Overview
- Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman and multiple trade outlets report Apple has two Mac Studio updates in development: an M5 Ultra refresh due later in 2026 and a more substantial M7 Ultra model targeted for 2028.
- The 2026 M5 Ultra update is described as a chip-focused refresh that keeps the current Mac Studio exterior and prioritizes higher performance without a major redesign.
- Apple is said to be skipping high-end M6 Pro/Max/Ultra variants and moving pro-level work to the M7 family, which the company positions as an AI-first line for heavier machine-learning and GPU workloads.
- Reporters say Apple has tested very large M5 Ultra configurations — including higher CPU and GPU core counts and up to hundreds of gigabytes of unified memory — and is planning beefier heatsinks and cooling for future Mac Studio models.
- Supply pressures for DRAM and NAND and rising developer demand for headless Macs have lengthened wait times and helped push Mac Studio prices higher, affecting buyers’ availability and cost now and before these planned updates.