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Hardware Canucks
Apple M5 Ultra vs The Fastest PC
Full review
612.6K views on YouTube · 17:12Open original on YouTube
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Desktops Mini Pcs
Apple Mac Studio
M5 Max (18-core CPU / up to 40-core GPU) · M5 Ultra (up to 36-core CPU / 80-core GPU)
Apple’s Mac Studio remains the tall Silver pro desktop block with M5 Max or M5 Ultra, Thunderbolt 5, Wi‑Fi 7, and high unified-memory ceilings aimed at local AI and extreme creative work. Early hands-on from Smart tech reviews by Michael covers M5 Ultra unboxing and macOS setup ahead of a later Premiere comparison — not months of living-with-it testing — so treat performance storytelling as early and check Apple’s tech specs plus the Apple Store total for your country before you lock memory and storage.
First published 23 Sep 2026
Explore independent reviews
6 independent videos, ordered by reported YouTube views.
Most viewed on YouTube
Evidence summary
What the reviewers found
Where reviews agree
Recurring strengths and trade-offs
Early hands-on casts M5 Ultra as a pro creative desktop
Both early hands-on videos from Smart tech reviews by Michael — the M5 Ultra unboxing first look and the macOS setup — frame Mac Studio for extreme pro workloads such as 4K/8K editing, Premiere Pro, rendering, and local AI, not everyday Mac mini browsing. These are September 2026 early hands-on takes, not months of living-with-it testing.
- Smart tech reviews by Michael
Unboxing shows the familiar Silver chassis and ports
Both Smart tech early hands-on videos show the same physical M5 Ultra Mac Studio: packaging, accessories, Silver chassis, and ports in the unboxing, then macOS install on that unit. Apple’s tech specs list the same compact Silver desktop with front media ports and rear Thunderbolt 5. Early hands-on footage, not durability evidence.
- Smart tech reviews by Michael
Early first looks point ahead; early benches and Ultra comparisons follow
Both Smart tech early hands-on videos introduce and set up the M5 Ultra Mac Studio, then point ahead to a later Premiere Pro versus Windows PC comparison that is not in those two clips. Broader independent coverage now also includes early M5 Max performance benches from Craig Neidel across gaming, CPU, GPU, Photoshop, and video editing; Matthew Moniz comparing M5 Ultra with M3 Ultra; and Hardware Canucks putting M5 Ultra against a high-end PC. These remain early performance and comparison videos — multi-month living-with-it coverage is still absent.
- Smart tech reviews by Michael
- Craig Neidel
- Matthew Moniz
- Hardware Canucks
Where experiences differ
What depends on needs and context
Early coverage spans unboxing and benches; multi-month living-with-it is still missing
Independent coverage spans early unboxing and macOS setup from Smart tech, Bobby Tonelli’s early M5 Ultra take, early M5 Max benches across gaming, CPU, GPU, Photoshop, and video from Craig Neidel, Matthew Moniz comparing M5 Ultra with M3 Ultra, and Hardware Canucks putting M5 Ultra against a high-end PC. What is still missing is multi-month reliability and long living-with-it evidence — retail availability for this generation began September 22, 2026.
- Smart tech reviews by Michael
- Bobby Tonelli
- Craig Neidel
- Matthew Moniz
- Hardware Canucks
Decision checks
Before you buy
Choose M5 Max or M5 Ultra before memory and storage upgrades
Apple’s two shop chips differ in CPU/GPU cores, memory ceiling (up to 128GB on Max vs up to 512GB on Ultra, with 512GB arriving later), SSD ceiling (8TB vs 16TB), front port generation (USB-C vs Thunderbolt 5), and external display counts (up to five vs up to eight). Pick the chip path for the work you actually do, then spend on unified memory and SSD.
Unified memory and SSD are not user-upgradable later
Like other Apple silicon desktops, Mac Studio memory and internal SSD are configured at purchase. If you plan large local models or heavy timelines, size unified memory at order — Apple’s specs do not offer a later user upgrade path.
You still need a display, keyboard, and pointing device
Mac Studio has no built-in screen. Budget for a monitor (or several), input devices, and cables — Studio Display / Studio Display XDR are optional companions Apple markets alongside it, not inclusions.
Check Thunderbolt 5 and display plans for your desk
Rear Thunderbolt 5 (and Ultra’s front Thunderbolt 5) change dock and storage plans versus older Thunderbolt 4 desks. Confirm how many displays you need and whether your docks/cables match Thunderbolt 5 / DisplayPort 2.1 expectations.
Availability timing and the 512GB memory option
Apple lists availability beginning September 22, 2026, with the 512GB unified-memory Ultra option coming in late October. Delivery windows on the Apple Store can stretch for high-end builds — check the live configurator for your country.
Where to check today’s price in locked markets
Apple Store destinations are listed for the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. ProductFinda does not show a live numeric price on every market card. Use the retailer links to check today’s offer for the exact chip and base configuration you want.
Checked claims
The details that matter
Product specifications
- Form factor
- Compact pro desktop mini PC; current Mac Studio shop family in a 7.7 × 7.7 × 3.7-inch Silver aluminum chassis with front and rear I/O (no built-in display)Whole-model.
- Operating system at launch
- macOS 27 at introductionWhole-model OS at introduction; free software update this fall per Newsroom.
- Power supply
- 480 WMaximum continuous power; whole-model.
- Height
- 95 mmWhole-model height.
- Width
- 197 mmWhole-model width.
- Depth
- 197 mmWhole-model depth.
- Cooling
- Active cooling with rear perforated exhaust grille and base intakeWhole-model.
- Connectivity
- Apple N1 wireless chip; Wi‑Fi 7 (802.11be); Bluetooth 6; Thread; 10Gb Ethernet (Nbase-T)Whole-model; Wi‑Fi 7 availability varies by country.
- Colours
- SilverWhole-model finish.
Mac Studio — M5 Max (18-core CPU / up to 40-core GPU)
- Chipset
- Apple M5 Max (18-core CPU with 6 super cores and 12 performance cores; 32-core or 40-core GPU; 16-core Neural Engine)M5 Max chip path.
- Memory
- 36 GBM5 Max base unified memory 36GB; configurable to 48/64/128GB on 40-core GPU configs.
- Storage
- 512GB SSD base; configurable to 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, or 8TBM5 Max storage options.
- Graphics
- Integrated M5 Max GPU — 32-core base or 40-core upgrade; Neural Accelerators in each GPU core; hardware-accelerated ray tracingM5 Max graphics.
- Ports
- Front: two USB-C (up to 10Gb/s), SDXC (UHS-II). Rear: four Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C), two USB-A, HDMI 2.1, 10Gb Ethernet, 3.5 mm headphone jackM5 Max front/rear I/O.
- Weight
- 2.7 kgM5 Max weight; varies by configuration.
Mac Studio — M5 Ultra (up to 36-core CPU / 80-core GPU)
- Chipset
- Apple M5 Ultra (30-core CPU / 64-core GPU base, or 36-core CPU / 80-core GPU; up to 32-core Neural Engine)M5 Ultra chip path.
- Memory
- 96 GBM5 Ultra base unified memory 96GB; configurable higher; 512GB option coming late October per Newsroom.
- Storage
- 1TB SSD base; configurable to 2TB, 4TB, 8TB, or 16TBM5 Ultra storage options.
- Graphics
- Integrated M5 Ultra GPU — 64-core base or 80-core upgrade; Neural Accelerators; up to eight external displaysM5 Ultra graphics.
- Ports
- Front: two Thunderbolt 5 (up to 120Gb/s), SDXC (UHS-II). Rear: four Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C), two USB-A, HDMI 2.1, 10Gb Ethernet, 3.5 mm headphone jackM5 Ultra front/rear I/O.
- Weight
- 3.6 kgM5 Ultra weight; varies by configuration.
In everyday life
Product gallery
Product facts
A few more answers
Answers are shown only when their source links are retained.
What is the Apple Mac Studio?
It is Apple’s compact pro desktop Mac shop family: a 7.7 × 7.7 × 3.7-inch Silver aluminum computer with M5 Max or M5 Ultra, front media ports and an SDXC slot, rear Thunderbolt 5 / HDMI / 10Gb Ethernet / USB-A, Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and macOS — without a built-in display.
When can I buy Mac Studio?
Apple opened pre-orders on August 25, 2026, and lists availability beginning September 22, 2026, in countries where Apple sells it, including the United States. The 512GB unified-memory option is listed for late October. Check the official store for your country rather than assuming worldwide availability.
What is the difference between M5 Max and M5 Ultra?
M5 Max starts with an 18-core CPU and 32-core GPU (40-core GPU configurable), up to 128GB unified memory, and front USB-C ports. M5 Ultra starts with a 30-core CPU and 64-core GPU (36-core / 80-core configurable), higher memory ceilings including a later 512GB option, front Thunderbolt 5, and support for more external displays.
How much does Mac Studio cost?
Apple’s US shop lists M5 Max from $2,499 and M5 Ultra from $5,499 for the lowest chip bases (before education pricing). Other locked markets show different local base From amounts on their Apple Store pages. Use those links to confirm today’s total for the exact configuration you choose.
Does Mac Studio include a display?
No. It is a desktop computer only. You supply a display (or several), keyboard, and pointing device. Apple markets Studio Display and Studio Display XDR as separate products.
Are there long-term independent reviews yet?
No multi-month living-with-it reviews yet for this M5 Max / M5 Ultra generation — retail availability began September 22, 2026. Independent coverage now includes early unboxing and macOS setup, plus early performance and benchmark videos and Ultra comparison clips. Treat those as early evidence, not long-term results.
After you buy
Owning it
Warranty by country
United States
Limited warranty covers hardware defects in materials and workmanship for 12 months.
Accidental damage, consumable parts, and cosmetic damage are excluded.
Source · checked 23 Sept 2026
Manuals and support
Apple has not published a product manual for this model in its support library yet. Check Apple Support for setup guides and troubleshooting for your device.
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