Mac Studio M5 Max and M5 Ultra ship September 22, US pricing from $2,499 and European pricing from €2,699
Apple shipped its new Mac Studio models with M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips in the United States and around 30 other countries on September 22, 2026, with prices starting at $2,499 in the U.S. and €2,699 in Europe, officials said. The launch followed pre-orders beginning August 25 and includes configurations designed to meet high-performance computing needs, with a top-tier 512GB memory option shipping later in October.
The base M5 Max configuration includes an 18-core CPU—comprising six high-efficiency “super” cores and 12 performance cores—paired with a 36GB unified memory and 512GB of storage, sources said. The M5 Max supports up to a 40-core GPU, up to 128GB of unified memory, and up to 8TB of storage, with memory bandwidth reaching 614GB per second, according to technical specifications provided by Apple and confirmed by independent tech outlets such as MacRumors and AppleInsider.
The Mac Studio M5 Max starts at $2,499 in the U.S., with education pricing available from $2,299, according to Apple’s official Newsroom release dated August 25, 2026.
The higher-end Mac Studio M5 Ultra starts at $5,499 in the U.S., with education pricing around $5,099, officials confirmed. The M5 Ultra is positioned as Apple’s most powerful silicon to date, designed for demanding professional workflows including real-time 8K color grading and local execution of complex AI models. It supports up to 512GB of unified memory, a configuration aimed at frontier-scale AI applications and high-end video and 3D rendering workloads, according to Apple’s press materials and analysis from BusinessWorld and Forbes.
European pricing for the Mac Studio M5 Max begins at €2,699, aligning with local VAT and currency adjustments, sources confirmed. The United Kingdom pricing starts at £2,499, with education discounts reducing the price to approximately £2,299, according to reports from AppleInsider and MacObserver. Apple opened pre-orders for both models on August 25 in around 30 countries and regions, including the U.S. and major European markets, with sales channels encompassing the Apple online store, Apple Store app, physical Apple retail stores, and authorized resellers, officials said.
The new Mac Studio models began shipping and became available in stores on September 22, 2026, as confirmed by Apple and multiple independent outlets including MacObserver and RedShark News. However, the top-tier M5 Ultra configuration featuring 512GB of unified memory has a later ship date slated for late October 2026, according to Apple’s official communication and corroborated by coverage from MacRumors and Forbes. This staggered availability reflects supply considerations for the highest-end memory option.
The launch of the Mac Studio M5 Max and M5 Ultra coincides with the release of macOS 27 “Golden Gate,” which became available on September 14, 2026. Analysts noted that the new Mac Studio units ship with Golden Gate pre-installed, ensuring immediate compatibility with the latest operating system enhancements, according to MacObserver and Apple’s product launch timeline.
Market analysts and media reports characterize the Mac Studio M5 Max as a mid-to-high-end desktop tailored for creative professionals, developers, and power users who require strong GPU and AI performance without investing in the more expensive M5 Ultra variant. The M5 Ultra targets flagship workstation users engaged in advanced video editing, 3D rendering, and large-scale AI model training, with its high memory capacity and bandwidth designed to meet frontier computing demands, according to Forbes and BusinessWorld.
Early discount activity on the M5 Max model was documented by third-party sellers such as Amazon, with promotional pricing dipping slightly below the official $2,499 MSRP, as noted by 9to5Toys. Apple also offers financing options through the Apple Upgrade Program, which provides monthly payment plans for professional users, sources said.
The Mac Studio launch is part of a broader Apple desktop refresh that also includes new Mac mini models featuring M6 and M5 Pro chips. This refresh establishes new price baselines for Apple’s professional desktop lineup, positioning the Mac Studio above consumer desktops but below fully maxed-out Mac Pro configurations, according to industry analysts and coverage by MacRumors and AppleInsider.
Overall, the Mac Studio M5 Max and M5 Ultra models reflect Apple’s continued emphasis on high-performance silicon optimized for AI and professional workflows. The staggered release schedule and tiered pricing structure provide options for a range of users, from demanding creative professionals to those requiring frontier-scale computing resources, officials and market observers said.
