Apple has unveiled the Mac Studio and Mac Pro, which are their most powerful Macs to date. The Mac Studio, equipped with the M2 Max and new M2 Ultra processors, offers exceptional performance and connectivity in a compact design. It is up to 6 times faster than the Intel-based 27-inch iMac and 3 times faster than the previous-generation Mac Studio with the M1 Ultra. On the other hand, the Mac Pro, now featuring the M2 Ultra chip, combines unparalleled performance with PCIe expansion capabilities. It is up to 3 times faster than the previous-generation Intel-based model. Both the Mac Studio and Mac Pro come with abundant unified memory of up to 192GB, surpassing the capacity of even the most advanced workstation graphics cards. With the introduction of the Mac Pro, Apple has successfully completed the transition of their Mac lineup to Apple silicon, providing users with a formidable range of professional-grade products. The Mac Studio and Mac Pro are now available for ordering, with availability commencing on June 13th. John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, expressed excitement about these new offerings, emphasizing their exceptional power and versatility that cater to the needs of professional users.
Mac Studio: Computing powerhouse, delivering exceptional performance capabilities
Mac Studio revolutionizes the way professionals create their ideal studios by offering groundbreaking performance and extensive connectivity, all packed into a compact design that sits conveniently on their desks. Powered by the M2 Max and M2 Ultra processors, the new Mac Studio provides a significant performance boost compared to previous generations and a remarkable leap for users upgrading from older Mac models. Mac Studio with M2 Max achieves up to a 50% improvement in performance compared to the previous-generation Mac Studio and is 4 times faster than the most powerful Intel-based 27-inch iMac. It boasts a 12-core CPU, a GPU with up to 38 cores, and up to 96GB of unified memory with a memory bandwidth of 400GB/s.
In comparison to Mac Studio with M1 Max, Mac Studio with M2 Max offers several advantages:
- Motion graphics designers using After Effects can enjoy rendering speeds that are up to 50% faster.
- Developers working with Xcode can build new versions of apps at blazing speeds, with performance improvements of up to 25%.
Mac Studio with M2 Ultra takes Mac performance to unprecedented heights. With twice the performance and capabilities of M2 Max, M2 Ultra represents Apple’s largest and most powerful system on a chip (SoC) ever developed. Mac Studio with M2 Ultra achieves up to 3 times faster performance than the previous-generation Mac Studio with M1 Ultra and an impressive 6 times faster performance than the most powerful Intel-based 27-inch iMac. It features a 24-core CPU, a GPU with up to 76 cores, and up to 192GB of memory with a unified memory bandwidth of 800GB/s, providing workstation-class performance.
Compared to Mac Studio with M1 Ultra, Mac Studio with M2 Ultra brings the following enhancements:
- 3D artists using Octane can enjoy rendering speeds that are up to 3 times faster.
- Colorists using DaVinci Resolve experience up to 50% faster video processing capabilities compared to previous models.
Mac Studio: Offers improved connectivity
The new Mac Studio offers a wide range of connectivity options that cater to the needs of professionals. It includes higher-bandwidth HDMI, enabling support for impressive 8K resolution and 240Hz frame rates. With the power of the M2 Ultra chip, Mac Studio can drive up to six Pro Display XDRs, accommodating over 100 million pixels and providing ample screen real estate for professional workflows. Additionally, Mac Studio is equipped with advanced wireless technologies, such as Wi-Fi 6E, delivering download speeds that are up to twice as fast as the previous generation, and Bluetooth 5.3, enabling seamless connections to the latest Bluetooth accessories. The back of the Mac Studio features four Thunderbolt 4 ports, a 10Gb Ethernet port, an enhanced HDMI port, and two USB-A ports, providing versatile connectivity options. For added convenience, the front of the Mac Studio includes two USB-C ports and an SD card slot, making it easy to import photos and videos.
Apple has introduced Apple silicon to the Mac Pro
The Mac Pro now incorporates the impressive performance capabilities of the M2 Ultra chip, along with the flexibility of PCIe expansion, elevating demanding workflows to new heights. Unlike the previous Intel-based Mac Pro models that started with an 8-core CPU and allowed for configuration upgrades, every Mac Pro now comes equipped with Apple’s powerful 24-core CPU and up to a 76-core GPU, doubling the memory and SSD storage capacity. The new Mac Pro also offers the option to configure up to a massive 192GB of memory with a unified memory bandwidth of 800GB/s, surpassing the capabilities of even the most advanced workstation graphics cards. Additionally, every Mac Pro now boasts the equivalent performance of seven Afterburner cards, as well as the industry-leading media engine found in Mac Studio with M2 Ultra. Both the Mac Pro and Mac Studio can handle an unprecedented 22 streams of 8K ProRes video simultaneously.
When compared to the previous Intel-based Mac Pro, the Mac Pro with M2 Ultra:
- Empowers demanding real-world professional workflows, such as video transcoding and 3D simulations, to run up to 3 times faster.
- Allows video engineers to ingest 24 feeds from 4K cameras and encode them to ProRes in real-time on a single machine, using six video I/O cards.
Mac Pro: Offers the versatility of PCIe expansion
The new Mac Pro introduces PCIe expansion to the realm of Apple silicon, catering to professionals who require the power of the M2 Ultra chip and rely on internal expansion for their specific workflows. Mac Pro is equipped with seven PCIe expansion slots, with six of them available for customization. These open expansion slots support gen 4, offering double the speed compared to previous versions. This allows users to personalize their Mac Pro by adding essential cards tailored to their needs. Whether it’s digital signal processing (DSP) cards for audio professionals, serial digital interface (SDI) I/O cards for seamless connectivity with professional cameras and monitors for video professionals, or additional networking and storage solutions, Mac Pro empowers professionals to customize and expand their systems, pushing the boundaries of even the most demanding workflows.
Mac Pro: Next-Level Connectivity
The connectivity options of the Mac Pro have been significantly enhanced, offering users an extensive range of connections for seamless integration. The new Mac Pro now features eight Thunderbolt 4 ports, with six located at the back and two on the top, doubling the previous number. This increased connectivity enables users to connect a multitude of devices and peripherals. The Mac Pro supports up to six Pro Display XDRs, providing an expansive display setup for professional workflows. In terms of wireless connectivity, the Mac Pro is equipped with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, ensuring fast and reliable wireless connections. Additionally, the Mac Pro includes three USB-A ports, two high-bandwidth HDMI ports that support resolutions up to 8K and frame rates up to 240Hz, two 10Gb Ethernet ports for high-speed networking, and a headphone jack that supports the use of high-impedance headphones. Overall, the enhanced connectivity options of the Mac Pro offer users greater flexibility and efficiency in their work.
Eco-Friendly Advancements
The new Mac Studio and Mac Pro prioritize environmental considerations by incorporating sustainable practices. These include the use of 100 percent recycled rare earth elements in all magnets, as well as 100 percent recycled gold plating and tin soldering in multiple printed circuit boards. Both models are designed to consume significantly less energy compared to other desktops in their category, surpassing the ENERGY STAR efficiency requirement by over 40 percent. Moreover, Mac Studio and Mac Pro are manufactured without the use of mercury, PVC, and beryllium, and more than 95 percent of the packaging materials are fiber-based, reducing waste.
Apple is committed to addressing its carbon footprint and has achieved carbon neutrality for its global corporate operations. The company is actively working towards its Apple 2030 goal, which aims to make every product carbon neutral. This means that every Mac created by Apple, from the design and manufacturing processes to its use by customers, will have a net-zero climate impact. By striving for carbon neutrality, Apple is demonstrating its dedication to environmental responsibility and sustainability.
macOS: The Epitome of Desktop Operating Systems’ Advancement
macOS Ventura, designed to harness the power of Apple silicon in Mac Studio and Mac Pro, introduces a groundbreaking level of performance and productivity. With innovative features like Stage Manager, seamless multitasking and app/window navigation become faster and more intuitive than ever before. Continuity Camera, Handoff in FaceTime, Safari passkeys, and the Freeform app elevate user productivity and creativity. For gamers, MetalFX Upscaling enhances gameplay performance with stunning graphics and optimized support for Apple silicon. Moreover, professional-grade applications such as Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro enable users to handle complex projects with remarkable speed.
Coming this fall, macOS Sonoma brings a host of powerful features and productivity tools, revolutionizing how tasks are accomplished on Mac. Dynamic video conferencing capabilities, including Presenter Overlay, elevate users’ presence during video calls by seamlessly integrating them with the shared content. For hybrid in-studio and remote workflows, macOS Sonoma introduces a high-performance mode in the Screen Sharing app, leveraging Apple silicon’s advanced media engine to deliver incredibly responsive remote access with low-latency audio, high frame rates, and support for reference color. Widgets can now be placed directly on the desktop, enabling convenient interaction with just a click. Continuity further enhances the user experience by allowing the use of iPhone widgets while working on Mac. Additionally, Safari receives significant updates, including the introduction of profiles to keep browsing separate for different topics or projects, and improved access to web apps for faster navigation to favorite sites, elevating web productivity to new heights.