Mac Studio M5: Launch delayed until October Apfelpatient

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the new Mac Studio is delayed until October. Originally, the update with the M5 chip was supposed to be released in the middle of the year – the global memory chip crisis is causing problems here as well.

The list of delayed Apple products is growing. After Gurman reported today that the MacBook Ultra is delayed due to the memory chip crisis, the Mac Studio is now also affected. Apple originally planned an update for mid-year, but the industry-wide shortage of RAM and SSD storage is forcing the company to postpone the launch by several months.

The current Mac Studio is available with M3 Ultra and M4 Max configurations – with long delivery times and several models currently completely sold out. An update is overdue, but until then, buyers will have to be patient. Instead of a launch before WWDC in June, October is now the realistic target.

Apple is apparently prioritizing notebooks

An interesting pattern is emerging in Apple's supply chain: While most MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models are readily available, supplies of Apple's desktop Macs are becoming increasingly scarce. Mac mini and Mac Studio models are backordered for at least a month in many configurations, and some variants are currently unavailable for order altogether.

To outsiders, it looks as if Apple is prioritizing available components for notebook products – which seems strategically sensible given high notebook sales and the unexpected success of the MacBook Neo. For desktop buyers, however, this means longer waiting times.

The M5 Mac Studio is coming – but later

Recently, there was speculation that the order halt for the Mac mini and Mac Studio was a sign of an imminent M5 launch. Gurman's report now contradicts this: The new Mac Studio will not be introduced in the spring or summer, but is expected in October. Anyone who has been waiting for a timely update will have to adjust their expectations accordingly.

Apple will likely use the extra time to build up sufficient inventory before the new Mac Studio with the M5 Ultra or M5 Max chip launches. An October launch would also better align with Apple's typical fall event season than a mid-year announcement.

What this means for buyers

Anyone who urgently needs a new Mac Studio has three options: First, order one of the current configurations that are still available and accept potentially long delivery times. Second, look for a used M3 Ultra model. Third, wait until October and then opt for the M5 update.

For those who still have time, the third option is the most rational: The M5 Ultra will bring substantial performance improvements, and hopefully the supply bottlenecks will have eased by October.

For a complete overview of all previous leaks and rumors about the Mac Studio M5, you can find a continuously updated summary of all rumors here. (Image: Shutterstock / Maarten Zeehandelaar)