Mac Studio

Apple's most powerful desktop Mac is brilliant for creative pros, but it won't be for everyone

- Rob Mead-Green

> £6,199 (model on test)

> FROM Apple, apple.com/uk

> FEATURES Apple M1 Ultra chip (20-core CPU, 64-core GPU, 32-core Neural Engine), 2TB storage, 128GB of unified memory, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.0, 6x Thunderbolt 4 ports (2x front, 4x rear), 2x USB-A ports, 1x 10Gb Ethernet port, 1x HDMI 2.0 port, 1x 3.5mm headphone jack,1x SDXC card slot, 197x197x95mm, 3.6kg

Paul says...

If you're a creative pro, the Mac Studio ticks all the right boxes. Dedicated hardware for video encoding, a powerful GPU for running multiple 4K screens if you need this, go buy! But if you don't deal with ProRes codecs and don't need gigabytes of memory, your best bet for a desktop Mac is to grab a Mac mini and save some serious money.

Ever since Apple introduced its first Apple silicon Mac in 2020, its direction of travel has been crystal clear. First to arrive were the M1-powered MacBook Air, Mac mini and 13-inch MacBook Pro in 2020, followed by the gorgeous 24-inch iMac in April last year. Last October, Apple moved things on again with the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro offering up new members of the Mı family, the M1 Pro and Mi Max. Now there's this, the new Mac Studio - a Mac mini on steroids, armed with a choice of either an Mi Max a or the new Mi Ultra, making it the most powerful desktop Mac ever made - or at least until the new Apple silicon-sporting Mac Pro arrives sometime in the next few months.