The base model Mac Studio is great value.

[Schnort]

For my take, comparing it to a M1 Mac Mini, the cost differential of the lowest Mac Studio is too much.

For ~$1200:

CPU: 8 cores -> 10 cores (meh..yes, I know its 4+4 and 8+2, but still 'meh')
GPU: 8 cores -> 24 cores (ok...I guess, if the GPU is useful to your workflow)
NPU: same

Memory: 8->32 GB (yes, good..almost too good)
storage: 256->512GB (meh)

To go to 20 cores, it's a $3k differential. (yes, much more memory, and more GPU, but....and it's a little odd to say this when talking about Mac products...the device comes with just too much memory that doesn't seem useful).

I guess I would have expected the low end one to have 16 cores and 32GB of memory or something that's a little more incremental from the mac mini than a measly 2 more cores and a bunch more GPU cores.

I just don't see the value upgrading from a 16MB M1 mini to a 32MB Mac Studio for $1000+.

 

[espnfanco]

For my take, comparing it to a M1 Mac Mini, the cost differential of the lowest Mac Studio is too much.

For ~$1200:

CPU: 8 cores -> 10 cores (meh..yes, I know its 4+4 and 8+2, but still 'meh')
GPU: 8 cores -> 24 cores (ok...I guess, if the GPU is useful to your workflow)
NPU: same

Memory: 8->32 GB (yes, good..almost too good)
storage: 256->512GB (meh)

To go to 20 cores, it's a $3k differential. (yes, much more memory, and more GPU, but....and it's a little odd to say this when talking about Mac products...the device comes with just too much memory that doesn't seem useful).

I guess I would have expected the low end one to have 16 cores and 32GB of memory or something that's a little more incremental from the mac mini than a measly 2 more cores and a bunch more GPU cores.

I just don't see the value upgrading from a 16MB M1 mini to a 32MB Mac Studio for $1000+.

For me it’s a 800 dollar difference which I could use towards an apple display or 24 inch iMac.

Is 2 core CPU and 16 core GPU and 16gb ram worth 800 more?

 

[mac1984]

I finally found an upgrade to my 2013 Trash can Mac Pro.

 

[m1maverick]

For my take, comparing it to a M1 Mac Mini, the cost differential of the lowest Mac Studio is too much.

For ~$1200:

CPU: 8 cores -> 10 cores (meh..yes, I know its 4+4 and 8+2, but still 'meh')
GPU: 8 cores -> 24 cores (ok...I guess, if the GPU is useful to your workflow)
NPU: same

Memory: 8->32 GB (yes, good..almost too good)
storage: 256->512GB (meh)

To go to 20 cores, it's a $3k differential. (yes, much more memory, and more GPU, but....and it's a little odd to say this when talking about Mac products...the device comes with just too much memory that doesn't seem useful).

I guess I would have expected the low end one to have 16 cores and 32GB of memory or something that's a little more incremental from the mac mini than a measly 2 more cores and a bunch more GPU cores.

I just don't see the value upgrading from a 16MB M1 mini to a 32MB Mac Studio for $1000+.

That's understandable if you already own a $1,200 M1 Mini and don't need the additional capability offered by the base model Studio. However for someone who doesn't and can use the extra capability of the base Studio the $800 difference is not unreasonable.

 

[m1maverick]

For me it’s a 800 dollar difference which I could use towards an apple display or 24 inch iMac.

Is 2 core CPU and 16 core GPU and 16gb ram worth 800 more?

For some people, yes. As someone mentioned earlier...the Studio is the headless Mac that sits between the Mini and the Mac Pro. Keeping that in mind I think the Studio, even the Ultra, is reasonably priced for what it offers. The only thing better is if it had...slots!

 

[JacquesleMac]

Is there no way to "hack" / "modify" the 27" iMac so that it can used as an external display?

If this could be done easily I’d buy the M1 Max Studio in a heartbeat. What are the technical /connectivity factors preventing this? Call me cynical, but I don’t think Studio M1 Max + iMac 27-inch monitor is part of Apple’s sales policy.

 

[dizmonk]

For some people, yes. As someone mentioned earlier...the Studio is the headless Mac that sits between the Mini and the Mac Pro. Keeping that in mind I think the Studio, even the Ultra, is reasonably priced for what it offers. The only thing better is if it had...slots!

Coming from a 2020 Intel 27 Imac... it was the same price difference when I was thinking about the Mac Studio. I went with the Mac Studio for a few reasons..
1) I really wanted to move to Apple Silicon in a desktop
2) I strongly believe the Mac Studio will last longer than the m1 Mini
3) The ports and connectivity benefits of the Studio.
4) I don't need (what I'm assuming is a significant performance difference)... and
5) We've all had a few crappy years and this is a present for me.... 😍😍😍

 

[arvinsim]

For my take, comparing it to a M1 Mac Mini, the cost differential of the lowest Mac Studio is too much.

For ~$1200:

CPU: 8 cores -> 10 cores (meh..yes, I know its 4+4 and 8+2, but still 'meh')
GPU: 8 cores -> 24 cores (ok...I guess, if the GPU is useful to your workflow)
NPU: same

Memory: 8->32 GB (yes, good..almost too good)
storage: 256->512GB (meh)

To go to 20 cores, it's a $3k differential. (yes, much more memory, and more GPU, but....and it's a little odd to say this when talking about Mac products...the device comes with just too much memory that doesn't seem useful).

I guess I would have expected the low end one to have 16 cores and 32GB of memory or something that's a little more incremental from the mac mini than a measly 2 more cores and a bunch more GPU cores.

I just don't see the value upgrading from a 16MB M1 mini to a 32MB Mac Studio for $1000+.

Seems to be not a good value for people who only need 32GB because they could have saved money if Apple put an M1 Pro option.

For people who need 64GB though, it seems to be a great value.

 

[arvinsim]

Coming from a 2020 Intel 27 Imac... it was the same price difference when I was thinking about the Mac Studio. I went with the Mac Studio for a few reasons..
1) I really wanted to move to Apple Silicon in a desktop
2) I strongly believe the Mac Studio will last longer than the m1 Mini
3) The ports and connectivity benefits of the Studio.
4) I don't need (what I'm assuming is a significant performance difference)... and
5) We've all had a few crappy years and this is a present for me.... 😍😍😍

Did you go for the M1 Max or Ultra?

 

[dizmonk]

Did you go for the M1 Max or Ultra?

Max.... Definitely don't need the ultra

 

[MacWorld78]

"Just one more product to go Mac Pro, but there is for another day."

I might wait until Mac Pro - I need to find out how expensive/powerful it will be compare to Mac Studio.

 

[Flint Ironstag]

I would love to go the full 64GB for the RAM with the M1 Max, but I feel that $400 is better spent on the GPU cores & storage upgrades...

I am hoping a third-party can make a Thunderbolt storage expansion chassis that matches the footprint & design of the Mac Studio; I would like to see two M.2 NVMe SSD slots (project/media files) and a 3.5" SATAIII HDD slot (Time Machine backups), I don't need it to be a hub...

Would be shocked if every knockoff case manufacturer didn't already have this exact thing in stock.

I finally found an upgrade to my 2013 Trash can Mac Pro.

In every way except a really important one! They didn't even try with the Studio. 😬 Ive must be all LOL or crying.

Coming from a 2020 Intel 27 Imac... it was the same price difference when I was thinking about the Mac Studio. I went with the Mac Studio for a few reasons..
1) I really wanted to move to Apple Silicon in a desktop
2) I strongly believe the Mac Studio will last longer than the m1 Mini
3) The ports and connectivity benefits of the Studio.
4) I don't need (what I'm assuming is a significant performance difference)... and
5) We've all had a few crappy years and this is a present for me.... 😍😍😍

Just sayin' when the system requirements for the AR headset exclude all 1st Gen Studio, there's gonna be tears 😂

EGPU exists, don't let Apple force us all into a laptop lifecycle. And now the Mac Pro is the final hope for PCIe. Let's hope the entry point is more accessible.

There's still room for the Mac. Damnit Apple you could've made the xMac 😂

 

[kazmac]

If I was deeper into art that required a Wacom tablet, I’d absolutely be all over the M1 Max Studio. I agree the Max Studio is a good value. Perhaps some day, I’ll get one.

 

[quarx]

I wonder if someone will design a mount option. I have my Mac mini M1 mounted to the side of my desk. Would like to do the same if I ever purchase a Mac Studio.

I am also wondering about mount options for a Mac Studio. Apart from mounting it to the side of or under a desk, are there VESA brackets on the market which could be used to attach a Mac Studio to the rear of a monitor? I know that there are such brackets which are designed for thin clients with a height less than 70mm, but a Mac Studio is slightly taller than that.

 

[mcnallym]

Comparing against the M1 Mini

M1 8 Core CPU/GPU
16Gb RAM
512GB Storage
10gb Ethernet (not essential but to make as close as possible)

Uk price = 1199

Mac Studio

M1 Max 10 CPU / 24 GPU
32Gb RAM
512Gb Storage

Uk price = 1999

So 800 difference

Seeing how upgrades on Studio and MBP are the same then can use prices there to get an M1 mini to Studio


16Gb to 32Gb = 400
M1 Pro 8 CPU / 14 GPU to M1 Max 10 CPU / 24GPU = 500

So memory and cpu(starting with a higher M1 Pro rather then regular M1) is 900 so more then the diff between top M1 Mini and the studio entry model.

I cannot find a M1 and M1 Pro system to find exact price for there difference, but the upgrade to an M1 Pro 10 CPU / 24 GPU is till 300 in the MBP.

I don’t see the point waiting for an M1 or M2 Pro Mini as not going to be significantly cheaper then entry studio.

I want the ProRes video in the media encoder so non Pro Mini not worth it to me.

Also allows me to replace 2018 mm and an i9 9900 / RX580 hackintosh with one system.

Whilst may be overkill compared to an Max Pro Mini then is available now and can transfer MM 2018 to parents and will use less electricity then the hack.

As far as value goes on Apple then the Studio is pretty damn good if just the entry level enough

 

[Boil]

I am also wondering about mount options for a Mac Studio. Apart from mounting it to the side of or under a desk, are there VESA brackets on the market which could be used to attach a Mac Studio to the rear of a monitor? I know that there are such brackets which are designed for thin clients with a height less than 70mm, but a Mac Studio is slightly taller than that.

M1 Max Mac Studio = 5.9 pounds
M1 Ultra Mac Studio = 7.9 pounds

I wouldn't think either of those should be hanging off the back of a display...?

Comparing against the M1 Mini

M1 8 Core CPU/GPU
16Gb RAM
512GB Storage
10gb Ethernet (not essential but to make as close as possible)

Uk price = 1199

Mac Studio

M1 Max 10 CPU / 24 GPU
32Gb RAM
512Gb Storage

Uk price = 1999

So 800 difference

Seeing how upgrades on Studio and MBP are the same then can use prices there to get an M1 mini to Studio


16Gb to 32Gb = 400
M1 Pro 8 CPU / 14 GPU to M1 Max 10 CPU / 24GPU = 500

So memory and cpu(starting with a higher M1 Pro rather then regular M1) is 900 so more then the diff between top M1 Mini and the studio entry model.

I cannot find a M1 and M1 Pro system to find exact price for there difference, but the upgrade to an M1 Pro 10 CPU / 24 GPU is till 300 in the MBP.

I don’t see the point waiting for an M1 or M2 Pro Mini as not going to be significantly cheaper then entry studio.

I want the ProRes video in the media encoder so non Pro Mini not worth it to me.

Also allows me to replace 2018 mm and an i9 9900 / RX580 hackintosh with one system.

Whilst may be overkill compared to an Max Pro Mini then is available now and can transfer MM 2018 to parents and will use less electricity then the hack.

As far as value goes on Apple then the Studio is pretty damn good if just the entry level enough

M1 Max Mac Studio is US$900 cheaper than a 14" MBP with like specs...

So a base model M1 Pro (8/14/16/512) headless desktop (Mac mini) should start at the same price as the current base 2018 Intel Mac mini, US$1099...

 

[mcnallym]

M1 Max Mac Studio is US$900 cheaper than a 14" MBP with like specs...

So a base model M1 Pro (8/14/16/512) headless desktop (Mac mini) should start at the same price as the current base 2018 Intel Mac mini, US$1099...

That would make it the same price as the M1 8/8/16/512 based on upgrade prices so to get the M1 Pro in, then either give it for free or have to drop RAM or Storage, or the M1 will have to drop in price

The 2018 Intel mini at 1099 is an 8gb Ram/512Gb storage , 16/512 is a 200 upgrade. The same as on the M1.

 

[quarx]

M1 Max Mac Studio = 5.9 pounds
M1 Ultra Mac Studio = 7.9 pounds

I wouldn't think either of those should be hanging off the back of a display...?

Well, a decent monitor arm, e.g. those from Ergotron, could handle weights of 20 pounds (9kg). This would be enough for a Mac Studio and even a Studio display (12.1 pounds / 5.5kg with VESA mount option). 😎

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

2) I strongly believe the Mac Studio will last longer than the m1 Mini

I don't. Apple most often terminates OS support based on hardware features, not speed, and the Mini and the Studio SOCs have essentially the same hardware features short of a few encoders/decoders.

Of course, speed wise it will last longer, but you get my meaning.

 

[Adult80HD]

Try Lenovo. I only buy low end dells.

ThinkStation P348 Tower Workstation, i9-11900, 32GB RAM, 1TB Disk, 3 yr warranty $1729

That's a false comparison though. You need to upgrade it to a 10-core model of the CPU to more closely match the entry-level Studio. That's $2149; the entry Studio with a 1TB drive is $2199. Now add in the fact that the Lenovo is using a 5-year-old GPU with pretty weak performance and only has 1Gbe vs. 10Gbe and the value equation is pretty tipped to the Studio. Never mind the fact the Lenovo doesn't run MacOS so all in all its neither a functional or financial win with the Lenovo vs. Studio.

 

[Maximara]

That's a false comparison though. You need to upgrade it to a 10-core model of the CPU to more closely match the entry-level Studio. That's $2149; the entry Studio with a 1TB drive is $2199. Now add in the fact that the Lenovo is using a 5-year-old GPU with pretty weak performance and only has 1Gbe vs. 10Gbe and the value equation is pretty tipped to the Studio. Never mind the fact the Lenovo doesn't run MacOS so all in all its neither a functional or financial win with the Lenovo vs. Studio.

More over a Dell Memory Upgrade - 32GB - 2RX8 DDR5 UDIMM 4800MHz costs $519.99... which is $119 more than the $400 Apple is charging. And thanks to the M1' unified memory that can pull double duty as video RAM.

This is something I noticed even back in the 1990s - when people compared Mac to PC in terms of cost — they tended to compare the latest Macs to PC that were two to three years old. When you actually compared like to like the Mac was very close and in some cases cheaper in terms of up front cost. Throw in the cost savings in IT and down time as well as the improved productivity and a Mac curb stomps the PC - even when they were both using Intel CPUs. The M1 takes the flattened remains chucks the remains into a garbage can and kicks it down the stairwell of a 100 story building.

 

[George Dawes]

After having two minis pack up due to overheating / dust issues , I’m definitely more interested in getting a studio than another mini .

 

[OldITGeek]

I finally found an upgrade to my 2013 Trash can Mac Pro.

Yep, traded mine in.

 

[4sallypat]

I hope the base Studio (Max) will be a good deal for me as I have been very happy with the M1 Mini (base).
No complaints with my M1 Mini as I came from a noisey & hot 2012 i7 Mini Server.

Originally, I wanted just the Studio Display to replace my aging 27" TB display.

Now, I want BOTH !

In order to use both Studio display and TB display as a dual display setup, I am trading in my M1 Mini.

Picking up both today at Apple store!

 

[appletvbob]

More than certain the M1 Max Studio will exceed what I'm using now by a few light years. Those two Thunderbolt 3 ports in the front certainly won't sit idle very long.