New M2 Ultra Mac Pro & Mac Studio Launched
Apple has launched an all new Mac Pro with M2 Ultra chip, along with a Mac Studio with M2 chip options. The hardware enclosures feature the same designs as prior generations, meaning the updates are to new internal hardware components.
The M2 Mac Studio features an M2 Max or M2 Ultra chip with up to 24-core CPU and 76-core GPU, up to 192GB RAM, and up to 8TB of SSD storage. You’ll also get 10GB ethernet, HDMI ports, SDXC port, ThunderBolt 4 / USB-C ports, and support for 8K displays.
The M2 Mac Pro features an M2 Ultra chip with up to 24-core CPU and up to 76-core GPU, up to 192GB RAM, support for up to six Pro Displays, two HDMI ports, dual 10GB ethernet ports, eight Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C ports, and six open PCIe slots.
The M2 Mac Pro begins at $6,999, while M2 Mac Studio starts at $1999.
Pre-orders for the new Mac Pro and Mac Studio begin today, and the Macs will begin to arrive to customers and Apple Stores next week, from June 13.
The WWDC23 Apple event delivered few unexpected surprises in terms of new apple product lineup and upgrades vs prior gen. The biggest surprise of all was seeing Mac Studio getting an upgrade together with Mac Pro and without offering any differences.
M2 Ultra chip on both models…So what are the users paying the extra $3k? Seems like the extra $3K price tag on Mac Pro vs Ultra is just for the extra internal PCIe slots? This is a very costly mistake Apple is making! Marketing-wise how do you differentiate the two?
That’s how Apple is making serious financial and strategic mistake here with such a lineup by risking cannibalizing their most high-end product – Mac Pro and seriously undermine Mac Pro sales in 2023/2024. This was a great day for Mac Studio as there is no need to buy Mac Pro unless you need to have those internal PCIe slots. But, If a user needs an extra expansion and slots, that user can just purchase the older intel-based Mac Pro. It’s much cheaper, more practical and makes more sense to do..
For the new Mac customers in 2023-24, they will be better off with buying the cheaper Mac Studio that runs on the same chip, same specs and cores as Mac Pro. That’s why upgrading Mac Studio this time was a shock to many of us as we did not expect it this time.
Overall, Apple’s desktop product segment at the WWDC23 seemed a bit chaotic and we have not seen any major iMac updates yet. Apple needs to better streamline their processes to make sure they keep timely updating the tech that sells well and generates them big profits + keeps them loyal & dedicated fan base.