REVIEW: MAC STUDIO APPLE FLEXES ITS MIGHT (AND MUSCLES)
Macworld|May 2022
A POWER GAP IN THE MAC LINEUP FILLS IN WITH A BUFFEDUP MEDIA MASTER.
ROMAN LOYOLA
REVIEW: MAC STUDIO APPLE FLEXES ITS MIGHT (AND MUSCLES)

As the M1 rollout continues in the Mac lineup, Apple is now in the part of the cycle where the computers aren't for everyone. The Macs being introduced late in the transition are meant for users who think M1 fast isn't fast enough and need every ounce of processing power they can get. Those Macs are also an investment that is anything but affordable for the general consumer audience.

The Mac Studio is ideal for content creators of any level. But here's the thing: The Mac Studio's performance over the M1 in the Mac mini (fave.co/33h00Wq) or 24-inch iMac (fave.co/3AvIV7y) isn't just a marginal boost like we used to see with Intel-based Macs-it's a serious speed improvement. Add to that an attractive mix of features, and you'll find in Mac Studio a computer that is attractive to any power user, regardless of the kind of work they do. It's worth the investment at all levels.

(Apple offers two standard configurations of the Mac Studio, a $1,999 Mac Studio with an M1 Max System on a Chip [SoC] and a $3,999 Mac Studio with an M1 Ultra. This review looks at a customized version of the entry-level Mac Studio with an M1 Max that has a 32-core GPU, 64GB of unified memory, and a 2TB SSD that sells for $3,199.)

PRACTICAL DESIGN

Saying the Mac Studio looks like a Mac mini on steroids is a pretty spot-on way to describe it. It measures 7.7 inches square, the same as the Mac mini, but it's 3.7 inches tall, nearly three times the height of the Mac mini. When placed underneath the Studio Display (see page 27), there's about an inch's worth of clearance.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM MACWORLDView all
GAMESIR X2S TYPE C: TURN YOUR iPHONE INTO A SMALL STEAM DECK
Macworld

GAMESIR X2S TYPE C: TURN YOUR iPHONE INTO A SMALL STEAM DECK

If you're serious about getting a better handle on your iPhone gaming, consider a gamepad, an external device that provides physical controls-actual buttons, joysticks, direction pads, and more.

time-read
2 mins  |
July 2024
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT APPLES NEW IPAD PRO M4
Macworld

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT APPLES NEW IPAD PRO M4

HERE'S ALL THE LATEST NEWS ABOUT THE iPAD PRO REFRESH.

time-read
5 mins  |
July 2024
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE 2024 M2 iPAD AIR
Macworld

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE 2024 M2 iPAD AIR

HERE'S THE LATEST NEWS ABOUT THE NEW IPAD AIR, INCLUDING PRICING. SPECS. AND NEW FEATURES.

time-read
2 mins  |
July 2024
Are we in Apple's post-iPad era?
Macworld

Are we in Apple's post-iPad era?

The new Pro and Air raise more questions about where the tablet fits in Apple’s lineup.

time-read
4 mins  |
July 2024
ANKER 675 USB-C 12-IN-1: STYLISH DOCKING STATION AND STAND COMBO
Macworld

ANKER 675 USB-C 12-IN-1: STYLISH DOCKING STATION AND STAND COMBO

The Anker 675 USB-C 12-in-1 Docking Station and Monitor Stand solves several of your laptop's limitations in one user-friendly, stylish, friendly and functional product.

time-read
4 mins  |
July 2024
TIMBUK2 CLASSIC MESSENGER BAG: STYLISH UPDATE TO AN URBAN ICON
Macworld

TIMBUK2 CLASSIC MESSENGER BAG: STYLISH UPDATE TO AN URBAN ICON

There was a time when a trip downtown was filled with the hustle and bustle of people. And a lot of those people sported Timbuk2's Classic Messenger Bag-not just bicycle messengers, but also commuters going to work, tourists sightseeing, and anyone else trying to get where they need to go.

time-read
3 mins  |
July 2024
Apple needs to become a software company again
Macworld

Apple needs to become a software company again

The Al features baked into iOS 18 and macOS 15 need to be compelling enough to convince people to upgrade.

time-read
4 mins  |
July 2024
Don't expect the Mac Studio and Mac Pro to be updated at WWDC-or in 2024
Macworld

Don't expect the Mac Studio and Mac Pro to be updated at WWDC-or in 2024

Updates to the high-end desktop Macs won’t happen until 2025.

time-read
2 mins  |
July 2024
Apple's M3 chip lineup is a victim of the times
Macworld

Apple's M3 chip lineup is a victim of the times

The chip that was supposed to be the next generation of Apple silicon has suddenly become a footnote in Apple history.

time-read
3 mins  |
July 2024
The iPad Pro's M4 chip breaks the rules and changes everything about Apple silicon
Macworld

The iPad Pro's M4 chip breaks the rules and changes everything about Apple silicon

Now that the M4 iPad Pro is here, what will this mean for the chips coming to the iPhone and Mac?

time-read
4 mins  |
July 2024