Apple's M5 Max Mac Studio Drops $200 as 512GB M5 Ultra Nears Shipment

The discounted machine is the base M5 Max configuration, with an 18-core CPU, a 32-core GPU and a 16-core Neural Engine. It includes four Thunderbolt 5 ports, 10Gb Ethernet, HDMI 2.1, an SD card slot and Wi-Fi 7. B&H notes that supply at this price is limited. The same retailer lists the 1TB storage version at $2,579, down from $2,799.

TechRadar reported that it expects to see more of the 512GB M5 Ultra at an Apple event next week, and estimated that pricing for that machine could start well above $10,000. That gap, in its assessment, leaves the M5 Max as the Mac Studio most buyers can realistically purchase.

A roundup of M5 Ultra Mac Studio reviews cited by TechRadar found that the Ultra's main advantage is local AI work, while its multi-core lead over the M5 Max is about 26 percent and single-core performance is roughly the same. On that basis, the roundup directs most creative users to the M5 Max. TechRadar also noted that 36GB of memory covers many professional workflows, though it described 1TB as a more practical starting point for storage than 512GB.

Two buying considerations were raised. Memory in this model cannot be upgraded after purchase, so buyers are advised to confirm that 36GB is sufficient for their work before ordering. On pricing, TechRadar said Mac Studio discounts may improve in the months after launch, particularly around Black Friday, meaning $2,299 may not be the lowest price the configuration reaches, though it was the lowest then available.

TechRadar's guidance is to buy the M5 Max Mac Studio for creative work or local AI at around $2,300 if the M5 Ultra's 512GB memory ceiling is not required, and to skip it for buyers who need that memory capacity for large local AI models or who want more than 512GB of internal storage without an external drive.