If you already thought Apple’s Mac Studio was expensive, it turns out the desktop PC can cost a whole lot more.
In August, the company mentioned it was preparing a Mac Studio configuration with a whopping 512GB of unified RAM, doubling the memory. On Wednesday, it began selling the new max configuration, which costs a staggering $22,999.
The 512GB option is only available if you buy the Mac Studio with the higher-tier M5 Ultra processor featuring the 80-core GPU. This configuration already starts at $6,799 with 96GB of RAM. But if you add 512GB of RAM, you’ll need to pay an extra $15,500.
This Mac Studio can cost even more if you decide the 1TB of base storage isn’t enough. You can upgrade to 16TB, but you’ll need to fork over another $7,500. Thus, a fully maxed-out Mac Studio can reach $29,799, more than some new cars.
(Credit: Apple)
The other downside is that Apple’s website told us the 512GB version wouldn’t be available for pickup in our location until Feb. 1, 2027.
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Although the price is exorbitant, it’s not surprising. Today, Apple announced its first-ever touch-screen MacBook Pro, which starts at $2,899, but can reach as high $14,549 if you max out the specs. Back in 2019, the Intel-powered Mac Pro desktop tower could reach $53,000 for the max configuration, with 1.5TB of RAM, two Radeon Pro Vega II graphics cards and 4TB of SSD storage.
Despite the high pricing, the Mac Studio could be worth it for power users or AI enthusiasts. We gave the product an “outstanding” review, citing the M5 Ultra delivering top-tier performance. The large pool of memory also makes it ideal for running AI models locally. That said, our review unit cost $12,299. The product can cost as low as $2,499.
About Our Expert
Michael Kan
Principal Reporter
Experience
I’ve been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware, and more. I’m currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country’s technology sector.
Since 2020, I’ve covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also the regulatory battles over the expansion of satellite constellations, fights with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the effort to expand into satellite-based mobile service. I’ve combed through FCC filings for the latest news and driven to remote corners of California to test Starlink’s cellular service.
I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. In 2024 and 2025, the FTC forced Avast to pay consumers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and selling their personal information to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.
I also cover the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000. I’m now following how the AI-driven memory shortage is impacting the entire consumer electronics market. I’m always eager to learn more, so please jump in the comments with feedback and send me tips.
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