Apple unveiled a brand new Mac Studio today with two powerful—yet perplexing—chip options. You can get it with an M4 Max or the new high-end M3 Ultra chip. One publication asked Apple about this odd pairing, and its answer hinted that we may not see an M4 Ultra chip in the future.
Apple says ‘not every chip generation’ will get an Ultra
Andrew Cunningham writes at Ars Technica:
When asked why the high-end Mac Studio was getting an M3 Ultra chip instead of an M4 Ultra, Apple told us that not every chip generation will get an “Ultra” tier. This is, as far as I can recall, the first time that Apple has said anything like this in public.
Apple stating that not every chip generation will get an Ultra, on its own, doesn’t necessarily imply it will skip the M4 Ultra.
However, the timing and context of the statement absolutely point that direction.
It was certainly confusing that the new Mac Studio came with an M3 Ultra alongside the M4 Max.
Some have argued that this change may be an intentional way to differentiate the Mac Studio from Apple’s upcoming M4 Mac Pro offering.
The thinking goes: if the M4 Ultra is exclusive to the Mac Pro, there will be a clearer reason for both the Mac Pro and Mac Studio to continue co-existing.
However, Apple’s statement today strongly hints that’s not the plan. Instead, it sounds like the M4 generation simply won’t get an Ultra chip at all.
If that proves true, it will be the first chip family since Apple Silicon emerged that lacks an Ultra variant.
M1, M2, and now M3 have all eventually offered an Ultra version. But that streak may be about to end.
Do you think it’s a problem if there’s no M4 Ultra? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments.
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