specifications
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| CPU | Up to 36 cores |
| GPU | Up to 80 cores |
| Unified Memory | 96GB base, configurable up to 512GB |
| Memory Bandwidth | Up to 1.2TB/s |
| Base Storage | 1TB SSD |
Performance Capabilities
| Workload | Advantage over M5 Max |
|---|---|
| Large Language Models | 4× more memory capacity |
| 3D Rendering | 2× more GPU cores |
| Video Processing | Higher throughput with 80-core GPU |
| Scientific Computing | 1.2TB/s memory bandwidth |
| Multitasking | 36-core CPU for extreme workloads |
Who It’s For
The M5 Ultra Mac Studio is designed for the most demanding users:
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Researchers running large AI models locally (512GB memory allows models like Llama 3.1 405B to run entirely in memory)
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Film and video professionals working with multi-stream 8K ProRes RAW
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Scientific computing and simulation workloads
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Developers building and testing large-scale applications
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3D rendering studios with complex scenes
Connectivity and Ports
Both Mac Studio models feature extensive connectivity options:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Front Ports | Two USB-C ports and an SDXC card slot |
| Rear Ports | Four Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI, 10Gb Ethernet |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 |
| External Displays | Support for up to 8 displays |
Note: The number of external displays supported depends on the specific configuration. The M5 Ultra can support the most displays due to its higher GPU capabilities.
How to Pre-Order the New Mac Studio
Step-by-Step Instructions
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Go to the Apple Store website or open the Apple Store app on your iPhone or iPad.
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Select Mac from the product categories and choose Mac Studio.
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Tap or click Buy to open the configuration page.
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Choose between the M5 Max and M5 Ultra models.
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Select the available CPU and GPU configuration based on the performance you need.
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Choose your unified memory capacity:
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M5 Max: up to 128GB
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M5 Ultra: up to 512GB
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Select the required SSD capacity (higher storage configurations are useful for large video libraries, development projects, local AI models, and other workloads involving large datasets).
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Add optional software or AppleCare+ if required.
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Select Add to Bag and review the complete configuration, price, estimated delivery date, and available pickup options.
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Sign in with your Apple Account, enter your shipping and payment information, and complete the order.
Payment and Discounts
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Apple accepts several payment and financing options depending on the country.
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Education pricing is also available to eligible customers.
When Will the New Mac Studio Arrive?
Apple says the M5 Max and M5 Ultra Mac Studio will start arriving to customers on September 22, when the machines will also become available through Apple Stores and authorized resellers.
Important Shipping Note
Buyers planning the highest-memory configuration will have to wait longer. Apple says the Mac Studio with 512GB of unified memory will become available in late October, so that configuration cannot ship alongside the standard September release.
| Configuration | Availability |
|---|---|
| M5 Max (all configurations) | September 22, 2026 |
| M5 Ultra (standard configurations) | September 22, 2026 |
| M5 Ultra with 512GB memory | Late October 2026 |
Which Mac Studio Should You Choose?
| User Type | Recommended Model | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Video editors, 3D artists, developers | M5 Max Mac Studio | 18-core CPU, up to 40-core GPU, 128GB memory, 614GB/s bandwidth |
| AI researchers, film professionals | M5 Ultra Mac Studio | 36-core CPU, 80-core GPU, 512GB memory, 1.2TB/s bandwidth |
| Scientific computing, large-scale rendering | M5 Ultra Mac Studio | 2× the cores, 4× the memory, 2× the bandwidth |
| Users running Llama 3.1 405B locally | M5 Ultra with 512GB memory | Required for 405B parameter models to run entirely in memory |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the starting price of the new Mac Studio?
The M5 Max Mac Studio starts at $2,499**. The M5 Ultra model starts at **$5,499.
When will the new Mac Studio be available?
Pre-orders opened on August 25, 2026, with deliveries beginning September 22, 2026.
What is the M5 Ultra chip?
The M5 Ultra is Apple’s most powerful chip, featuring up to a 36-core CPU, 80-core GPU, support for 512GB of unified memory, and 1.2TB/s of memory bandwidth.
How much memory can I configure?
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M5 Max Mac Studio: up to 128GB unified memory
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M5 Ultra Mac Studio: up to 512GB unified memory
Will the 512GB Mac Studio be available at launch?
No. The Mac Studio with 512GB of unified memory will become available in late October 2026.
What connectivity features does the Mac Studio have?
Both models feature front USB-C and SDXC ports, rear Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI, 10Gb Ethernet, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 6.
Does Apple offer education pricing?
Yes. Eligible customers can get education pricing, with the M5 Max starting at $2,299 and the M5 Ultra starting at $5,099 in the US.
Final Thoughts
The new Mac Studio with M5 Max and M5 Ultra represents the pinnacle of Apple Silicon performance. The M5 Ultra, in particular, is a groundbreaking machine that pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in a desktop form factor.
The bottom line: Whether you’re a video editor needing 128GB of memory or an AI researcher requiring 512GB to run models like Llama 3.1 405B locally, the Mac Studio lineup has a configuration for you. Pre-orders are open now, with the first units arriving on September 22.
