Originally launched in 2022, the compact powerhouse has been updated twice, but what’s coming next could be its biggest leap. The current Mac Studio was updated in March 2025, and history suggests Apple prefers spring or early summer refreshes for this machine.
According to a report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the M5 Max and M5 Ultra versions of the Mac Studio are on Apple’s release schedule for 2026. Based on Apple’s past timing, that points to a window between March and June.
Two of the three Mac Studio launches since 2022 have happened in March. Another arrived in June during WWDC. That makes spring to early summer 2026 the safest bet.
There has also been chatter about Apple’s March 4 “Special Experiences” media briefings. However, Gurman reported earlier this month that the “upgraded Mac Studio desktops… shouldn’t arrive too long after the spring Mac refresh,” suggesting it may not debut alongside those earlier announcements.
M5 Max and M5 Ultra: What to expect
The 2025 Mac Studio surprised many by pairing an M4 Max with an M3 Ultra, an unusual mix of chip generations. The M3 Ultra was technically more powerful than the M4 Max but was based on an older architecture, and Apple never publicly explained the decision.
That staggered setup is not expected to return. Reports indicate the 2026 Mac Studio will feature both M5 Max and M5 Ultra options. The M5 Ultra, in particular, is expected to deliver a major leap over the M3 Ultra, with notable gains in both CPU and GPU performance.
Beyond raw speed, there’s a structural change coming under the hood that could be a big deal for creative professionals and power users. A report from MaxTech’s Vadim Yuryev, cited by Macworld, revealed that Apple is redesigning how the M5 Pro and M5 Max are built, placing the CPU and GPU on separate blocks.
What that means in practice is greater flexibility for buyers to customize their configuration, for example, pairing a base-tier CPU with a maxed-out GPU, or vice versa. It’s the kind of option that video editors, 3D artists, and machine learning engineers have long wanted.
On the memory side, expect the M5 Max to start at 36GB of unified RAM, with the M5 Ultra at 96GB. Storage options are expected to top out at 8TB or 16TB, and Thunderbolt 5 connectivity already present on the current model should carry over.
Port selection is also expected to remain the same, including:
- Front USB-C or Thunderbolt ports (depending on model)
- SD card slot
- Rear Thunderbolt 5 ports
- USB-A ports
- HDMI
- 10Gb Ethernet
- 3.5mm headphone jack
In short, the changes appear to be focused inside the box, not around it. There is also talk of a Studio Display 2 launching alongside the new Mac, potentially featuring a 120Hz ProMotion display and HDR support.
As for the price, the current models start at $1,999 for the Max and $3,999 for the Ultra. While Apple usually tries to keep pricing stable, experts warn that new US tariffs on overseas components could push those numbers higher by the time the M5 hits the shelves.
For more on Apple’s 2026 roadmap, check out our report on the rumored touchscreen OLED MacBook Pro powered by the M6 chip.
