Apple just wrapped up its literally “Scary Fast” pre-Halloween event, and although it was scary short, it was definitely scary good. Cheesy jokes aside, the Cupertino-based company did meet some expectations of announcing its latest silicon, and fans are definitely in for a treat in the coming weeks. Apple has expanded its processors to cover not one, not even two, but three tiers of performance with the M3 family of chips. Of course, these bring with them all sorts of advanced technologies, improved performance, and better efficiency across the board, but their real power lies in how they empower users from all walks of life to do more on their Apple computers without sacrificing other things. The 24-inch iMac with new M3 chip, for example, might not be thinner than its predecessors, but it boasts of scary powerful performance while still keeping its scary slim profile.
It’s almost too easy to brush off the Apple M3 as just an upgrade from the M2, but anyone familiar with Apple knows that it never does “just an upgrade.” The M3 family represents a huge milestone for Apple’s self-made processors, showing off how far it has come since it debuted the first Apple Silicon three years ago. Yes, there is more of everything, but the highlight is what the Apple M3 enables as far as applications and user experiences go. The next-gen GPU, for example, is now able to support hardware-accelerated ray tracing, while the new Neural engine works 60% faster while still keeping data on the device to protect your privacy. What all these translate to is better performance for games, music creation, video editing, and more.
With all that power, you might presume that the M3 is reserved for Apple’s “Pro” machines, but Apple dropped a sweet treat for fans of its more stylish computers as well. The new M3 silicon is also making its way to the 24-inch iMac, finally giving Apple’s super-thin all-in-one computer the upgrade it deserves. An upgrade that delivers 2x more power than its predecessor without an increase in bulk. Better yet, it leaves Apple’s aging Intel-based iMacs in the dust, leaving fewer reasons for buyers not to jump on the Apple Silicon train.
Powered by an M3 chip with an 8-core CPU and up to 10-core GPU, the new M3 iMac boasts double the performance of the older M1 model (there was no M2 iMac). At its event, however, Apple was really driving home how its chips outperform their Intel equivalents, specifically with a 4x increase in performance compared to the 21.5-inch Intel iMac and a 2.5x upgrade versus the 27-inch Intel model. In short, you’re getting desktop-grade performance in a thin and elegant computer that’s no bigger than a thin monitor. All that new power is, of course, put at the service of the user, giving them more options and more capabilities to do the work they need to accomplish or just lose themselves in fantasy worlds of games.
Games, for example, load faster and have higher frame rates thanks to features like Dynamic Caching. It can handle 4K video streams without breaking a sweat either, which means more productivity for creators. And with a gorgeous 24-inch 4.5K Retina display with 11.3 million pixels, all these images come out crisp and vibrant, making the creation process more enjoyable. Of course, that also means that surfing the Web or watching videos are smooth and pleasurable, keeping you glued to your screen, from a safe distance, of course.
The new M3 iMacs bring pro-level capabilities without losing the colorful and playful character that has defined the modern iMac. It still has a striking 11.5mm-thin body that’s available in seven hues to match your style. Best of all, these new iMacs not only use 100% recycled aluminum for the stands but also 100% recycled gold in the plating of multiple printed circuit boards. Together with the energy efficiency that comes from the M3 silicon itself, these make these beautiful computers the most sustainable iMacs yet. The 24-inch iMac with new M3 is now available for order starting at $1,299 and will be available starting next week.
Apple just wrapped up its literally “Scary Fast” pre-Halloween event, and although it was scary short, it was definitely scary good. Cheesy jokes aside, the Cupertino-based company did meet some expectations of announcing its latest silicon, and fans are definitely in for a treat in the coming weeks. Apple has expanded its processors to cover not one, not even two, but three tiers of performance with the M3 family of chips. Of course, these bring with them all sorts of advanced technologies, improved performance, and better efficiency across the board, but their real power lies in how they empower users from all walks of life to do more on their Apple computers without sacrificing other things. The 24-inch iMac with new M3 chip, for example, might not be thinner than its predecessors, but it boasts of scary powerful performance while still keeping its scary slim profile.
It’s almost too easy to brush off the Apple M3 as just an upgrade from the M2, but anyone familiar with Apple knows that it never does “just an upgrade.” The M3 family represents a huge milestone for Apple’s self-made processors, showing off how far it has come since it debuted the first Apple Silicon three years ago. Yes, there is more of everything, but the highlight is what the Apple M3 enables as far as applications and user experiences go. The next-gen GPU, for example, is now able to support hardware-accelerated ray tracing, while the new Neural engine works 60% faster while still keeping data on the device to protect your privacy. What all these translate to is better performance for games, music creation, video editing, and more.
With all that power, you might presume that the M3 is reserved for Apple’s “Pro” machines, but Apple dropped a sweet treat for fans of its more stylish computers as well. The new M3 silicon is also making its way to the 24-inch iMac, finally giving Apple’s super-thin all-in-one computer the upgrade it deserves. An upgrade that delivers 2x more power than its predecessor without an increase in bulk. Better yet, it leaves Apple’s aging Intel-based iMacs in the dust, leaving fewer reasons for buyers not to jump on the Apple Silicon train.
Powered by an M3 chip with an 8-core CPU and up to 10-core GPU, the new M3 iMac boasts double the performance of the older M1 model (there was no M2 iMac). At its event, however, Apple was really driving home how its chips outperform their Intel equivalents, specifically with a 4x increase in performance compared to the 21.5-inch Intel iMac and a 2.5x upgrade versus the 27-inch Intel model. In short, you’re getting desktop-grade performance in a thin and elegant computer that’s no bigger than a thin monitor. All that new power is, of course, put at the service of the user, giving them more options and more capabilities to do the work they need to accomplish or just lose themselves in fantasy worlds of games.
Games, for example, load faster and have higher frame rates thanks to features like Dynamic Caching. It can handle 4K video streams without breaking a sweat either, which means more productivity for creators. And with a gorgeous 24-inch 4.5K Retina display with 11.3 million pixels, all these images come out crisp and vibrant, making the creation process more enjoyable. Of course, that also means that surfing the Web or watching videos are smooth and pleasurable, keeping you glued to your screen, from a safe distance, of course.
The new M3 iMacs bring pro-level capabilities without losing the colorful and playful character that has defined the modern iMac. It still has a striking 11.5mm-thin body that’s available in seven hues to match your style. Best of all, these new iMacs not only use 100% recycled aluminum for the stands but also 100% recycled gold in the plating of multiple printed circuit boards. Together with the energy efficiency that comes from the M3 silicon itself, these make these beautiful computers the most sustainable iMacs yet. The 24-inch iMac with new M3 is now available for order starting at $1,299 and will be available starting next week.
Apple just wrapped up its literally “Scary Fast” pre-Halloween event, and although it was scary short, it was definitely scary good. Cheesy jokes aside, the Cupertino-based company did meet some expectations of announcing its latest silicon, and fans are definitely in for a treat in the coming weeks. Apple has expanded its processors to cover not one, not even two, but three tiers of performance with the M3 family of chips. Of course, these bring with them all sorts of advanced technologies, improved performance, and better efficiency across the board, but their real power lies in how they empower users from all walks of life to do more on their Apple computers without sacrificing other things. The 24-inch iMac with new M3 chip, for example, might not be thinner than its predecessors, but it boasts of scary powerful performance while still keeping its scary slim profile.
It’s almost too easy to brush off the Apple M3 as just an upgrade from the M2, but anyone familiar with Apple knows that it never does “just an upgrade.” The M3 family represents a huge milestone for Apple’s self-made processors, showing off how far it has come since it debuted the first Apple Silicon three years ago. Yes, there is more of everything, but the highlight is what the Apple M3 enables as far as applications and user experiences go. The next-gen GPU, for example, is now able to support hardware-accelerated ray tracing, while the new Neural engine works 60% faster while still keeping data on the device to protect your privacy. What all these translate to is better performance for games, music creation, video editing, and more.
With all that power, you might presume that the M3 is reserved for Apple’s “Pro” machines, but Apple dropped a sweet treat for fans of its more stylish computers as well. The new M3 silicon is also making its way to the 24-inch iMac, finally giving Apple’s super-thin all-in-one computer the upgrade it deserves. An upgrade that delivers 2x more power than its predecessor without an increase in bulk. Better yet, it leaves Apple’s aging Intel-based iMacs in the dust, leaving fewer reasons for buyers not to jump on the Apple Silicon train.
Powered by an M3 chip with an 8-core CPU and up to 10-core GPU, the new M3 iMac boasts double the performance of the older M1 model (there was no M2 iMac). At its event, however, Apple was really driving home how its chips outperform their Intel equivalents, specifically with a 4x increase in performance compared to the 21.5-inch Intel iMac and a 2.5x upgrade versus the 27-inch Intel model. In short, you’re getting desktop-grade performance in a thin and elegant computer that’s no bigger than a thin monitor. All that new power is, of course, put at the service of the user, giving them more options and more capabilities to do the work they need to accomplish or just lose themselves in fantasy worlds of games.
Games, for example, load faster and have higher frame rates thanks to features like Dynamic Caching. It can handle 4K video streams without breaking a sweat either, which means more productivity for creators. And with a gorgeous 24-inch 4.5K Retina display with 11.3 million pixels, all these images come out crisp and vibrant, making the creation process more enjoyable. Of course, that also means that surfing the Web or watching videos are smooth and pleasurable, keeping you glued to your screen, from a safe distance, of course.
The new M3 iMacs bring pro-level capabilities without losing the colorful and playful character that has defined the modern iMac. It still has a striking 11.5mm-thin body that’s available in seven hues to match your style. Best of all, these new iMacs not only use 100% recycled aluminum for the stands but also 100% recycled gold in the plating of multiple printed circuit boards. Together with the energy efficiency that comes from the M3 silicon itself, these make these beautiful computers the most sustainable iMacs yet. The 24-inch iMac with new M3 is now available for order starting at $1,299 and will be available starting next week.
Apple just wrapped up its literally “Scary Fast” pre-Halloween event, and although it was scary short, it was definitely scary good. Cheesy jokes aside, the Cupertino-based company did meet some expectations of announcing its latest silicon, and fans are definitely in for a treat in the coming weeks. Apple has expanded its processors to cover not one, not even two, but three tiers of performance with the M3 family of chips. Of course, these bring with them all sorts of advanced technologies, improved performance, and better efficiency across the board, but their real power lies in how they empower users from all walks of life to do more on their Apple computers without sacrificing other things. The 24-inch iMac with new M3 chip, for example, might not be thinner than its predecessors, but it boasts of scary powerful performance while still keeping its scary slim profile.
It’s almost too easy to brush off the Apple M3 as just an upgrade from the M2, but anyone familiar with Apple knows that it never does “just an upgrade.” The M3 family represents a huge milestone for Apple’s self-made processors, showing off how far it has come since it debuted the first Apple Silicon three years ago. Yes, there is more of everything, but the highlight is what the Apple M3 enables as far as applications and user experiences go. The next-gen GPU, for example, is now able to support hardware-accelerated ray tracing, while the new Neural engine works 60% faster while still keeping data on the device to protect your privacy. What all these translate to is better performance for games, music creation, video editing, and more.
With all that power, you might presume that the M3 is reserved for Apple’s “Pro” machines, but Apple dropped a sweet treat for fans of its more stylish computers as well. The new M3 silicon is also making its way to the 24-inch iMac, finally giving Apple’s super-thin all-in-one computer the upgrade it deserves. An upgrade that delivers 2x more power than its predecessor without an increase in bulk. Better yet, it leaves Apple’s aging Intel-based iMacs in the dust, leaving fewer reasons for buyers not to jump on the Apple Silicon train.
Powered by an M3 chip with an 8-core CPU and up to 10-core GPU, the new M3 iMac boasts double the performance of the older M1 model (there was no M2 iMac). At its event, however, Apple was really driving home how its chips outperform their Intel equivalents, specifically with a 4x increase in performance compared to the 21.5-inch Intel iMac and a 2.5x upgrade versus the 27-inch Intel model. In short, you’re getting desktop-grade performance in a thin and elegant computer that’s no bigger than a thin monitor. All that new power is, of course, put at the service of the user, giving them more options and more capabilities to do the work they need to accomplish or just lose themselves in fantasy worlds of games.
Games, for example, load faster and have higher frame rates thanks to features like Dynamic Caching. It can handle 4K video streams without breaking a sweat either, which means more productivity for creators. And with a gorgeous 24-inch 4.5K Retina display with 11.3 million pixels, all these images come out crisp and vibrant, making the creation process more enjoyable. Of course, that also means that surfing the Web or watching videos are smooth and pleasurable, keeping you glued to your screen, from a safe distance, of course.
The new M3 iMacs bring pro-level capabilities without losing the colorful and playful character that has defined the modern iMac. It still has a striking 11.5mm-thin body that’s available in seven hues to match your style. Best of all, these new iMacs not only use 100% recycled aluminum for the stands but also 100% recycled gold in the plating of multiple printed circuit boards. Together with the energy efficiency that comes from the M3 silicon itself, these make these beautiful computers the most sustainable iMacs yet. The 24-inch iMac with new M3 is now available for order starting at $1,299 and will be available starting next week.
Apple just wrapped up its literally “Scary Fast” pre-Halloween event, and although it was scary short, it was definitely scary good. Cheesy jokes aside, the Cupertino-based company did meet some expectations of announcing its latest silicon, and fans are definitely in for a treat in the coming weeks. Apple has expanded its processors to cover not one, not even two, but three tiers of performance with the M3 family of chips. Of course, these bring with them all sorts of advanced technologies, improved performance, and better efficiency across the board, but their real power lies in how they empower users from all walks of life to do more on their Apple computers without sacrificing other things. The 24-inch iMac with new M3 chip, for example, might not be thinner than its predecessors, but it boasts of scary powerful performance while still keeping its scary slim profile.
It’s almost too easy to brush off the Apple M3 as just an upgrade from the M2, but anyone familiar with Apple knows that it never does “just an upgrade.” The M3 family represents a huge milestone for Apple’s self-made processors, showing off how far it has come since it debuted the first Apple Silicon three years ago. Yes, there is more of everything, but the highlight is what the Apple M3 enables as far as applications and user experiences go. The next-gen GPU, for example, is now able to support hardware-accelerated ray tracing, while the new Neural engine works 60% faster while still keeping data on the device to protect your privacy. What all these translate to is better performance for games, music creation, video editing, and more.
With all that power, you might presume that the M3 is reserved for Apple’s “Pro” machines, but Apple dropped a sweet treat for fans of its more stylish computers as well. The new M3 silicon is also making its way to the 24-inch iMac, finally giving Apple’s super-thin all-in-one computer the upgrade it deserves. An upgrade that delivers 2x more power than its predecessor without an increase in bulk. Better yet, it leaves Apple’s aging Intel-based iMacs in the dust, leaving fewer reasons for buyers not to jump on the Apple Silicon train.
Powered by an M3 chip with an 8-core CPU and up to 10-core GPU, the new M3 iMac boasts double the performance of the older M1 model (there was no M2 iMac). At its event, however, Apple was really driving home how its chips outperform their Intel equivalents, specifically with a 4x increase in performance compared to the 21.5-inch Intel iMac and a 2.5x upgrade versus the 27-inch Intel model. In short, you’re getting desktop-grade performance in a thin and elegant computer that’s no bigger than a thin monitor. All that new power is, of course, put at the service of the user, giving them more options and more capabilities to do the work they need to accomplish or just lose themselves in fantasy worlds of games.
Games, for example, load faster and have higher frame rates thanks to features like Dynamic Caching. It can handle 4K video streams without breaking a sweat either, which means more productivity for creators. And with a gorgeous 24-inch 4.5K Retina display with 11.3 million pixels, all these images come out crisp and vibrant, making the creation process more enjoyable. Of course, that also means that surfing the Web or watching videos are smooth and pleasurable, keeping you glued to your screen, from a safe distance, of course.
The new M3 iMacs bring pro-level capabilities without losing the colorful and playful character that has defined the modern iMac. It still has a striking 11.5mm-thin body that’s available in seven hues to match your style. Best of all, these new iMacs not only use 100% recycled aluminum for the stands but also 100% recycled gold in the plating of multiple printed circuit boards. Together with the energy efficiency that comes from the M3 silicon itself, these make these beautiful computers the most sustainable iMacs yet. The 24-inch iMac with new M3 is now available for order starting at $1,299 and will be available starting next week.
Rumors have been floating around throughout October about the potential sudden release of new M3-based Macintosh computers. Just take it from Digital Trends’ Alex Blake, who spoke a little too soon (but not before providing an excellent explanation of why the M3 chip is so important to Mac users), saying, “An event doesn’t seem to be in the cards (no one has heard anything about invites), so a launch via press release seems likely at this stage.”
Fortunately for everyone both inside and outside of the press, there will indeed be an Apple event on October 30, 2023; and better yet, it will be entirely virtual. You’ll get to watch it straight from your couch (right here) on Apple’s official YouTube channel.
The only catch? Unlike regular Apple events which begin in the morning (at least over here on the west coast of the United States) this one is at 5 PM PT. That’s great for me, but probably not so great if you live outside of the United States, in which case you may end up staying up late into the spooky Halloween evening to catch Apple’s “scary fast” Mac reveals.
Ming-Chi Kuo, one of the most respected Apple analysts on the web, took to X on October 24 with a valuable insight about what we can expect from the upcoming Apple event: “I believe M3 series MacBook Pro will be Oct 30th media event’s focus. I previously predicted a launch this year is unlikely due to limited 4Q23 shipments (less than 400-500k units in total). If new MBPs launch in Nov-Dec, tight supply will last into 1Q24 unless demand weakens.”
Granted, all we really have right now is speculation, and despite having an excellent track record for predicting Apple’s next move amid the constant whirlwind of hype and uncertainty often attributed to Apple’s somewhat erratic movements – like the sudden (though not entirely unexpected) announcement of the Apple Pencil USB-C – even Ming-Chi Kuo has been wrong in the past. That means, until we witness an official reveal unfolding in front of our own eyes, everything you see on the internet about this upcoming event on October 30 is still speculation. Still, speculators across the web seem hopeful that we’ll see new M3-powered Apple computers arrive in stores globally before the holiday rush goes into full effect in late November.
Designed to be virtually invisible when installed, the INVZI MagHub 2 literally and figuratively uplifts your iMac. It adds less than an inch to your iMac’s height but does volumes more in terms of functionality. Install the MagHub 2 in place and your iMac suddenly gets a 10Gbps USB-C and three superfast USB-A ports, along with an Ethernet port, SD and MicroSD card readers, and finally a built-in SSD enclosure designed to snugly fit INVZI’s 2TB SSD that can be detached and used with other devices. If the iMac was Apple’s most powerful all-in-one computer, the INVZI MagHub 2 pushes it over the edge.
Reminiscent of something that Satechi would design for an Apple product, the MagHub 2 just has the look and feel of a product designed to complement Apple’s design language perfectly. Measuring just 0.98 inches in height, the MagHub 2 comes machined from aluminum, with an aesthetic that just blends right in the minute you dock the iMac on top. Without adding clutter to your workspace, the MagHub 2 gives you the power of multiple front-facing ports in a way a dongle wouldn’t. It becomes a part of your iMac, which just adds to its invisible appeal.
A 10Gbps USB-C port on the back connects the MagHub 2 to your iMac, powering it while also allowing your iMac to interface with the MagHub 2’s ports and SSD. The MagHub 2 comes with a 5Gbps USB-A 3.1 Gen1 port at the back, along with a 1Gbps Ethernet port that helps conceal that bulky LAN cable to reduce clutter. On the front, you’ve got another whopping 10Gbps USB-C 3.2 Gen2 port that’s perfect for connecting other machines or an external drive, along with 5Gbps and 10Gbps USB-A ports for thumb drives, DSLRs, or even charging cables. SD and MicroSD card slots bring back a highly missed feature in the current-gen iMacs, and the MagHub 2’s pièce de résistance remains its patent-pending SSD slot and enclosure, which pops right in to give your iMac extra storage and pops out to help you carry and transfer files to other machines, including laptops, tablets, and even some phones. The MagHub 2 ships with just the enclosure, although you can install any standard NVMe and SATA SSD into it without any tools (supporting up to 4TB of storage). Don’t have your own SSD? INVZI will sell you a 1TB or 2TB one with the MagHub 2 for an additional price.
The INVZI MagHub 2 adds ports without adding clutter to your desk.
In its own incredibly subtle way, the INVZI MagHub 2 empowers your already powerful iMac… although the MagHub 2 isn’t limited to just the iMac. It comfortably seats a Mac Mini or Mac Studio too. A silicone mat fits right into the MagHub 2’s upper recessed area, creating a flat surface on which to rest your Mac Mini or Mac Studio. The silicone mat helps prevent your devices from scratching each other, and the MagHub 2’s compact size fits all those ports right into the Mac Mini’s product footprint.
The INVZI MagHub fits the Mac Mini too, giving it extra ports and storage.
Each MagHub 2 measures a mere 6.38 x 7.09 inches (162mm x 180mm) in width and depth, and weighs just a little over a pound (480 grams). Machined from aluminum alloy, it boasts of the same microtextured finish found on the iMac and other Apple products, and comes with a USB-C Host cable (to connect to your iMac), and that empty SSD enclosure that fits standard NVMe and SATA SSDs. Starting at just $109, the MagHub 2 begins shipping in March 2023.
It’s also exactly the same size as the Magic Keyboard, allowing you to stack the two together, should you choose!
Designed to look as sleek as something Apple itself would release (it’s an art that Satechi has wonderfully perfected), the Slim Dock upgrades your 24″ M1 iMac with extra ports and even extended SSD storage. The Slim Dock comes with the same machined aluminum outer as the iMac itself and is available in the default silver as well the anodized blue to match your blue iMac. Rest it on your iMac’s base and it looks almost like a part of the machine. Once plugged in, it gives your sleek iMac the two things it lacks – a whole host of ports, and expandable storage!
If Apple’s proved one thing, it’s that it’s really good at anticipating the needs of its users – but there’s a caveat. Sometimes it conveniently ignores those needs to build machines that are slim, beautiful, and premium. That’s where Satechi comes in, with its bespoke accessories that fill in the gaps that the design team at Apple rather obviously left. Last year, they debuted the USB-C clamp hub, a multiport hub that clamped to the base of the iMac display, giving you important front-facing ports. The Slim Dock, however, takes things a step ahead, with more ports, faster connections, and even space for SSDs in a slick form that integrates into your iMac’s design, instead of those ugly external hard drives that take away from the iMac’s clean aesthetic.
The Slim Dock features a 10 Gbps USB-C data port, 10 Gbps USB-A data port, 2 x USB-A 2.0 ports, micro/SD card reader slots, and a tool-free NVMe SSD enclosure that you can easily access without needing to call a technician. It’s worth noting that the USB ports are data ports and don’t support charging… although the remaining USB-C ports on the back of the iMac are still always up for grabs if you want to hook up a MagSafe charger or any other wireless charging station.
What’s definitely one of the more lesser-appreciated remarkable things about the Satechi Slim Dock is the fact that it’s designed to be exactly the same size as Apple’s Magic Keyboard! It’s the kind of attention to detail that Steve Jobs cultivated in Apple’s team, and the fact that Satechi consciously made this decision too just shows the incredible synergy between the two companies and their hardware!
Satechi’s USB-C Slim Dock for the 24″ iMac starts at $149.99, and ships with a 1-year warranty.
Apple has announced an unexpected new member of its Mac family, and while the initial response has been mostly positive, it still raises one critical question: is it worth the upgrade or not?
Apple was expected to announce a refresh to its Mac lineup, but few probably expected it would be making such a big change. The Mac Studio isn’t just its most powerful Mac, threatening even the latest Mac Pro; it also shakes the lineup in a very fundamental way. In effect, Apple seems to be favoring a discrete computer that still needs its own display, slowly moving away from the all-in-one iMac. More importantly, the Mac Studio adds another option for buyers to consider, making it harder to make a decision on whether to opt for this rather pricey desktop computer or stick with your iMac or Mac Pro. We take a closer look at some of the Mac Studio’s most important factors to hopefully help you reach that decision, in case you need to make one really soon.
In one fell swoop, Apple almost put three of its existing product lines on notice, though one actually dodged the bullet. Although parallels will be drawn due to their relatively more diminutive sizes, the Mac Mini, even the one powered by an Apple M1 chip, serves a completely different purpose and audience. Though definitely powerful enough for basic image and video editing, the Mac Mini is geared towards more casual computing uses and entertainment applications, sometimes even serving as a home media center.
The gigantic Mac Pro is, of course, the easiest target. It’s almost like a David and Goliath scenario where you expect the smaller underdog to emerge victorious. After all, Apple is trying to wean itself off its dependence on Intel CPUs, so proving that bigger isn’t always better might be its ulterior motive. In most cases, the Mac Studio could definitely stand taller than the larger Mac Pro, unless you really need an Intel-based processor for compatibility and discrete graphics cards, in which case the Mac Pro still has no competition on Apple’s desktop lineup.
Instead, the Mac Studio might actually be gunning for the iMac, especially considering that the 27-inch iMac disappeared on the same day that the Mac Studio and Studio Display debuted. The 24-inch M1 iMac is still around, of course, but that might not last long as the overlap between its “Mini Macs” and its all-in-one iMacs narrow even further. All-in-one PCs seem to also be on the decline in general, so it might only be a matter of time before the venerable iMac brand either gets retired or hopefully reused somewhere else.
Performance
Along with the Mac Studio and Studio Display, the new M1 Ultra chip is undoubtedly the star of Apple’s March event. It makes bold claims about performance that threatens whatever is left of Intel’s hold in the Mac world. Its real-world performance does still need to be tested, but if Apple’s track record is any indication, interested buyers need not worry.
To say that the Mac Studio and the M1 Ultra go perfectly together would be an understatement. Admittedly, it has a higher starting price than the M1 Max configuration, but you will be getting the top specs from the get-go. For example, the two ports in front will be Thunderbolt 4 instead of USB-C, offering compatibility with even more devices and opening up more uses beyond just data transfer.
Except for the Mac Pro, none of Apple’s other computers can compete with the plethora of ports available on the Mac Studio. If the name weren’t already suggestive enough, this Apple mini desktop computer is a digital creative’s dream when it comes to connecting with other devices and equipment. Photographers and cinematographers might even be tickled pink by how the SD card slot sits right in the front for easy access, a clear indication that it was a priority rather than an afterthought.
If the Mac Studio could stand toe-to-toe with the Mac Pro in most ways, the one area where some buyers might worry about will be in the graphics arena. Some still need and swear by discrete graphics that are available only on the Intel-powered Mac Pro. Apple is definitely closing in on whatever advantages those might still have, and the Apple M1 Silicon’s graphics performance has been nothing but extraordinary since day one anyway. Even more so if Apple’s promises about the M1 Ultra’s prowess closely match reality.
These will be important metrics for what has been Apple’s most faithful audience from the very beginning: designers, artists, and creatives. Raw CPU power is no longer enough, and image and video processing, not to mention 3D rendering, need heavy-duty graphics silicon, too. With all that power, however, also comes the need for more advanced cooling systems, and Apple promises that the Mac Studio also delivers more with less, as we’ll get to later.
Design
Despite the novel name, the Mac Studio isn’t exactly ground-breaking in its aesthetic. It looks like a very tall Mac Mini with some of the Mac Pro’s grilles on the back and the base. The new mini computer’s design innovation, however, comes from the things you don’t see, especially when you don’t see the Mac Studio itself.
Freedom
Unlike the Mac Mini, the Mac Studio is too big to hide in small spaces, but it still has more flexibility in where you keep it compared to the bigger Mac Pro. You can hide the Mac Studio away from its monitor if you want to, though that means losing easy access to those ports. You at least have the freedom to place it where you want or even move it around places, something that’s not easily done with a traditional tower.
You also have the freedom to choose the monitor you prefer, though Apple will definitely prefer that you opt for the 27-inch Studio Display. These are almost made for each other, if their launch didn’t already make that obvious, with their designs and features complementing each other perfectly. You can, of course, choose differently and upgrade either separately. The same can’t be said for an all-in-one iMac solution where you really get what you pay for and nothing more.
The Mac Studio combines the power of the Mac Pro with the versatility of the Mac Mini without completely erasing the other two’s existence. It does almost make the iMac redundant and seemingly replaces the 27-inch iMac on Apple’s store. It gives people more freedom not only to choose which displays to go with it but also in how to design their workspaces without worrying about how it will take up space.
Sustainability
Apple also gives the new Mac Studio a stronger sustainability narrative than its older peers, one that could help appeal to more environment-conscious buyers. For some parts like magnets and soldering on the mainboard, it uses “100% recycled rare earth elements.” It also used recycled aluminum and plastic in other components. The chassis is built from a single aluminum extrusion that not only adds durability but also reduces the number of materials to keep the parts together.
The Mac Studio also boasts of a thermal management system that keeps the fans from running unless absolutely necessary. Not only does this reduce the noise coming from the Mac, but it also keeps its overall power consumption down. In fact, Apple says that the Mac Studio uses up to 1,000 kWh less energy than an equivalent high-end desktop PC, which is no small claim as far as energy efficiency goes.
Consumer electronics use a lot of non-sustainable materials, and high-end computers consume a lot more power than typical appliances, especially when running for hours with heavy workloads. Reducing their negative impact on the environment one Mac Studio at a time is a small but important step in changing the landscape for the better, something that Apple is strongly committed to doing in the next eight years.
Price
The Mac Studio definitely has a lot going for it, whether you aim for the M1 Max or the top-of-the-line M1 Ultra. As with most Apple products, however, many consumers will balk at Apple’s asking price. While it might sound pricey, it’s actually well within what you’d expect from a premium Apple product. In fact, it might actually be a sweeter deal, depending on how you look at it.
Considering the Mac Pro starts at $5,999, the fact that the Mac Studio starts at $1,999 is almost shocking. That’s for the lowest M1 Max configuration, though, and the M1 Ultra variant actually starts at $3,999. That’s still significantly lower for something that matches the power but surpasses the size of a Mac Pro.
The now-defunct 27-inch iMac started at $1,799, but it’s an apples-to-oranges comparison at this point, no pun intended. Admittedly, the Mac Studio doesn’t come with its own screen, and the Studio Display that Apple probably wants you to buy with it costs $1,599. If you already have a favorite and trusted monitor, though, that’s already one less worry off your back, but suffice it to say, the TCO of a Mac Studio is no laughing matter.
Verdict
So we finally come to the most important of this long piece, to find out whether the Mac Studio is truly worth it, especially for product designers and digital creatives that need a trustworthy partner in their quest for the ultimate render. Presuming you’re aiming for the better M1 Ultra model, here are some considerations to help you reach that answer.
If you’re actually just buying your first Mac in a few years, the answer is already a resounding yes. Short of budget constraints, there’s almost little reason to get a Mac Pro (more on it later) or even an M1 iMac if you’re really investing in a powerhouse. Sure, the iMac does let you keep your desk clean, but it makes sacrifices in power and flexibility, especially when it comes to ports.
If you’re upgrading from an M1 Mac Mini, the answer is also a yes. By now, you have probably been used to whatever limitations there might be in software compatibility, which isn’t that many by now. The most important tools of the trade are already compatible with Apple Silicon, so there’s not much reason to hold back at this point.
Perhaps the only reason to avoid the Mac Studio, other than the price, is if you really need a dedicated GPU like on the Mac Pro. At that point, however, you’ll need to save up even more, which sort of makes the price concern moot. The M1 iMac still does have a place if you’re willing to make compromises on performance for the sake of a neater work area. And there will always be room for a Mac Mini, even a whole rack of them, for certain applications that would be overkill, even for a $1,999 M1 Max Mac Studio.
These all presume that the M1 Ultra is all that it’s cut out to be, which we’ll really know after a few months only. Needless to say, the Apple Mac Studio is kicking up a storm on the Internet and is positioning itself to be Apple’s best desktop to date.
Deskpod is a speakers concept, created using Apple’s design language, that features bold colors and technical outfittings.
Apple’s design language has always been a source of inspiration for young designers. From new chargers to Airpod accessories, the innovation of new Apple-inspired concepts coming from young designers cannot be understated. Sasha Waxman, industrial designer, and robotics engineer designed a speakers concept using Apple’s design language called Deskpod to go along with the new 24-inch iMac.
Deskpod was born out of a one-hour study of Apple design language, taking to the iconic brand’s most modern designs to create a sleek, yet bold speakers concept. The new iMac from Apple maintains the classic aluminum look that has graced the surfaces of most Apple Macbooks and iMacs for years. It’s the accessories from Apple that are typically the standout pieces, bringing out deep forest greens and royal blues to accentuate the fresh look of a bare aluminum Macbook surface. Waxman’s Deskpod takes that one step further and wraps the rich scarlet red speaker with a gold band that functions as the device’s cradle and stand.
Stretching the speaker’s fabric around its curved frame, Waxman warped the fabric into a parabolic shape to maximize audio output. The unique design would pair nicely with most Apple products and bring a bold pop of color to every home office. Speaking on the design, Waxman describes, “The bold colors and simple geometry make the speakers pop off the background. The simplicity and high contrast of the speakers make them a bold addition to any space.”
