Review: Apple Mac Studio and Studio Display

Being a professional content creator is expensive. Not only do you need a high-end camera with accompanying equipment, you also need a beefy computer with enough processing power to handle all of your high-res footage. Apple loyalists of late could choose between the 24-inch iMac all-in-one ($1,299), the compact Mac Mini ($699), or the ridiculously expensive Mac Pro ($6,000). But with the new Mac Studio on the scene, there's now a near-perfect middle ground.

The Mac Studio comes with two processor choices: the M1 Max or M1 Ultra. Both are markedly more powerful than Apple's cheaper desktop Macs and even surpass the expensive Mac Pro. The Mac Studio starts at $2,000 and isn't what I'd call “cheap,” but you'll be hard-pressed to find an equivalent this powerful and compact for a similar price. 

This is a review of the Mac Studio, but I talk about the Studio Display as well. It's Apple's new external monitor. Both are designed to be used together for the Full Apple Experience, but you can also use any display with the Mac Studio, and you can connect the Studio Display to most computers (some features are limited on Windows). 

The Mac Studio is … dense. At nearly 6 pounds, it's heavier than my Chihuahua. When WIRED reviews editor Julian Chokkattu came over to help me film a video, he took one look at it and exclaimed, “THAT'S the Mac Studio?!” It's surprisingly chunky. 

Compared to the Mac Mini, the Mac Studio is more than 2 inches taller and 3 pounds heavier. Apple managed to keep its footprint at 7.7 inches, so it won't take up more space; just make some vertical room for it. Thankfully, it fits perfectly under the Studio Display. 

There are a few reasons why this silver machine is such a chonker. The outside is home to so many ports you'll wonder if it's really made by Apple. On the front are two USB-C ports and an SD card slot, while the back houses four Thunderbolt ports, an HDMI, two USB-A, a headphone jack, a 10-gigabyte Ethernet port, a built-in speaker, and the power outlet. Ports are seriously awesome, and I'm glad I don't need to attach dongles to the Mac Studio. 

I do wish it stayed put a little better. There's a very thin plasticky ring on the bottom, and if you're using it on a glass desk like I am, the Mac Studio has a tendency to slide around when you're plugging things in or unplugging things from it. You have to apply a bit of pressure to make sure cables click in, so I often had to hold the machine down with one hand to keep it from sliding off the desk. It's a minor nitpick.  

OK, forgive me for some number-speak. Remember how you can choose between an M1 Max processor and an M1 Ultra? Well, Apple says the M1 Max nets up to 50 percent faster CPU performance than a Mac Pro, with graphics performance that's more than three times faster. The M1 Ultra, which consists of two M1 Max chips fused together, offers up to 90 percent faster CPU performance than the Mac Pro and 80 percent faster graphics. You can also configure the Mac Studio with up to 8 terabytes of storage on both models. 

Sure, the Mac Pro offers up modularity, but … wait, what's the point of the Mac Pro now? For what it's worth, Apple teased that it's working on a new Mac Pro it will likely debut at the end of the year if not in 2023. For now, the Mac Studio is everything nearly any power user will need. 

Apple sent me the Mac Studio with the M1 Max for testing (with a 32-core GPU and 64-GB unified memory). That goes for $2,599 without counting storage upgrades. I am not a creative professional. My daily workflow includes browsing the web, typing words, and … emails. Overkill is an understatement. So I handed the Mac Studio over to a professional video maker to stress-test it. 

We imported multiple streams of RED raw footage (about 40 gigabytes at about a 12:1 compression) into Final Cut Pro to edit. From there, we applied 3D tracking and tons of color correction, while also keeping it set to “best quality” (instead of “best performance”), which maintained the playback at full resolution. The M1 Max handled all of it like a champ. It was stutter-free, and the fans never kicked in. He even said it outpaced the $24,000 Mac Pro he uses as his daily machine. Comparatively, he has managed to work on a MacBook Pro with a standard M1 processor but did run into limitations that affected his workflow. The Mac Studio and the M1 Max never skipped a beat. 

If that still leaves you wondering which processor you should opt for, let me help. Most power users will be more than satisfied with the M1 Max, especially at its $2,000 price. But if you work with content that requires a lot (and I mean a lot) of intensive computer processing work, like high-level graphics or visual effects, then paying $4,000 for the M1 Ultra might make sense (and you probably know who you are). It's still much more stomachable than the Mac Pro's MSRP. 

It's natural to eye the Studio Display to pair with your Mac Studio. You need a display, after all. But do you need one that costs $1,599? I am not sure I can help you say no. It's really, really nice. The 27-inch size is spacious enough for juggling multiple apps at the same time, and the 5K resolution is stunningly sharp. 

It also includes a 12-megapixel camera (sadly, no webcam privacy cover), along with built-in mics and speakers. The Mac Studio’s speaker sits in the back of the machine, and the audio tends to sound hollow. It doesn't hold a candle to the six-speaker system on the Studio Display, which is super clear and rich. 

This monitor also includes a chip you'll find in the current-gen iPad—the A13 Bionic. It helps improve the webcam image quality and also drives features like Center Stage, which automatically keeps you in the frame during video calls, as well as “Hey Siri" functionality. 

Placing your Studio Display near a window? I highly recommend the $300 upgrade to the nano-texture glass. My desk is near a window that gets a lot of sunlight, and I haven't experienced any type of glare during my time with this monitor. It's just a shame you have to pay to upgrade from the default tilt-adjustable stand to a tilt- and height-adjustable stand (an extra $400). You also annoyingly have to choose whether you want a stand or VESA mount adapter at checkout—Apple, just include both like nearly every other external monitor! 

Like the Mac Studio, the Studio Display isn't for everyone. Most people don't need a $1,599 monitor. But if you do want a really accurate and sharp display and don't want to spend the $4,999 Apple charges for the Pro Display XDR, this is your middle ground. The downside? There's no HDR here, so colors look slightly more saturated and contrasty compared to the even and neutral tones on the XDR.

The Mac Studio is the beefy upgrade that power users have been craving, and it won't break the bank. And there's a good chance you can save $2,000 and stick with the base chip. That way, you can use that cash to splurge on a Studio Display.