Backing up previous speculation that Apple was planning a new computer to fit in between the Mac mini and Mac Pro in its range, the Cupertino firm has indeed confirmed the Mac Studio tower computer, alongside a new external display, targeted at professional users.
The display, measuring 27 inches on the diagonal and offering a 5K resolution, is called the Studio Display. Apple has said that the desktop and display pairing are aimed at providing users with “everything they need to build the studio of their dreams.”
By default, the Mac Studio features the M1 Max processor already familiar to many Apple enthusiasts from the high-end variants of the 2021 MacBook Pro. However, there is also the option for users with deeper pockets to have their Mac Studio specified with the new M1 Ultra chip, which effectively brings together two M1 Max processors working in unison.
According to Apple’s press release, “with Mac Studio, users can do things that are not possible on any other desktop, such as rendering massive 3D environments and playing back 18 streams of ProRes video.”
Meanwhile, the company described the Studio Display as “the perfect complement to Mac Studio,” but added that it could also be paired with any Mac. The display also incorporates a six-speaker sound system with spatial audio, and a 12-megapixel Ultra Wide camera with Center Stage, the latter feature thereby becoming available on the Mac platform for the first time.
Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, Greg Joswiak, said of the double announcement: “We couldn’t be more excited to introduce an entirely new Mac desktop and display with the Mac Studio and Studio Display.
“Mac Studio ushers in a new era for the desktop with unbelievable performance powered by M1 Max and M1 Ultra, an array of connectivity, and a compact design that puts everything users need within easy reach.
“And Studio Display – with its stunning 5K Retina screen, along with the best combination of camera and audio ever in a desktop display – is in a class of its own.”
The Mac Studio and Studio Display are both set to become available from Friday, March 18, although they can be ordered right now. The Mac Studio will be priced from $1,999 in the United States, while the Studio Display will cost $1,599.
