Mac Studio (2023, M2 Ultra) vs Mac Studio (M5 Max)

The price Apple charged in the US on launch day for the lowest configuration, before tax.

This is not what the Mac costs today. More memory, storage or a faster chip cost extra. Older models drop in price over time, so check the used and refurbished links for current prices.

Ultra is the largest Apple silicon chip in a generation, with up to twice the CPU and GPU cores of the Max chip from the same generation. For M1, M2 and M3 Ultra, Apple says it connects two Max chips with a link it calls UltraFusion.

Apple uses Ultra chips only in Mac Studio and Mac Pro. The extra cores help most with work that can use all of them at once, such as video exports, 3D rendering and machine learning.

Matters most if: You edit high-resolution video or work with very large 3D or machine learning projects.

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The CPU is the part of the chip that runs your apps. More cores means it can work on more things at the same time.

More cores help most when exporting video, compiling code or running many apps at once. For browsing and email, the difference is small. Cores are only comparable within the same family: one Apple silicon core and one Intel core do not do the same amount of work.

The GPU handles graphics: what you see on screen, games, and video and photo effects. Apple lists GPU cores for its own chips.

More GPU cores make games, 3D work and video editing smoother. "Not published by Apple" means the Mac uses Intel or AMD graphics, which Apple does not describe in cores.

The Neural Engine is a part of Apple silicon built for machine learning tasks, such as recognizing faces and text in photos.

It speeds up features like Live Text, photo search, voice dictation and Apple Intelligence, while using little battery. Intel Macs do not have one.

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How much memory (RAM) the cheapest configuration comes with, in gigabytes (GB).

More memory lets you keep more apps and browser tabs open without slowing down. 8 GB is enough for browsing and documents; 16 GB or more helps with photo editing, video and many apps at once. On Apple silicon Macs memory cannot be added later.

Matters most if: You keep many apps or tabs open, or edit photos and video.

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The most memory you could order from Apple for this model.

Only matters if you plan to buy a high-end configuration, for example for large video projects or software development.

Storage is where your files, photos and apps are kept. This is the amount in the cheapest configuration. 1 TB (terabyte) is 1,024 GB. Some older iMacs came with a hard drive or Fusion Drive instead of an SSD; the notes say when.

A desktop Mac can keep an external drive plugged in all the time, which makes a smaller internal drive easier to live with. Photo libraries and video fill storage fastest.

The sockets on the Mac, front and back together. Each row shows one port gained or lost. Ethernet has its own row.

Built-in HDMI and an SD card slot mean fewer adapters when you connect a TV or projector or copy photos from a camera. With fewer ports you rely more on USB-C hubs and adapters.

Matters most if: You connect displays, cameras or many accessories.

The ports on the front of the Mac, which you can reach without turning it around. They are also counted in Ports.

Handy for things you plug in and out often, such as headphones, a USB stick or an SD card from a camera. "Not listed separately by Apple" means Apple's spec page lists the ports without saying which are on the front.

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Thunderbolt is a fast connection that uses the USB-C plug (Thunderbolt 2 used an older, smaller plug). Gb/s is gigabits per second. Thunderbolt 2 goes up to 20 Gb/s, Thunderbolt 3 and 4 up to 40 Gb/s, and Thunderbolt 5 up to 120 Gb/s.

Faster Thunderbolt matters for external SSDs, docks and high-resolution displays. For charging, keyboards and mice, every version works the same.

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The most separate displays you can connect at the same time, as Apple's spec page lists it. On an iMac this is on top of its own screen.

Very high resolutions or refresh rates can lower the number; Apple's spec page lists the exact combinations. More display support helps when you spread your work across several screens.

Matters most if: You want two or more monitors on your desk.

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Wi-Fi generations. Each new one handles more devices at once and higher speeds: Wi-Fi 5 (2014), Wi-Fi 6 (2019), Wi-Fi 6E adds a new, less crowded radio band, Wi-Fi 7 is the newest.

You only get the extra speed if your router supports the same generation. With an older router, the difference is small.

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Bluetooth connects wireless headphones, mice, keyboards and game controllers. Newer versions have more range and use less power.

Most accessories work with any of these versions. Newer versions mainly help with range and connection stability.

Weight in kilograms. 1 kg is about 2.2 pounds.

For a desktop Mac, weight matters when you move it or take it between places.