Tag: Mac Studio

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

    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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  • Apple Mac Studio Storage Upgrades Now on Kickstarter

    Apple Mac Studio Storage Upgrades Now on Kickstarter

    Apple is planning to showcase new devices later this month at a special launch event. Interestingly, one of the products, the iPad mini 7, was revealed earlier today. Currently, it looks like Apple will also introduce a new iMac and Mac mini, along with refreshed MacBook Pro 14 and MacBook Pro 16 laptops, which are priced at $2,899 on Amazon.

    New Mac Studio Delays

    On the other hand, it appears that a new version of the Mac Studio might take some time to be officially announced. Meanwhile, a French repair center has unveiled what seems to be the first third-party SSD storage option for Apple’s first and second-generation Mac Studios. To put things into perspective, while the Mac Studio can be customized at the time of purchase, Apple does not offer its own storage drives for sale afterward.

    Polysoft’s Innovative Solution

    In contrast, Polysoft Services has successfully reverse engineered a product known as Studio Drive, which can be purchased either as a blank card or with storage options of 2 TB and 4 TB, with a maximum of 8 TB using two cards. Polysoft not only claims to be the first to duplicate Apple’s NAND flash drive, but it also asserts that it has enhanced Apple’s design by incorporating overvoltage protection. Right now, PolySoft is marketing its Studio Drive SSDs at various price points through Kickstarter, with the first deliveries anticipated for January 2025.

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