Review: The Mac Studio is a cheap version of the most powerful MacBook

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The Mac Studio

Apple’s latest Mac almost looks like a traditional Windows computer, with a separate cabinet that you connect to a screen, mouse and keyboard yourself. It’s not cheap, but it’s the most affordable Mac in its class.

In an effort to keep everything as simple as possible, Apple sold all-in-one Macs for years. The iMac was a computer and display in one, so you didn’t have to connect different devices with all kinds of cords. Exceptions were the small Mac Mini and the Mac Pro, the latter of which was made for a specific, professional audience.

With its new Mac Studio, the tech giant is now selling a serious computer to a wider audience. It is a cabinet with front and back connections, where you can prick your screen and other accessories.

It makes Apple a more traditional computer seller again, although this Mac does have the self-designed processor chip that we have seen in all of the company’s computers since 2020.

Fast through the M1 Max chip

The model we tested has the M1 Max chip that was introduced in the new MacBook Pro last year. It’s lightning fast in this desktop Mac: the entire system unlocks almost without waiting and also launches apps without you having to look at a loading screen. It is a computer where you almost never have to wait.

With heavier operations, that chip also comes out well: videos that we tried to export on a MacBook Air with Intel chip took tens of minutes, to be ready in a few moments at the Studio. That makes it a good productivity machine for creators.

Apple also sells a variant with the M1 Ultra processor – which basically consists of twice the M1 Max glued together. We have not tested it, it seems to us a bit exaggerated for everyday computer use.

The M1 Ultra is clearly designed for professionals who work with very heavy files all day long.

Review: The Mac Studio is a cheap version of the most powerful MacBook

You always hear the fan

We did notice that the Mac Studio almost always makes noise: on the inside is a fan that never stops running, even when there are almost no apps open. You only hear that sound in a dead quiet room, but then immediately noticeable.

Our model even seemed to whistle a little bit at times – as if the acoustics of the Mac case amplified the sound somewhat. Not unheard of for desktop computers, but the MacBook Pros with the same chip were quieter in our tests.

Expensive, but cheaper than a MacBook

With a price tag of 2,329 euros, the Mac Studio is not cheap, but it is also the cheapest computer with such an M1 Max chip. This is otherwise only in the MacBook Pro, and a configuration of that laptop with the same settings comes 3,439 euros – more than 1,000 euros more.

For simpler desktop work, you can still buy a Mac Mini for a third of the price of a Studio, but then you have a weaker, regular M1 chip.

The Mac Studio offers good, powerful hardware for professionals for a somewhat lower price.

Review: The Mac Studio is a cheap version of the most powerful MacBook

Studio Display is not necessary

The Mac Studio works with every conceivable display with a USB-C or HDMI connection, but the tech giant prefers that you buy their new Studio Display with it. Then the price jumps up considerably: that screen costs 1,779 euros, or 2,329 euros if you want a height-adjustable foot.

For that money, you get a 5K monitor that resembles the LG UltraFine monitor that the tech company sold in its stores for a long time: both have a 5K resolution with a refresh rate of 60 frames per second. LG’s monitor is cheaper at 1,399 euros, but on the other hand, Apple’s alternative has a built-in camera and better-sounding speakers.

That webcam also works with Center Stage – special software that allows Apple to always keep the video caller in the middle of the image. That works great with apps like FaceTime, but in Google Meet, for example, the webcam remains static in one place. And if Center Stage doesn’t work, the standard image is awkwardly aligned, allowing a lot of space above your head.

Conclusion

With the new Mac Studio, Apple’s previously most powerful chip is now available for less money. It’s not a budget PC yet, but it’s a good option for those who want to get a powerful Mac for a little less money.

It’s harder to tell if the accompanying screen is worth its price. The extra 550 euros for a height-adjustable foot is difficult to justify, and for this money we had hoped for a higher refresh rate.

But fortunately, the Mac Studio also works on other displays, and you can skip this monitor if necessary.

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