Apple's Mac Studio with an M1 Ultra chip is the fastest Mac you can buy right now. However, Apple will not release an updated version of the Mac Studio with an M2 Ultra chip as it would be too similar to the upcoming Mac Pro. Apple could potentially wait until the release of its M3 or M4 series of chips to update the machine but is very unlikely that the Mac Studio will be updated with the M2 Ultra chip. Scroll down to read more details on the subject.
Mac Studio to not be updated with the M2 Ultra chip as it would be similar to the upcoming Mac Pro in terms of functionality
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman shares in his latest Power On newsletter that Apple is unlikely to update the Mac Studio with the M2 Ultra chip. The analyst suggests that Apple will see fit to update the Mac Studio with the M3 or M4 chips. As for a reason, the analyst speculates that the upcoming Mac Pro will be very similar to the Mac Studio in terms of functionality, and it only makes sense for Apple to delay the latter.
I wouldn't anticipate the introduction of a Mac Studio in the near future. The upcoming Mac Pro is very similar in functionality to the Mac Studio — and adds the M2 Ultra chip rather than the M1 Ultra. So it wouldn't make sense for Apple to offer an M2 Ultra Mac Studio and M2 Ultra Mac Pro at the same time. It's more likely that Apple either never updates the Mac Studio or holds off until the M3 or M4 generation. At that point, the company may be able to better differentiate the Mac Studio from the Mac Pro.
Apple could either delay the new Mac Studio or not release an upgraded version for the sake of Mac Pro. Previously, there have been little to no details on the machine and if Apple is working on the upgrade. Apple's M2 Ultra should be part of the Mac Studio, but since the company scrapped its plans for the M2 Extreme, it is unlikely that the device will be updated anytime soon. The M2 Ultra chip is now rumored to arrive with the launch of the new Mac Pro, which will be the fastest Apple Silicon.
As for what you should expect in terms of performance, the M2 Ultra chip will be twice as fast as the M2 Max chip in the latest MacBook Pro models. While the Mac Studio is a very capable device, it would cannibalize the Mac Pro or vice versa if both come out with the M2 Ultra chip. Henceforth, Apple's decision to hold the Mac Studio makes sense.
Gurman also recently stated that Apple is looking to launch its highest-end iPhone 16 Ultra alongside the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. We will share more details on the M2 Ultra chip in the Mac Pro, so be sure to stick around, Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
