New Mac Studio with M3 Ultra Set to Launch with M4 MacBook Air

Key Takeaways

1. Apple quietly launched the M3 iPad Air and 11th generation iPad, featuring double the base storage and an upgraded A16 chip.
2. A new MacBook Air is expected to be released soon, alongside a new Mac Studio.
3. The upcoming Mac Studio will use an M3 Ultra chip instead of the anticipated M4 Ultra chip, which is likely reserved for a future Mac Pro.
4. The M3 Ultra chip is expected to provide significant performance advantages over competitors, particularly against AMD’s Ryzen AI Max 395 Plus.
5. Mark Gurman provided insights on the competitive landscape and performance expectations of the new Apple products.

Apple caught everyone off guard with a quiet launch of the M3 iPad Air and the 11th generation iPad yesterday. Both devices are seen as mid-cycle updates, with the iPad offering double the base storage and an upgraded A16 chip. Additionally, a new MacBook Air is expected to release this week, but there’s word of a surprise addition to the lineup.

New Mac Studio on the Horizon

Mark Gurman has revealed that the M4 MacBook Air is set to launch alongside a new Mac Studio. It’s been a while since we’ve seen a Mac Studio, last featuring a two-generations-old M2 Ultra chip. This sparks an interesting question: which chip will the upcoming Mac Studio be equipped with?

Speculations on Chip Performance

Logic would suggest that the new model might use an M4 chip, but that’s not the case. Gurman mentions that it will actually utilize an Apple M3 Ultra instead of an M4 Ultra. He notes that the M4 Ultra is likely saved for a future Mac Pro. Still, the M3 Ultra should deliver more than sufficient power for a device of the Mac Studio’s caliber. Apple generally does not mix and match chips within a single generation, but the Ultra chip stands apart.

Apple is already significantly ahead of its rivals this generation, and the M3 Ultra will only enhance that advantage. Its nearest competitor, AMD’s Strix Halo-based Ryzen AI Max 395 Plus, may compete well with the M3 Max, but the dynamics could change when comparing it to the M3 Ultra.

Insights from Mark Gurman

Mark Gurman shared these insights on X, highlighting the competitive landscape and the potential performance of the new products.

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