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Apple Pulls 512GB RAM From M3 Ultra Mac Studio, Hikes 256GB Upgrade

The change reflects constrained DRAM supply linked to surging AI memory needs.

Overview

  • Apple now caps Mac Studio unified memory at 256GB, removing the previously advertised 512GB option for M3 Ultra models.
  • Upgrading from 96GB to 256GB now costs $2,000, up from $1,600, while the former 512GB upgrade had been priced at $4,000.
  • Orders configured with 256GB are showing delivery windows slipping into early to mid May, while base RAM models ship much sooner.
  • Coverage cites global memory shortages and heightened demand from developers running local large language models as key factors.
  • Despite the cutback, Mac Studio still offers the highest RAM ceiling in Apple’s lineup at 256GB, even though Apple originally touted 512GB for fitting very large LLMs in memory.