Mac Studio (M4 Max) overview

Value When Reviewed

£2,099

Finest Costs Right this moment: Apple Mac Studio (M4 Max, 2025)

£2099

With its most up-to-date replace, Apple’s quickest Mac is the Mac Studio, fingers down. The Mac Professional lurking within the background may cost extra and look extra highly effective, but it surely nonetheless has a chip that was launched practically three years in the past, and that chip isn’t the quickest anymore.

So, the highlight focuses on the Mac Studio. That’s not accidentally. Apple has been trending in the direction of compact designs with its merchandise, so the corporate’s choice for the Mac Studio as its high performer suits the invoice. And the Mac Studio is as much as the duty–compact doesn’t imply a sacrifice in efficiency. It’s a imply machine ideally suited for essentially the most hectic of manufacturing environments.

Foundry

M4 Max Mac Studio: Our mannequin’s specs

Apple affords two customary configurations of the Mac Studio: A $1,999 mannequin with an M4 Max chip, and a $3,999 mannequin with an M3 Extremely. Every configuration will be personalized with extra reminiscence and SSD, in addition to variations on the chip’s CPU and GPU cores.

This overview focuses on the M4 Max Mac Studio, and our overview unit has a chip improve from the usual configuration, in addition to extra RAM and a bigger SSD. Listed below are the specs of our overview unit:

• CPU: M4 Max with 16 cores (12 efficiency cores, 4 effectivity cores), 16-core Neural Engine
• GPU: 40 cores
• Reminiscence: 128GB unified reminiscence (819GBps reminiscence bandwidth)
• Storage: 1TB SSD
• Ports: 4 Thunderbolt 5/USB-C; 10Gb ethernet; 2 USB-A (USB 3);  HDMI 2.1; 3.5mm audio; 2 USB-C; SDXC Card slot
• Networking: Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.3; gigabit ethernet
• Weight: 6.1 kilos (2.74 kg)
• Dimensions: 3.7 x 7.7 x 7.7 inches (9.5 x 19.7 x 19.7 cm)
• Value (as examined): $3,699/£3,799/CA$5,249/AU$6,049

M4 Max Mac Studio: Efficiency

Apple did one thing…totally different with the Mac Studio. It affords it with each Max and Extremely variations of its M-series chips, because it has at all times executed. However this time, the chips are usually not from the identical technology; as a substitute, there’s an M4 Max and an M3 Extremely. When requested by Ars Technica why an M3 Extremely as a substitute of an M4 Extremely, Apple flatly stated each chip technology wouldn’t have an Extremely chip in its lineup. In accordance with Numerama, the M4 Max chip doesn’t have the UltraFusion expertise Apple makes use of to create an Extremely chip. So this’ll presumably be the top-of-the-line chip till the M5 Extremely comes alongside.

The M4 Max Mac Studio comes customary with a 14-core CPU (10 efficiency cores, 4 effectivity cores), a 32-core GPU, 36GB of unified reminiscence, and a 512GB SSD. This overview appears on the M4 Max possibility with a 16-core CPU (two extra efficiency cores), a 40-core GPU, 128GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD, which all add $1,700 the worth of the Mac Studio.

The M4 Max’s 76 % improve over the M2 Max is spectacular, even contemplating the two-generation bump. The M4 Max can also be 25 % sooner than the M2 Extremely, which was Apple’s quickest chip even after the M3 Max arrived.

The enhance of the M4 Max over the M2 Max (12-core CPU) is gigantic, however there’s virtually no distinction between the M2 Extremely and the M4 Max. You probably have an M2 Extremely Mac Studio and thought possibly you may save somewhat bit of cash by upgrading to the M4 Max as a substitute, it’s most likely not price it for the CPU.

Mac Studio customers usually tend to be utilizing professional apps as a substitute of consumer-based software program like iMovie, however the file exports can provide a way of the efficiency achieve, regardless. The 24 % enhance with ProRes exports is a big period of time for artistic professionals.

Handbrake 1.9.2 video encode

^{Outcomes are occasions in seconds. Decrease occasions/shorter bars are sooner.}

On this take a look at, we transcoded the 4K Tears of Metal video to H.265 utilizing HandBrake, a video converter app. Some enormous positive factors are seen right here, both when utilizing the Mac’s {hardware} encoders or when not.

Foundry

Blackmagic Disk Assessments

^{Outcomes are megabytes per second. Greater charges/longer bars are sooner.}

These scores are primarily flat throughout the board. The efficiency right here is nice, however it seems that it’ll take some newfound innovation to see a drastic change in SSD efficiency.

The M4 Max in our overview has a 40-core GPU, which is 2 greater than the M2 Mac Studio, in order that, together with any new optimizations the M4 Max has, ends in a 25 % Steel enchancment. Geekbench Compute exams graphics with both OpenCL or Steel APIs, the latter of which is Apple’s.

M4 Max Mac Studio: Thunderbolt 5 ports

The opposite main improve with the brand new Mac Studio is that the Thunderbolt ports now help Thunderbolt 5. This considerably will increase the bandwidth from 40Gbps in Thunderbolt 4 within the earlier Mac Studio to 80Gbps–for video it may well go as excessive as 120Gbps. That’s a giant deal for manufacturing use, however to make the most of the pace, nevertheless, it is advisable use Thunderbolt 5 units, that are nonetheless dear and considerably uncommon.

Foundry

This enhances the exterior show help on the M4 Max Mac Studio somewhat. It could nonetheless drive as much as 5 shows, 4 over Thunderbolt at 6K/60Hz, and one linked to the HDMI 2.1 port at 4K/144Hz (HDMI was beforehand restricted to 4K/60Hz). The opposite show connection possibility hasn’t modified: two shows with 6K at 60Hz over Thunderbolt, and one show with 8K at 60Hz or 4K at as much as 240Hz over HDMI.

M4 Max Mac Studio: Establishment

The 2 main adjustments with the 2025 Mac Studio are the chip upgrades and the Thunderbolt 5 implementation. Apple hasn’t modified the rest. However as a result of we attempt for completeness, right here’s a abstract of these unchanged gadgets.

• Design: The impressively small sq. type hasn’t modified since its introduction in 2022. Be taught extra concerning the Mac Studio’s design.
• Ports: The Mac Studio affords the identical plentiful ports as earlier than, however as I discussed, the Thunderbolt implementation was upgraded to model 5.
• Keyboard, mouse, and monitor: As at all times, it is advisable present your individual. Apple’s Magic Mouse, Trackpad, and Keyboard acquired a USB-C replace final November, whereas the 27-inch Studio Show remains to be on its 1st-gen launch from 2022.

One factor that hasn’t modified that I want would, is the Mac Studio’s approach of initiating the setup course of for the Magic Keyboard. It entails urgent the Mac Studio’s energy button twice, and like earlier than, it took me a number of tries to search out the rhythm of the double button press. It didn’t take me 13 tries like final time, but it surely did take me eight makes an attempt, which looks like seven too many.

Must you purchase the M4 Max Mac Studio?

Whenever you want as a lot processing energy as you may get, the Mac Studio is your solely alternative proper now. Happily, it supplies a critical quantity of processing energy, whether or not you get an M4 Max or M3 Extremely.

Foundry

For those who purchased any of the previous variations of the Mac Studio, you’re by no means happy with the pace and at all times want sooner efficiency. You’ll discover the boosted efficiency well worth the cash, however keep in mind you additionally get Thunderbolt 5, which might make your expertise even higher, as long as you employ Thunderbolt 5 units.

Apple’s different workstation, the Mac Professional, has the only real function now of filling a distinct segment: customers who want the growth slots. It wasn’t up to date and nonetheless has an M2 Extremely chip, which is now a slower CPU than the M4 Professional. You’re not shopping for the Mac Professional if you’d like the quickest Mac. Talking of the M4 Professional, the present M2 Professional Mac mini begins at $1,399, however should you improve it to a 14-core M4 Professional CPU ($200) and 48GB of RAM ($400), you find yourself with the identical value because the entry-level M4 Max Mac Studio that’s the higher deal. You don’t get as a lot RAM, however you do get extra GPU energy, extra ports, and extra sturdy show help.