Mac Studio M5 Ultra Rumours: What to Expect
Apple's most powerful desktop hasn't had a chip refresh in a while, and the leak trail now points to a 2026 M5 Ultra Mac Studio with a huge RAM ceiling. Here's what's solid and what's still guesswork.
What's confirmed
Apple is working on a next-generation Mac Studio built around M5 silicon.
Multiple outlets, including MacRumors and AppleInsider, agree Apple has an M5 Ultra Mac Studio in active development as the successor to the current M4 Max/M4 Ultra models, with an M7 Ultra not expected until 2028.
The new chip will support Thunderbolt 5.
Reporting from MacRumors' dedicated Mac Studio guide confirms Thunderbolt 5 connectivity is planned for the next generation, alongside higher base storage configurations.
What's reported (analyst / supply-chain sourced)
Launch window has slipped toward the second half of 2026.
Macworld and AppleInsider both report that a DRAM shortage affecting Apple's supply chain has pushed the original early-2026 target back, with an October 2026 release now considered the more credible timing, though a WWDC 2026 reveal was floated earlier in the year.
M5 Ultra could pack around 36 CPU cores and 80 GPU cores.
MacRumors' leak coverage describes a new "Fusion Architecture" aimed at improving scalability, memory bandwidth and AI performance across the fused dual-chip design Apple uses for its Ultra tier.
Unified memory could top out anywhere from 256GB to 768GB.
MacRumors reports Apple has tested support for up to 768GB of unified memory, but the same DRAM shortage could force a more conservative 256GB ceiling at launch — a big swing that's genuinely unresolved.
Pricing could start higher than the current lineup.
Industry analysts cited by TechRepublic and Macworld expect the M5 Ultra Mac Studio to start around US$4,299–$4,499 for a baseline configuration, climbing past US$10,000 fully loaded with maximum memory and storage.
Twisti's opinion
Treat the RAM ceiling as the number to watch, not the headline chip specs.
For the tiny slice of buyers who actually need a Mac Studio, the CPU/GPU core counts matter less than how much unified memory Apple can ship at launch — that's what determines whether local large-model workloads are viable. If DRAM supply forces Apple down to 256GB instead of 768GB, expect a noisier-than-usual gap between "announced" and "actually available to order" in NZ.
What we'll update
We'll revise this page the moment Apple confirms a launch date or NZ pricing lands on the Apple Store NZ site. Until then, treat every spec and price above as a moving target.
Want the real price when it lands?
Skip the guesswork — Twisti tracks live NZ retailer pricing so you see actual numbers, not rumours.
Browse current laptop & desktop deals →