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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteThe M5 Ultra Mac Studio is a $5,499 starting-price desktop built for work that can use enormous amounts of processing power, memory and fast storage. Tom’s Guide found it exceptionally capable in demanding video and CPU tests, but its $12,299 review configuration also shows how quickly the price can climb. It is compelling overkill for the right professional—not a sensible upgrade for everyone.
What is the Mac Studio M5 Ultra?
Announced by Apple on August 25, 2026, the M5 Ultra Mac Studio is the high-end configuration of Apple’s compact desktop. Apple positions it for demanding professional workloads and on-device AI. Its appeal is not simply a fast chip: the platform combines high CPU and GPU capacity, large unified-memory options, configurable internal storage and a broad set of high-bandwidth ports.
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Apple describes the M5 Ultra as delivering “the highest levels of performance and massive amounts of unified memory,” a characterization from its August 25, 2026 announcement, rather than an independent assessment.
How much does it cost, and which model did Tom’s Guide test?
Apple’s U.S. starting price for the M5 Ultra Mac Studio is $5,499; the announcement also lists a $5,099 U.S. education price. Tom’s Guide’s September 21 review covered a much higher-priced configuration: M5 Ultra, 256GB unified memory and a 4TB SSD, valued at $12,299. These are different configurations, not competing prices for the same machine. Apple said general availability would begin September 22, 2026, while the 512GB memory configuration was scheduled for late October. Check Apple or a retailer for current stock and pricing.
#1 Best Overall
- FAST RUNS IN THE FAMILY — The 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M5 Pro or M5 Max chip brings next-generation speed and powerful on-device AI to personal, professional, and creative tasks. With all-day battery life, double the starting storage,* and a breathtaking Liquid Retina XDR display, it’s pro in every way.*
- BUCKLE UP — Along with a next-generation CPU, faster unified memory, and up to 2x faster SSD storage,* M5 Pro and M5 Max feature a more powerful GPU with a Neural Accelerator built into each core, delivering faster AI performance and on-device training capabilities. So you can blaze through demanding workloads at mind-bending speeds.
- BUILT FOR AI — Apple silicon, and every major component that powers it, is designed to run demanding on-device AI workloads like LLM inference and training. And Apple Intelligence helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly with groundbreaking privacy protections at every step.*
- ALL-DAY BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Pro delivers the same exceptional performance whether it’s running on battery or plugged in.*
- MACOS RUNS APPS FAST — All your go-to apps run lightning fast in macOS, including built-in apps like FaceTime and Messages. Plus, built-in virus protection and free software updates help keep your Mac running smoothly and securely.
What hardware do you get?
Processor, graphics and memory
Apple’s base M5 Ultra specification has a 30-core CPU—10 super cores and 20 performance cores—a 64-core GPU, a 32-core Neural Engine and 1.2TB/s of memory bandwidth. A configurable option increases the chip to a 36-core CPU and 80-core GPU. Unified memory starts at 96GB, with 256GB and 512GB configurations also offered; the 512GB option was announced for late October 2026.
Apple claims up to 1.3× higher multithreaded performance, up to 1.8× faster graphics and up to 4.3× peak AI compute performance versus M3 Ultra. These are Apple’s generational claims, not results from Tom’s Guide’s independent benchmark tests. Actual gains depend on the workload and the systems being compared.
Rank #2
- SUPERCHARGED BY M5 — The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 brings next-generation speed and powerful on-device AI to personal, professional, and creative tasks. Featuring all-day battery life and a breathtaking Liquid Retina XDR display with up to 1600 nits peak brightness, it’s pro in every way.*
- HAPPILY EVER FASTER — Along with its faster CPU and unified memory, M5 features a more powerful GPU with a Neural Accelerator built into each core, delivering faster AI performance. So you can blaze through demanding workloads at mind-bending speeds.
- BUILT FOR APPLE INTELLIGENCE — Apple Intelligence is the personal intelligence system that helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly. With groundbreaking privacy protections, it gives you peace of mind that no one else can access your data — not even Apple.*
- ALL-DAY BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Pro delivers the same exceptional performance whether it’s running on battery or plugged in.
- APPS FLY WITH APPLE SILICON — All your favorites, including Microsoft 365 and Adobe Creative Cloud, run lightning fast in macOS.*
Storage, ports and physical details
Internal SSD capacity starts at 1TB and can be configured up to 16TB. Apple lists four Thunderbolt 5 ports on the rear and two on the front, alongside two USB-A ports, HDMI 2.1, 10Gb Ethernet, a headphone jack and a front UHS-II SDXC card slot. Wireless specifications are Wi‑Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. The enclosure measures 7.7 by 7.7 by 3.7 inches and weighs 8.0 pounds; Apple lists maximum continuous power at 480W. These are manufacturer specifications, not port or power measurements from the review.
How fast is it in real-world tests?
Tom’s Guide’s review reports strong results on its tested configuration, but benchmark scores describe that review machine and methodology—not a guaranteed result for every M5 Ultra setup or application.
Rank #3
- BRILLLLLLIANT — iMac is the ultimate all-in-one desktop computer, powered by the M4 chip and built for Apple Intelligence.* With a stunning 24-inch Retina display, iMac gives you the space you need in an iconic, colorful design that livens up any room.
- FITS PERFECTLY IN YOUR SPACE — The all-in-one desktop design is strikingly thin, comes in seven vibrant colors, and elevates any space with style.
- BUILT FOR APPLE INTELLIGENCE — Apple Intelligence is the personal intelligence system that helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly. With groundbreaking privacy protections, it gives you peace of mind that no one else can access your data — not even Apple.*
- SUPERCHARGED BY M4 — Get more done faster with the Apple M4 chip. From editing photos to creating presentations to gaming, you’ll fly through work and play.
- IMMERSIVE DISPLAY — The industry-leading 24-inch 4.5K Retina display features 500 nits of brightness and supports up to 1 billion colors.*
| Test | Reported result | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 CPU | 4,318 single-core; 37,777 multi-core | Tom’s Guide’s scores for its reviewed M5 Ultra configuration. |
| Blackmagic disk-speed test | 13,902 read; 14,283 write | Tom’s Guide’s reported results on its review system. |
| HandBrake video conversion | 1:05 for the M5 Ultra; 1:56 for the M4 Max comparison system | Time to convert a 25GB 4K video to 1080p in Tom’s Guide’s test. The systems are not established as identical in all other respects. |
| High-resolution video export | 1:20 on the reviewed Mac Studio; 5:40 on a 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro with 32GB RAM | Tom’s Guide exported an 8-minute-27-second video using 5K ProRes RAW and a 4K 120fps clip, outputting at 4K 30fps. This comparison involves different machines and configurations. |
Tom’s Guide also reports that its system handled more than 30 Chrome tabs without slowing and remained cool and quiet. That thermal and noise description is the reviewer’s subjective observation; the cited review evidence does not provide controlled acoustic or temperature measurements.
Is the M5 Ultra good for gaming?
Tom’s Guide reports 60fps in Cyberpunk 2077 at 5K with the game’s “For this Mac” mode enabled. That is one game and configuration, not a general gaming benchmark. The reviewer notes that the Studio does not match a high-end gaming PC and that its stronger gaming results are associated with games optimized for Apple silicon. If your main reason for buying a desktop is gaming, check support and performance for the specific games you play rather than treating this result as representative.
Rank #4
- SUPERCHARGED BY M3 PRO OR M3 MAX — The Apple M3 Pro chip, with a 12-core CPU and 18-core GPU, delivers amazing performance for demanding workflows like manipulating gigapixel panoramas or compiling millions of lines of code. M3 Max, with an up to 16-core CPU and up to 40-core GPU, drives extreme performance for the most advanced workflows like rendering intricate 3D content or developing transformer models with billions of parameters.
- UP TO 22 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — Go all day thanks to the power-efficient design of Apple silicon. The MacBook Pro laptop delivers the same exceptional performance whether it’s running on battery or plugged in. (Battery life varies by use and configuration. See apple.com/batteries for more information.)
- BRILLIANT PRO DISPLAY — The 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display features Extreme Dynamic Range, over 1000 nits of brightness for stunning HDR content, up to 600 nits of brightness for SDR content, and pro reference modes for doing your best work on the go. (The display has rounded corners at the top. When measured diagonally, the screen is 16.2 inches. Actual viewable area is less.)
- FULLY COMPATIBLE — All your pro apps run lightning fast — including Adobe Creative Cloud, Apple Xcode, Microsoft 365, SideFX Houdini, MathWorks MATLAB, Medivis SurgicalAR, and many of your favorite iPhone and iPad apps. And with macOS, work and play on your Mac are even more powerful. Elevate your presence on video calls. Access information in all-new ways. And discover even more ways to personalize your Mac. (Apps are available on the App Store.)
- ADVANCED CAMERA AND AUDIO — Look sharp and sound great with a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, a studio-quality three-mic array, and a six-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio.
Who should buy it—and who should choose a less powerful Mac?
The M5 Ultra makes sense when capacity is the constraint
Consider it if your professional work can make productive use of substantial CPU or GPU resources, large pools of unified memory, high-speed internal storage or multiple high-bandwidth connections. Examples include demanding video work, large datasets and local AI workloads, but the benefit depends on the software and project size. The review’s export results illustrate that certain intensive media tasks can finish quickly; they do not show that every editing app or workflow will scale in the same way.
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For browsing, office work and other light tasks, the M5 Ultra’s headroom may not translate into a meaningful everyday advantage. Compare an M5 Max or another less costly Mac against your actual applications and projects before paying for the top tier. Macworld’s September 22, 2026 Mac Studio guide puts the 2026 Studio in context against the preceding M4 Max/M3 Ultra generation; performance comparisons remain model- and workload-dependent.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- The MacBook Pro 14inch features a stunning Liquid Retina XDR display, a wide range of ports for advanced connectivity, a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, and the best audio system in a notebook.A game-changing combination of phenomenal performance, unrivaled battery life, and groundbreaking features.
- M1 Pro also delivers up to 200GB/s of memory bandwidth — nearly 3x the bandwidth of M1 — and supports up to 32GB of fast unified memory. Designed to dramatically speed up pro video workflows, M1 Pro adds a ProRes accelerator in the media engine, delivering unbelievably fast and power-efficient video processing.
- MacBook Pro is designed for developers, photographers, filmmakers, 3D artists, scientists, music producers, and anyone who wants the world’s best notebook.With industry-leading studio-quality mics, a high-fidelity six-speaker sound system, and support for spatial audio, MacBook Pro delivers the best audio system ever in a notebook.
- MacBook Pro features an advanced thermal design, delivering phenomenal sustained performance while staying cool and quiet.
- MacBook Pro features a Magic Keyboard with a full-height function row and the industry-best Force Touch trackpad.
Use a practical buying checklist
- Workload: Identify the applications and project sizes that currently slow you down, and check whether they use CPU, GPU or both.
- Memory: Estimate the memory your actual projects need, especially if you work with large media, datasets or local AI. Choose capacity for a real requirement, not just the largest number.
- Storage: Match the internal SSD to the projects you need on the machine. For large media libraries, an external Thunderbolt SSD is another category to consider; confirm compatibility and availability for any drive you choose.
- Connections: Count your displays, card readers, storage and other peripherals, then compare their requirements with the Studio’s port selection.
- Total cost: Compare the complete configuration you need with a less expensive Mac. The $5,499 starting price is not the cost of Tom’s Guide’s $12,299 test configuration.
- Games: Verify support for the titles you care about. A result from one Apple-optimized game cannot establish broad gaming performance.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
