Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Mac Studio Speculation [Merged]
- Thread starter darkus
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Mac mini don't have 64GB of ram, that's an issue for many people but that's why I guess they have Mac Studio with 64/128gb ram
Some are professionals who do not work for a company with an IT dept. For example larger recording studios like PCIe expansion but don’t have the capital to buy $20k machines so a cheaper Mac Pro ($5-7K) likely would be ideal. Video editors and other creatives who often work freelance or for startups or small agencies also like Mac Pro’s for their expandability and power - but are still price conscious.
And it will likely never exist either. Mac mini are covering the M2 and Pro section, Mac Studio Max and Ultra. If you think about it it's kind of alright and it will keep the price down for the Mac mini for ordinary people and the mid "people" are going for the Mac Studio.
For laptops Apple have made it confusing as they have MacBook Pro 13" Pro with M1/M2.
Better way to approach it would be;
MacBook Air - M2 with 8GB to 24GB of Ram, Disk; 256GB to 2TB
MacBook 13" - M2 with 16GB to 32GB of RAM, Disk; 512GB to 2TB.
MacBook Pro - Pro and Max CPU's with 16GB to 96GB of Ram and minimum 1TB disk then up to 8TB or what Apple have as max.
With this they can keep the price down for the MacBook and MacBook Air and the Air should be thin etc. and Macbook a little thicker with fan etc.
Looking at Apple’s lineup currently, I’m thinking the base M2 Max Mac Studio may end up with a price increase. The reason is that the Mini pricing won’t make sense if a 32GB M2 Max Studio comes out at $1999. The Mini with 12 core M2 Pro, 32GB RAM, 10Gbps ethernet comes to $2099, so you would be saving $100 to get equivalent CPU, a much better GPU, more cooling and more ports. My guess is the Studio will set up at $2299 for the base model and go up from there.
That is of course assuming the Studio will get an update, IMO it will for sure as Apple seems all in on ”Studio” as a new product class.
That is of course assuming the Studio will get an update, IMO it will for sure as Apple seems all in on ”Studio” as a new product class.
I wouldn't be surprised if the price went up, especially in the United Kingdom.
It would be a shame as I was thinking of going from the M1 Max Studio to an M2 Ultra Studio.
making a basic presumption that Pro to Max pricing can be taken from MBP
that being
250 for M2 Pro 12/19 to M2 Max 12/30
+ whatever increase in the studio chassis compared with mini chassis
mini 2 Pro 12/19 with 512gb Storage and 10gbe is 2199 so already 200 more then studio here in UK.
so I would predict here in UK that likely for base M2 max that looking about 2.5k or roughly 500 uplift from M1.
that is based on
2199 Mini at equiv spec but with m2 pro 12/19.
+ 250 for Pro to Max Soc (taken from MBP pricing for upgrade of SoC)
+ 50 for chassis upgrade from mini to studio itself (feeling generous there)
=2499.
i could not see Apple wanting to leave the pricing anomoly of the Mini pro vs studio that currently exists, and don’t see the mini lowering.
that being
250 for M2 Pro 12/19 to M2 Max 12/30
+ whatever increase in the studio chassis compared with mini chassis
mini 2 Pro 12/19 with 512gb Storage and 10gbe is 2199 so already 200 more then studio here in UK.
so I would predict here in UK that likely for base M2 max that looking about 2.5k or roughly 500 uplift from M1.
that is based on
2199 Mini at equiv spec but with m2 pro 12/19.
+ 250 for Pro to Max Soc (taken from MBP pricing for upgrade of SoC)
+ 50 for chassis upgrade from mini to studio itself (feeling generous there)
=2499.
i could not see Apple wanting to leave the pricing anomoly of the Mini pro vs studio that currently exists, and don’t see the mini lowering.
I don't think a price increase innately makes sense for that reason. Apple has always had products where there's overlap, and speccing up a lower-cost model ends up being less cost-effective than buying the more expensive one. There's a 700 USD different between the M2 Pro Mini and the M1 Max Studio; that you can bridge it and the Pro Mini seems less smart isn't surprising. (They used to even have weird BTO tiers where if you spec'd a machine yourself from the base model it would be more expensive than selecting the higher models and upgrading that one instead, though I haven't seen that in recent years.)
For example, you equip your M2 Air with 512GB of storage and 16GB of RAM, and you're at $1699 already—only $300 less than the M2 MacBook Pro, where for that price you get the same RAM and storage but much more performance, more ports, battery life, and a superior screen. Obviously there's portability concerns with the MBA/MBP comparison that aren't as relevant to a desktop (unless you really need a low-profile computer) but from a "what you get for your money" value there's always a bell curve where the cheap products aren't great, there's a sweet middle, and then you start spending $10K on hardware that is a waste of money unless you directly make your living off it.
Of course, this is Apple, so maybe they will raise the price (you're a fool to wager against them there!) but the price also seems anchored to being a reasonable 27" iMac replacement. Starting it at "under" $2K is important to them, I imagine, and that's probably what they set out to do when they designed the Studio.
Just wonder that if the M2 chips are out do we expect the Mac Studio to be refreshed this year?
I've ordered Mac Mini M2 Pro to test if it fits my needs but I feel the Studio would be better.
March event again, maybe? Realistically the chips are good to go as Max is out and Ultra is 2xMax so Apple can pull the trigger anytime, no?
What are your thoughts?
I've ordered Mac Mini M2 Pro to test if it fits my needs but I feel the Studio would be better.
March event again, maybe? Realistically the chips are good to go as Max is out and Ultra is 2xMax so Apple can pull the trigger anytime, no?
What are your thoughts?
im hoping March since itll be 1 year since the m1 version, but who knows. My overall guess would be:
1) March 2023 (due to the m1 studio being released March last year)
2) June 2023 (5 month buffer after m2 macbook release. That's if they follow the same time buffer of ~5 months between the original m1 macbook release in October and studio release in March)
3) ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
1) March 2023 (due to the m1 studio being released March last year)
2) June 2023 (5 month buffer after m2 macbook release. That's if they follow the same time buffer of ~5 months between the original m1 macbook release in October and studio release in March)
3) ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I also fear that Apple might differentiate the high-end Mac Mini and base Mac Studio by increasing the price of the Mac Studio. The question is whether Apple adds any additional features / capabilities to the Mac Studio that it already doesn't have and the Mac Mini wasn't recently given (e.g. HDMI 2.1) to justify the increase?
The only thing I can think of is increased CPU / GPU clock-speed along the lines of "High Power" mode that the 16" Macbook Pro Max has. Since the MacStudio has powerful fans I can see this as something that Apple can do and could help justify a price increase. More performance would be nice. How else would Apple differentiate the Mac Mini and Mac Studio?
I agree. Interestingly enough I think that it all depends when Apple plans on announcing the long-awaited AR/VR headset (if it indeed comes this year as rumors suspect). I can see two scenarios:
- At a Spring event, Apple announces an updated M2 iMac and the AR/VR headset. Then at WWDC, Apple releases the M2 Mac Studio alongside the new MacPro.
- At a Spring event, Apple announces an updated M2 iMac and M2 Mac Studio. Then at WWDC, Apple releases the AR/VR headset alongside the new MacPro.
I hope this is not the scenario, but because Apple released the Mac mini Pro, they could wait to upgrade the Mac Studio. But...(and here is the dilemma...)
Possible Predictions:
No March update on the Mac Studio. Apple would prefer to have people continue to purchase the Mac mini or Mac mini Pro, INCLUDING those who look at the Mac mini Pro specs. and are having a mental debate as to which one to get (either M2 Mac mini Pro or M1 Mac Studio). Those who compare Maxed out Mac mini Pro or base Mac Studio will see that the Mac Studio is the better per $ purchase. M1 Mac Studio sales therefore will still continue...so no March update, it cuts into Mac mini Pro sales.
Given no March event for an update to the Mac Studio we come to June...
No June update on the Mac Studio. "If" Mac Pro comes along, updating the Mac Studio conflicts with M2 Mac Pro. Apple would want purchasing power targeted to the Mac Pro instead of the Mac Studio.
"If" or "when" Mac Studio is updated to a M2, it would probably (the soonest) in the Fall or later.
The Mac Studio is on its first year, so we do not know how Apple looks at Mac Studio as far as its updating cycle. There is no "before" reference for Mac Studio to base expectations yet since it is on its first year product cycle.
Again, just some thought and observations. I could be wrong of course (I hope), but Apple "could" milk Mac Studio longer without an upgrade for awhile.
I REALLY want a M2 (or M3) Mac Studio. Like the stock market, we have to just take changes with our purchasing with Apple and either do a guessing game or just buy when there is a need.
Possible Predictions:
No March update on the Mac Studio. Apple would prefer to have people continue to purchase the Mac mini or Mac mini Pro, INCLUDING those who look at the Mac mini Pro specs. and are having a mental debate as to which one to get (either M2 Mac mini Pro or M1 Mac Studio). Those who compare Maxed out Mac mini Pro or base Mac Studio will see that the Mac Studio is the better per $ purchase. M1 Mac Studio sales therefore will still continue...so no March update, it cuts into Mac mini Pro sales.
Given no March event for an update to the Mac Studio we come to June...
No June update on the Mac Studio. "If" Mac Pro comes along, updating the Mac Studio conflicts with M2 Mac Pro. Apple would want purchasing power targeted to the Mac Pro instead of the Mac Studio.
"If" or "when" Mac Studio is updated to a M2, it would probably (the soonest) in the Fall or later.
The Mac Studio is on its first year, so we do not know how Apple looks at Mac Studio as far as its updating cycle. There is no "before" reference for Mac Studio to base expectations yet since it is on its first year product cycle.
Again, just some thought and observations. I could be wrong of course (I hope), but Apple "could" milk Mac Studio longer without an upgrade for awhile.
I REALLY want a M2 (or M3) Mac Studio. Like the stock market, we have to just take changes with our purchasing with Apple and either do a guessing game or just buy when there is a need.
I think the explanation for the lack of M2 Max Studio is that they don't want to launch it without an M2 Ultra model - which may also mean synchronising with the M2 Mac Pro launch (which I assume will come with an M2 Ultra).
Similar reason for the lack of an M2 iMac: there may be an M2 Pro iMac coming in a 27 inch size, so they are waiting for that to launch simultaneously.
Apple could in theory have launched all of these products at once, but I bet it's currently clearing M1 inventory and doesn't want to stress supply chains and create long lead times by introducing too many new products at once.
Similar reason for the lack of an M2 iMac: there may be an M2 Pro iMac coming in a 27 inch size, so they are waiting for that to launch simultaneously.
Apple could in theory have launched all of these products at once, but I bet it's currently clearing M1 inventory and doesn't want to stress supply chains and create long lead times by introducing too many new products at once.
Apple uses the ‘just in time’ method which limits the amount of inventory they have. Most of their products ship from the factory, or have only been sitting in a warehouse for a few days.
The limited inventory they do have left after a product update gets sold to 3rd party retailers, or is used internally for either replacement parts and replacement machines for customers, or if they somehow do have a lot, they give the products to corporate staff to use (many lower level corporate staff are often on older hardware).
Supply chains are still recovering from the pandemic, and because Apple sells in such high volumes compared to other tech companies, they are having a hard time keeping up with demand. Even before the pandemic, Apple has had issues with suppliers not meeting demand, and they often have to announce products throughout the year in order to stagger their demand on supply chains - as opposed to doing it in bigger chunks.
TSMC is one supplier that has had some issues recently, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Apple purposefully avoided releasing all M2 Pro and M2 Max products at once to help stagger the demand.
Hi, I just sold my Mac Mini M1 after 2 years of usage.
So, I want to buy something right now :
Either Mac Mini m2 or Mac Studio.
My requirement is to run 3 4K displays.
Mac Studio M1 Max is available right now and its only 750$ difference from Mac Mini M2.
So, I don't mind buying a Mac studio.
But I guess apple would be gearing for m2 chip for studio maybe ?
So, any idea on release date, so I can decide to wait or else will simply buy Mac Mini m2.
So, I want to buy something right now :
Either Mac Mini m2 or Mac Studio.
My requirement is to run 3 4K displays.
Mac Studio M1 Max is available right now and its only 750$ difference from Mac Mini M2.
So, I don't mind buying a Mac studio.
But I guess apple would be gearing for m2 chip for studio maybe ?
So, any idea on release date, so I can decide to wait or else will simply buy Mac Mini m2.
The Studio isn't a year old yet so that doesn't point to a refresh all that soon. The iMac and Mac Pro have been waiting for refresh longer than the Studio, also doesn't point to a refresh all that soon. But no one really knows.
If the Mini Pro meets your requirements (such as supporting three 4K displays) why not just buy that?
If the Mini Pro meets your requirements (such as supporting three 4K displays) why not just buy that?
My guess is that it will either be March/April, at WWDC around June, or never as the most recent rumors whisper that it was a gap stop model for the delayed Mac Pro like the iMac Pro.
With the Mac Studio out there I do wonder if the market of the Mac Pro shrunk to the point that there arent enough users for it anymore?
I think the demand for the Mac Pro is roughly similar to the iPhone mini.
Lots of people saying online that they love their iPhone mini but in terms of units sold worldwide (not just in your the city you are in) it may not be of sufficient volume to sell to update it to a iPhone 14 mini.
Hopefully to keep cost low Apple will reuse the 2019 Mac Pro enclosure and put in a
- >100W M2 Max
- >200W M2 Ultra
- >400W M2 Extreme
Since we are speculating ... Unlike the iMac Pro, there's too much R&D involved to design a completely new form factor like the Studio to discontinue it within a year or two. And the design would have had to start before they realized the extent of the Mac Pro slippage (which is probably related to poor results making a powerful enough SoC for the Mac Pro, which would not have been known early in the process), so it's not likely to have started as a stop gap. And why would they need a stop gap at all? The Studio didn't solve any problems for 2019 Mac Pro users that would be tempted to jump to PC's. The Studio opened up a market category of users not served by the Mac Mini, and MacBook Pro users that wanted a desktop, and the lower end of iMac Pro users that wanted to jump to AS. Very few of those users would be potential customers for a more expensive Mac Pro.
The Ultra Studio may reduce the lowest end Mac Pro purchases, but the Ultra Studio must have very high margins being twice the price of the Max Studio. So losing a few low end Mac Pro purchases is probably insignificant and can be offset by pricing the Mac Pro and its options higher to the users that really need and can afford it.
Apple has so utterly destroyed it's credibility in the pro space that it continues to amaze me that anyone even asks for a Mac Pro anymore. As far back as the blade servers they got everyone excited, then just forgot the product existed, humiliating anyone who was dependant on them. Then they did it again and again with the cheese grater, the trash can, and the new cheese grater. And products like the $600 wheels, or $1000 stand embarrass anyone who has to explain why they bought anything Apple.
So what is next? The Apple Silicon chips are structurally incapable of anything more then what the Mac Studio delivers. So it's going to be what? Ten grand for a Studio with an SSD slot and ten pounds of shiny aluminum? And now Appleinsider suspects that Apple might never update the Studio in order to protect Mac Pro sales:
Mac Studio may never get updated, because new Mac Pro is coming | AppleInsider
A refresh of the Mac Studio with an M2 Ultra may not happen soon or at all, because of the Mac Pro.
appleinsider.com
Well, in marketing circles the middle item in a 3 item lineup usually serves one primary purpose.
The desktop Mac lineup will be 3 choices in the Apple silicon world soon enough and The main purpose of the studio will be to push people into paying a little bit more for a Mac Pro.
Thus it makes sense the Mac studio cannot be equal to the Mac Pro at any given time and it also makes sense the price of a Mac Pro will come down a bit, to appear as a good value against the studio. Mac Pro on M2 ultra and either no update to studio or at best it gets an m2 max
The desktop Mac lineup will be 3 choices in the Apple silicon world soon enough and The main purpose of the studio will be to push people into paying a little bit more for a Mac Pro.
Thus it makes sense the Mac studio cannot be equal to the Mac Pro at any given time and it also makes sense the price of a Mac Pro will come down a bit, to appear as a good value against the studio. Mac Pro on M2 ultra and either no update to studio or at best it gets an m2 max