Apple M5 Ultra Mac Studio set for 2026, but a full redesign will have to wait
Apple M5 Ultra Mac Studio set for 2026, but a full redesign will have to wait
Publish Date: 2026-06-29 05:45:00
Source Domain: www.trustedreviews.com
Apple’s most powerful desktop Mac is expected to get an M5 Ultra upgrade later this year, but anyone hoping for a major redesign may be disappointed.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is still planning to update the Mac Studio with an M5 Ultra chip in 2026. A later M7 Ultra version is also reportedly planned for 2028.
That would be good news for users waiting for Apple’s next ultra-powerful desktop chip. The Mac Studio is currently the main Mac for people who want Apple’s highest-end silicon without moving up to the much larger Mac Pro.
Apple skipped the M4 Ultra entirely, leaving the M3 Ultra as the latest Ultra-class chip. The expected M5 Ultra model would therefore be the next major performance step for the Mac Studio.
Though the update may not look like a major change at first glance, the bigger improvements appear to be internal. Gurman reportedly says Apple has made changes to the Mac Studio, including an improved heatsink to help boost thermal performance under heavier workloads. This may become more important as Apple leans further into on-device AI tasks.
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However, a major redesign is not expected for the M5 Ultra model. There may be a slightly better chance of a design change with the M7 Ultra version in 2028, but Apple has often kept Mac designs around for several years before changing them.
The report also fits with earlier claims that Apple may skip higher-end M6 chips and move more quickly toward AI-focused M7 Pro and M7 Max chips. If true, that could explain why an M6 Ultra is not currently part of the roadmap.
Of course, the big question is price – Apple has raised prices this month, and a machine with such large amounts of power and RAM will be anything but cheap.
As always, none of this has been confirmed by Apple. But for now, the M5 Ultra Mac Studio still looks likely for 2026, while the bigger M7 Ultra update may be waiting until…
