I would really like to get the Mac Studio for gaming, but there's something that's preventing me from doing so.

      These days, I often feel like I'm part of a rare group: a gamer who also enjoys using Macs. My home office setup consists of both my M1 Mac mini and a compact Windows PC, and honestly, it's frustrating to switch back and forth between them all the time.

      Unfortunately, my passion for gaming — coupled with Apple's limited experience in this realm — means I've had to maintain both macOS and Windows for a while now. I would love to eliminate Windows completely, but it seems the Mac still doesn't quite measure up in terms of gaming performance.

      That being said, Apple's M4 chips have significantly improved gaming on Macs. Our review of the Mac Studio showed that the M4 Max chip is highly capable regarding gaming performance.

      I've previously mentioned how the Mac mini's gaming capabilities made it hard to resist transitioning away from my Windows PC and fully embracing macOS. Now, the introduction of the Mac Studio complicates my decision even further.

      The arrival of the Mac Studio

      Fionna Agomuoh / Digital Trends

      In terms of pricing, the Mac mini and Mac Studio are notably different, even when you upgrade the mini's chip for better gaming results. The Mac mini with the M4 Pro chip is priced around $1,399, while the Mac Studio with the M4 Max chip starts at $1,999. That’s a significant $600 difference.

      Things get more intriguing, however, when gaming is taken into serious consideration. Since these Macs lack a discrete GPU and the M4 Pro is not Apple's strongest chip, you'll probably want the most powerful M4 Pro available. Upgrading to the version with a 14-core CPU and a 20-core GPU will set you back $1,599 — a more palatable $400 less than the Mac Studio.

      This is crucial because the M4 Max outperforms the M4 Pro in gaming. In our review of the Mac Studio, the M4 Max achieved 114fps in Civilization VI and maintained smooth frame rates in Baldur's Gate 3 running at 4K resolution. Surprisingly, it also surpassed the M3 Ultra in gaming performance, which was unexpected.

      Apple

      In our tests with the Mac mini, its performance was inferior to the previous M3 Max chip. While we don’t have a direct comparison between the M4 Pro and M4 Max yet, it's evident that the latter should perform significantly better.

      This has changed my perspective somewhat. When the M4 Mac mini was released, I was impressed by its compact size and overall performance (despite some limitations in gaming) that I nearly decided to replace my M1 Mac mini and Windows PC with this small Apple desktop.

      Now that the Mac Studio with M4 Max is available, it seems like a more appealing option for gamers. Although it comes at a higher price, it provides more dependable gaming performance while surpassing even the M3 Ultra in frame rates. This situation is admittedly confusing, but if it means I can avoid spending $4,000 or more for an M3 Ultra Mac Studio, I’m okay with that.

      A need for more native games

      Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

      So, does this mean the Mac Studio is the best choice for Apple gamers looking for a desktop? Maybe, but Apple hasn't addressed the biggest drawback yet: the shortage of native games.

      The recent addition of Cyberpunk 2077 was a significant boost for Mac gamers, but it feels more like a rare exception. When compared to Windows, there's still no native support for titles like Grand Theft Auto V, Call of Duty, Elden Ring, and other major games and franchises on the Mac.

      While it’s possible to enhance your Mac experience with Nvidia GeForce Now — something I've thought about before — it can become costly and doesn't cover every game. Ultimately, I prefer to game natively without depending on another pricey subscription that keeps emptying my wallet every month.

      It's unfortunate that to achieve decent gaming performance within Apple's ecosystem, you need to invest in a Mac Studio. Given the current GPU prices for Windows systems, I suppose it’s not surprising. However, I'd rather not have to sell a kidney just to enjoy some smooth, stable Mac gaming.

      Still, I can't ignore the progress being made. The M4 Max's ability to deliver solid gaming performance is a notable improvement from previous years. Let's hope that 2025 brings a wave of top-tier games to the Mac — and that Apple resolves the primary issue currently plaguing Mac gamers.