06.08.2023
Upon the launch of the latest Mac Pro, Apple's transition to Apple silicon across its entire Mac lineup is complete. The new Mac Pro features the M2 Ultra chip –
The Mac Studio starts at $1,999, substantially less than the $6,999 starting price of the Mac Pro. When configured with the same M2 Ultra chip as the Mac Pro, the Mac Studio starts at $3,999. There are several crucial differences between the Mac Studio and Mac Pro that justify their different price points and designs:
| Mac Studio | Mac Pro |
|---|---|
| Integrated, non-upgradeable design with sealed casing | Modular design with openable casing and potential for SSD upgrades |
| – | Seven PCI Express expansion slots (six available slots; one slot comes with Apple I/O card installed) |
| Two impeller fans | Three impeller fans |
| Apple M2 Max or M2 Ultra chip | Apple M2 Ultra chip |
| Up to 24-core CPU | 24-core CPU |
| 10Gb Ethernet | Dual 10Gb Ethernet |
| Up to six Thunderbolt 4 ports | Eight Thunderbolt 4 ports |
| Two USB-A ports | Three USB-A ports |
| HDMI port | Two HDMI ports |
| SDXC card slot (UHS-II) | – |
| – | Rack-mounted version available |
| Starts at $1,999 | Starts at $6,999 |
The main reason to buy the Mac Pro is to be able to use its seven PCIe expansion slots add the likes of digital signal processing (DSP) cards, serial digital interface (SDI) I/O cards, additional networking, and built-in storage. This also allows a user to change some of their Mac Pro's hardware over time, and Apple is offering additional do-it-yourself SSD upgrade kits and wheels for the device.
If you require multiple Ethernet ports, more than six Thunderbolt ports, or more than two USB-A ports to connect a large number of peripherals, only the Mac Pro can facilitate this. Otherwise, since the Mac Studio can be configured with the same M2 Ultra chip as the Mac Pro, there is no reason to buy the more expensive desktop machine, and most users will be better off buying the Mac Studio and saving $3,000.
Buy a Mac Studio if...
- You prefer a smaller desktop machine that takes up significantly less space
- The M2 Max chip offers sufficient performance for your needs and you do not need the M2 Ultra chip
- You need a versatile, high-performance machine below the Mac Pro's $6,999 starting price
Buy a Mac Pro if...
- You need the ability to upgrade the internal SSD
- You need more than six Thunderbolt ports, more than two USB-A ports, more than one HDMI port, or more than one ethernet port
- You need PCIe expansion slots
If you don't need the performance and number of ports that the Mac Studio offers, it is worth noting that Apple offers the Mac mini with the M2 Pro chip for $1,299. This high-end Mac mini offers a good balance of price and performance that should be more than sufficient for many users looking for a desktop Mac.
The Mac Pro is targeted at professionals with distinct hardware requirements and complicated workflows, often in production environments. These customers will know they need a Mac Pro to meet their needs. Considering the fact that the base model is $5,000 cheaper than the Mac Pro, the Mac Studio is now the best "Pro" desktop Mac for the overwhelming majority of prospective customers, with more than enough performance and versatility for most users.
Related Roundups: Mac Studio, Mac Pro
Buyer's Guide: Mac Studio (Buy Now), Mac Pro (Buy Now)
Related Forums: Mac Studio, Mac Pro
This article, "Mac Studio vs. Mac Pro Buyer's Guide" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
You may also be interested in this
JSAUX OmniCase 2 Pro blen…
05.31.2023
Do you haul your MacBook between the office and home or work on the go often? The JSAUX OmniCase 2 Pro is a sharp new portable USB-C hub that integrates
Reddit may force Apollo a…
05.31.2023
Following Twitter’s move to shut down third-party apps earlier this year, it looks like Reddit may be the next platform to kill off (or drastically reduce) popular third-party clients. In
Apple releases iOS 16.5 a…
05.18.2023
Apple has released iOS 16.5 and iPadOS 16.5 to the public, with the new updates now installable on iPhones and iPads.As WWDC 2023 and the introduction of iOS 17 looms,
iOS 17 feature roundup: S…
06.08.2023
The WWDC keynote was jam-packed with news and didn't even include everything coming to iOS 17. Here are all of the features we've found so far.iOS 17 has a lot
Apple Releases First macO…
07.15.2024
Apple today released the first beta of an upcoming macOS Sequoia update to its public beta testing group, giving the general public a chance to try out the new operating
AirPods Pro getting a big…
06.05.2023
WWDC is a software-focused event, and Apple did not forget AirPods Pro with the company previewing Adaptive Audio and better switching arriving in the fall operating system updates.Adaptive Audio for
iPad Pros With 11-Inch an…
07.07.2023
Apple suppliers will begin mass production of new 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro models with OLED displays in the first quarter of 2024, according to research firm Omdia. The information
iOS 17 continues personal…
06.05.2023
Following months of rumors and speculation, Apple has used WWDC 2023 to reveal iOS 17, its next milestone operating system release for the iPhone.Shown off during the annual Worldwide Developer
