The 2025 Mac Studio is a blend of pure performance and perplexity.

      Apple Mac Studio 2025

      MSRP: $8,099.00

      “The 2025 Apple Mac Studio is extremely fast, quite expensive, and excellently constructed.”

      **Pros:**

      - High-quality build

      - Compact size with substantial power

      - Attractive design

      - Abundant port options

      - Very fast to ultra-fast performance

      **Cons:**

      - Very costly

      - Gaming performance has been underwhelming so far

      When I evaluated the Apple Mac Studio at the close of 2023, I considered it one of the most impressive pieces of PC hardware I had ever encountered. It felt almost magical, delivering incredible performance in a compact chassis that stayed cool and silent regardless of the workload. Although it wasn't the fastest gaming laptop, it stood out for anyone aiming to accomplish serious tasks, with nothing else quite like it on the market. Apple has just refreshed it for 2025, featuring an unusual combination of the new M4 Max chipset or an M3 Ultra, which amalgamates two M3 Max chips from the previous generation. Setting aside the peculiarity of this combination and the potential marketing confusion it may generate, the new Mac Studio truly is the ideal desktop computer, surpassing the “almost” magical tag this time.

      **Specifications and Configurations:**

      - **Dimensions (HxWxD)**: 3.7 x 7.7 x 7.7 inches

      - **Weight**: 6.1 pounds (M4 Max), 8.0 pounds (M3 Ultra)

      **CPU/GPU:**

      - M4 Max 14-core CPU/32-core GPU

      - M2 Max 16-core CPU/40-core GPU

      - M3 Ultra 28-core CPU/60-core GPU

      - M2 Ultra 32-core CPU/80-core GPU

      **Case**: Apple CNC aluminum

      **Memory Options:**

      - 36GB unified (M4 Max)

      - 48GB unified (M4 Max)

      - 64GB unified (M4 Max)

      - 96GB unified (M3 Ultra)

      - 128GB unified (M4 Max 40-core GPU)

      - 256GB unified (M3 Ultra)

      - 512GB unified (M3 Ultra)

      **Storage Options:**

      - 512GB SSD (M4 Max)

      - 1TB SSD

      - 2TB SSD

      - 4TB SSD

      - 8TB SSD

      - 16TB SSD (M3 Ultra)

      **Power Supply**: Apple 480W

      **USB Ports**:

      - 4 x USB-C with Thunderbolt 5 on rear

      - 2 x USB-C on front (M4 Max)

      - 2 x USB-C with Thunderbolt 5 on front (M3 Ultra)

      - 2 x USB-A on back

      - 1 x HDMI 2.1

      - 1 x 10GB Ethernet

      - 3.5mm audio jack on back

      - SD card reader on front

      **Wireless**: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3

      **Pricing**: Starting at $1999+

      From a pricing perspective, the Mac Studio is intriguing. It begins at $1,999 for a configuration with a 14-core CPU, 32-core GPU M4 Max chipset, 36GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. While that's somewhat pricey, it isn’t excessive for a fast and well-constructed desktop PC. Upgrading to a 16-core CPU, 40-core GPU M4 Max with 48GB of RAM costs an additional $300, with options to increase RAM to 64GB ($200) and 128GB ($1,000). Storage upgrades range from 1TB ($200) to 8TB ($2,400). The priciest M4 Max Mac Studio costs $5,899. The M3 Ultra version is considerably pricier, starting at $6,199 for a 28-core CPU, 60-core GPU M3 Ultra chipset, 96GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. An upgrade to a 32-core CPU, 80-core GPU M3 Ultra adds $1,500, with RAM upgrade options available for 256GB ($1,600) and 512GB ($4,000). There’s also an option to upgrade storage to 16TB for $2,400, with configurations costing over $14,000. Thus, you can acquire a high-caliber desktop at a relatively reasonable price starting at $1,999, or opt for the fastest desktop PC available today (excluding high-end enterprise workstations) priced between $6,199 and $14,099.

      **Design:**

      The Mac Studio’s design remains unchanged with the 2025 refresh, and I have no objections to that. It's the perfect size, measuring 7.7 inches in width and depth, and