Mac Studio review roundup: expensive, but M5 Ultra makes it worthwhile

The Mac Studio, available with M5 Max and M5 Ultra processors, has been reviewed by several outlets. According to Tom's Guide, the M5 Ultra model, which starts at $5,499, is the most powerful computer they've ever reviewed. It features a compact design that makes it easy to fit into a work setup and runs cool and quiet even under heavy load. The M5 Ultra model has six Thunderbolt 5 ports.

The Mac Studio's design remains identical to last year's model, described by Tom's Hardware as a silver, squared-off block that's 7.7 x 7.7 inches and 3.7 inches tall. The M5 Ultra version weighs 8 pounds, two pounds more than the M5 Max variant. According to Tom's Hardware, the M5 Ultra uses a heavier copper fin stack and a copper vapor chamber, while the M5 Max version uses a cooler with a thin aluminum stack and a copper heat pipe.

The Mac Studio is considered one of the best computers for handling demanding tasks such as video editing or 3D rendering projects, and is also suitable for gaming, especially games optimized for Apple silicon. However, Tom's Guide notes that if you don't need all the power this expensive PC offers, you're probably better off with the $899 M6-powered Mac mini. The Mac Studio offers memory options up to 256GB, with 512GB coming later, and storage options up to 4TB.

Brief written by urgent.news from AppleInsider, Tom's Guide, Tom's Hardware — 3 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.