Apple has introduced its most powerful Mac to date with the launch of the new Mac Studio, now featuring the latest M4 Max and M3 Ultra chips. Designed to meet the growing demands of creative professionals and AI developers, the new desktop combines cutting-edge performance, expanded memory capabilities, and Thunderbolt 5 connectivity — all in a compact enclosure designed to sit quietly on the desk.
Available for pre-order today in Canada and shipping March 12, the Mac Studio starts at $2,699 CAD, with education pricing from $2,399 CAD.
“The new Mac Studio is the most powerful Mac we’ve ever made,” said John Ternus, Apple’s SVP of Hardware Engineering. “With M4 Max and M3 Ultra, Mac Studio sits in a class of its own.”
Performance for Pro Workflows and AI at Scale
The updated Mac Studio is tailored for intensive workflows in video editing, code compiling, 3D rendering, and now — generative AI. The M4 Max chip features up to a 16-core CPU, 40-core GPU, and 128GB of unified memory, while the flagship M3 Ultra configuration doubles those specs, supporting up to 512GB of unified memory and 16TB of SSD storage.
According to Apple, the new architecture allows users to run large language models (LLMs) with over 600 billion parameters directly in memory — a first for any personal computer.
Apple says Mac Studio with M3 Ultra is up to 2.6x faster than the previous M1 Ultra version and up to 6.4x faster than the 16-core Intel-based Mac Pro, making it a true replacement for the high-end desktop market.
Thunderbolt 5, Apple Intelligence, and Expanded Capabilities
Connectivity takes a leap forward with the introduction of Thunderbolt 5, offering up to 120 Gb/s bandwidth — 3x faster than previous models. Creative pros can now connect multiple external drives, high-bandwidth expansion chassis, and drive up to eight 6K Pro Display XDRs simultaneously (on M3 Ultra).
Mac Studio also supports Apple Intelligence, the company’s expanding suite of privacy-preserving AI tools built into macOS. This includes Writing Tools, live transcription, Image Playground, and systemwide enhancements to Siri, with integrated ChatGPT access. Support for additional languages — including French, German, Japanese, and Simplified Chinese — begins rolling out in April.
Designed for Creative Studios
Mac Studio is optimized for pairing with Apple’s Studio Display or Pro Display XDR, and can be accessorized with Magic Keyboard with Touch ID, Magic Mouse, and Magic Trackpad — all sold separately.
For video professionals, Apple highlights real-world benchmarks including:
- 2.9x faster image processing in Adobe Photoshop (vs. 27-inch Intel iMac)
- 3.1x faster Xcode build performance
- 2.8x faster ProRes transcode performance in Compressor
- 4x faster 8K video rendering in Final Cut Pro
Sustainability and Retail Availability
The new Mac Studio includes 30% recycled content, including 100% recycled aluminum in its enclosure and 100% recycled rare earth elements in all magnets. Its fibre-based packaging supports Apple’s goal to eliminate plastic from all packaging by 2025.
The device is available for pre-order now at apple.com/ca/store, and will arrive in Apple Stores and authorized resellers beginning March 12.
