Mac Studio: M5 upgrade could arrive at WWDC 2026

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The Mac Studio is apparently due for its next major update. After Apple recently updated its MacBook line with the new M5 chip generation, attention is now turning to desktop Macs. The more powerful Mac Studio is expected to be the first model to receive an upgrade.

According to recent reports, Apple is planning to unveil the new Mac Studio in mid-2026. The focus will primarily be on the new M5 chip, which is expected to bring additional performance to the compact desktop Mac.

Hints of a new Mac Studio come primarily from Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman. In his newsletter "Power On," he explains that Apple will not launch its next line of desktop Macs with a traditional consumer model, but rather with the higher-end Mac Studio.

Gurman hasn't revealed many technical details yet. Nevertheless, a relatively clear picture is already emerging: The design is likely to remain the same, while the most important changes will take place inside the computer.

Presentation likely mid-2026

Gurman expects Apple to unveil the new Mac Studio in mid-2026. A likely timeframe would be the WWDC developers conference in June, where Apple regularly presents new hardware and software for professional users.

This assessment aligns with an earlier hint from a macOS Tahoe code leak, which also suggested a Mac Studio update for summer 2026.

Interestingly, at the beginning of February, Gurman still assumed that the Mac Studio and a new Studio Display would be released "not long after" the first Mac updates, which would have suggested a launch in the spring.

The design should remain unchanged

No major changes are expected in the appearance of the new Mac Studio. According to Gurman, the upcoming model will retain the same design as the current versions with the M4 Max and M3 Ultra.

This would mean Apple would continue to use the familiar compact aluminum casing and focus primarily on the internal hardware in this update.

M5 chip as the most important innovation

The key innovation in the upcoming Mac Studio is likely to be the new M5 chip. An M5 Max is considered very probable, as Apple has offered similar variants in previous generations, including the M1 Max, M2 Max, and M4 Max.

The situation regarding the Ultra version remains unclear. So far, there have been the M1 Ultra, M2 Ultra, and M3 Ultra. However, Apple has already stated that not every chip generation will necessarily have an Ultra variant.

Rumors about an M4 Ultra first surfaced in August 2025. However, internal testing doesn't automatically mean the chip will be released. Therefore, it's quite possible that Apple will skip the M4 Ultra and develop an M5 Ultra directly.

RAM capacity may remain limited

Another point concerns RAM. Due to the currently very high demand for memory chips for AI infrastructures, particularly large RAM configurations could remain rare.

Apple has already removed the 512GB RAM option from the current generation of the Mac Studio. It is therefore possible that such extremely large memory configurations will not return in future models for the time being.

Mac Studio with M5 chip: Update expected in summer 2026

The next Mac Studio is expected to be released in summer 2026 and will be primarily upgraded with the new M5 chip. While the external design will likely remain unchanged, the update will focus on increased internal performance.

With a potential launch around WWDC 2026, an expected M5 Max, and perhaps even an M5 Ultra, Apple could once again modernize its most powerful desktop Mac. Since the information comes from Mark Gurman, whose Apple reports are often accurate, this timeframe is currently considered quite likely. (Image: ifeelstock / DepositPhotos.com)