Mac Studio (M5 Ultra)
thecontinuitylayer.com/tools/local-hardware/apple-mac-studio-m5-ultraProfessionals who want the largest open models on one desk machine
Desktop · Apple
The M5 Ultra Mac Studio is Apple's largest desktop chip, starting at 96GB and configurable to 512GB of unified memory, with up to 1.2 TB/s of memory bandwidth.
It is one of very few single machines that can hold the biggest open models without a server rack. Prompt processing on very long inputs is slower than on NVIDIA GPUs. Apple said the 512GB option would arrive in late October 2026.
Specs
| Price | From $5,499 (96GB); larger memory costs more |
|---|---|
| Runs | With 256–512GB: 200B–400B-plus models at 4-bit |
| Chip | Apple M5 Ultra |
| Memory | 96GB to 512GB unified |
| Memory bandwidth | Up to 1.2 TB/s |
| Released | September 2026 |
Good for
- 200B-plus models on one machine
- Running several models at once
- Quiet operation
Not for
- Most home users
- Anyone under a $5,000 budget
See also
- Framework Desktop · Tinkerers who want a 128GB Strix Halo machine from a repair-friendly maker
- GMKtec EVO-X2 · Buyers who want a ready-made 128GB Strix Halo box with Windows installed
- MINISFORUM MS-S1 MAX · Small-office users who want a Strix Halo workstation with fast networking
We last reviewed Mac Studio (M5 Ultra) on 31 October 2026. Prices and specs change; check apple.com before you buy or sign up. Figures we could not confirm on the vendor's own page read “not published” or “varies”.
Vendor source: https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/08/apple-introduces-new-mac-studio-with-m5-max-and-m5-ultra/