Apple has refreshed its Mac Studio lineup with new processor options, introducing the M4-series Max chip for the lower-end model and the high-end Mac Studio, which now features an M3 Ultra chip.
The M4-series Max chip offers improved performance compared to the previous M2 Max chip. However, Apple’s decision to give the high-end Mac Studio an M3 Ultra chip instead of an M4 Ultra has sparked confusion among consumers. The M3 Ultra is a significant upgrade from the M2 Max and M2 Ultra chips.
The new chip options come with varying specifications: the lower-end Mac Studio features 20 CPU P-cores, 8 GPU cores, and up to 256GB of RAM, while the high-end model boasts 24 CPU P-cores, 8 GPU cores, and supports up to 512GB of RAM.
When asked about the decision, Apple stated that not every chip generation will receive an “Ultra” tier. This is a departure from past practice, where Apple would typically upgrade both the lower-end and high-end models in a single chip generation.
While it’s unclear whether Apple will revisit the M4 Ultra option in the future, the company’s current stance suggests that it may choose to skip this iteration and refresh the Mac Studio on a slower cadence.
Source: https://arstechnica.com/apple/2025/03/apple-announces-m3-ultra-and-says-not-every-generation-will-see-an-ultra-chip