Apple will begin selling the new Mac Studio this Friday. While pre-orderers wait to get their hands on the new hardware, selected journalists have been able to test the device in advance and in the meantime have shared their experiences with the public.
Apple introduced the Mac Studio at the “Peek Performance” event. Loud The Verge says the Mac Studio is “the computer everyone wanted the Mac Pro to be”:
I also want to point out that this computer is shockingly quiet for the power it offers. Even when we were doing heavy stuff in Adobe After Effects and Blender that would have cranked up the fans of any Intel desktop I've ever used, the Studio was inaudible. If I put my ear to the case, I could feel the fans vibrating beneath me, but they were still quiet. And the only time we felt it blowing hot air was during gaming, which we'll get to later.
Engadget calls The Mac Studio calls it the "Big Mac mini" and believes that Apple has once again done everything right with its desktop. The publication praises the product's design:
The Mac Studio has a few advantages that are obvious even before you turn it on: It doesn't take up much floor or desk space, it's easy to carry (it weighs either 5.9 pounds for the M1 Max model or 7.9 pounds for the M1 Ultra), and its curved aluminum chassis looks like something you'd find at MoMa. It's not meant to disappear into the background like the Mac Mini. No, the Studio deserves a prominent place on your desk, as a symbol that you've become a true creative pro. Plus, you should definitely have it on your desk so you have easy access to all of its ports. So many ports!
Mac Studio: The configuration should be carefully considered
Pocket-lint pursued the same approach and, like the two publications mentioned above, points out that the Mac Studio is not upgradeable after purchase:
Both models can then be further configured. If you meet all the criteria, you'll get an Apple M1 Ultra with a 20-core CPU, 64-core GPU, and 32-core Neural Engine. You can also upgrade it to 128GB of RAM (let that sink in for a minute) and 8TB of SSD storage. That's a lot - really a lot - of money. Also, the system isn't upgradeable after the fact, meaning once you've completed the order, you can't add more memory or anything else internally.
Six Colors remembers Remember that this is the first completely new entry in the Mac product line in a very long time. The Mac Studio is the first choice for anyone looking for a powerful device:
The Mac Studio is a good choice if you're committed to the desktop lifestyle and have a screen available (or buy the new Studio Display). If you also use a laptop, keep in mind that the Mac Studio with the M1 Max processor has almost the same performance as the MacBook Pro with the M1 Max processor. If the M1 processor is enough for your needs, you don't need a Mac Studio - a 24-inch iMac will do just as well, as will a Mac mini.
The Mac Studio's exterior did get warmer during longer tests, but never seemed to run particularly hot, according to reports. The Mac Studio is now available for 2,299 euros pre-ordered Depending on the configuration, the device can cost up to 9,199 euros. (Image: Apple)
