The arriver of theMac Studiomarks the first clip in a while that Apple addresses a group of Mac user who have long been neglected . These users had largely turned to the27 - column inch iMacto fit their power and budget needs , and Mac Studio ultimately return them a brainless Mac worth considering .
The Mac Studio is in some ways a brand new Mac , and in other way , it ’s an organic evolution of Macs that come before . manifestly , the Mac Studio fills the gap leave when Apple cease the 27 - column inch iMac , but at the same time , it ’s also an phylogenesis of the Mac mini and a call back to the Mac Pros of old .
So whether you ’re expect to upgrade from an old all - in - one or add a new Mac to your collection , you ’re probably wonder how Mac Studio compares to the iMacs it has replaced and whether it ’s a worthy replacement for Apple ’s upper - remnant iMac . Spoiler alert : If you ’re implicated that the Mac Studio wo n’t be a suitable update from your existing iMac , you call for not worry .
Also scan abouthow the M2 Pro Mac miniskirt liken to the Mac Studio .
Mac Studio vs iMac: Overview
The iMac is easy Apple ’s most famous figurer , the one that set Apple on its flight to becoming the caller it is today . What lead off as a colourful consumer all - in - one has develop quite a flake over the years , with the most recent 27 - inch theoretical account lark about a beautiful 5 K Retina display , Intel 10th propagation Core i9 processors , up to 128 GB RAM , and up to 8 TB storage . For a brief time , Apple also sold a 27 - inch iMac Pro that used Intel Xeon W processors with up to 18 - cores , a variety of high - closing graphics card , and up to 256 GB RAM and 4 TB storage .
Dominik Tomaszewski
In contrast , the Mac Studio is just the computer part — it miss a display , keyboard , and mouse — but it does propose up to a 20 - core CPU , 64 - core GPU , 128 GB RAM , and 8 TB store , far outpacing any iMac ever made . If you ’re upgrade from an iMac , however , you ’ll need to purchase a unexampled showing , since you ca n’t useTarget Display Modeon M1 Macs .
Mac Studio vs iMac:Specsand ports
Thenow - discontinued27 - inch iMac was last update inAugust 2020when it got the tenth - generation Intel Core i5 or i7 CPU as standard configurations , alongside the Radeon Pro 5000 serial art . It only extend 8 GB RAM as standard and the entry - tier storage option was 256 GB SSD . If you wanted more zing , there were work up - to - order options that included an Intel 10th generation marrow i9 processor with up to 10 - core processor , up to 128 GB RAM , an 8 TB SSD , and Radeon Pro 5700 or Radeon Pro 5700 XT computer graphic . To get the ultimate conformation , including 128 GB RAM and the maximal store capability , you would ’ve yield more than $ 5,000 .
While liken Intel and Apple chips is n’t straightforward , the Mac Studio eyeglasses and price already make it face like a much better value for your money , even without a keyboard , monitor , and sneak . If you stick with the base model , a 10 - magnetic core CPU/24 - core group GPU M1 Max , 32 GB RAM , and 512 GB SSD for $ 1,999 , you ’re already gettings a faster car , even if you had bought a fully loaded 27 - in iMac . And if you upgrade to the $ 3,999 M1 Ultra , you ’ll perfectly bodge the door off your sure-enough iMac .
To really see the difference , look at these benchmark , which are from the 2020 iMac that would have cost $ 4,499/£4,499 . The Mac Studio here is the 32 - nucleus M1 Max model that be $ 2,199 , more than half the damage of the iMac . So any configuration you choose will give you more tycoon than you had before .
Anyone drop this much on a fresh Mac is going to have a fate of peripheral devices to sequester and the Mac Studio has n’t lose any of the expansion and capableness in the 27 - inch iMac . Here ’s what the iMac had :
And here ’s what the Mac Studio has :
So no matter your setup , you wo n’t need to worry about the available expansion ports on the Mac Studio . If anything , you ’ll have more than you demand .
Mac Studio vs iMac: Design and display
The 27 - in iMac had hardly exchange its appearance since the slender unibody version go far in 2013 . We were expect a redesign to take it in billet with the 24 - inch M1 modelling , but Apple rather gave us two freestanding twist : Mac Studio and the 27 - inchStudio Display .
The Mac Studio looks like a tall Mac miniskirt , roughly equivalent to three minis stacked on top of each other . It ’s a succinct and neat design that wo n’t take up too much place on your desk and handily sits under a Studio Display or most other monitor . Basically , if you have room for a Mac mini on your desk , you have room for a Mac Studio . It has a simple design that looks safe but is n’t most as striking as a 27 - inch iMac and only comes in silver , though your Space Gray iMac Pro accessories will still reckon slap-up .
Willis Lai / Foundry
The presentation is obviously the biggest departure between the iMac and the Mac Studio . On one side , you have a Mac that has a 27 - inch 5 K display built into it , and on the other a Mac that does n’t have a display at all . To make up the deviation , Apple is sell a 27 - column inch Studio Display starting at $ 1,599 for those who require an iMac - similar experience – and it offer some features that were n’t available on the 27 - in iMac . At the extremist high terminal , Apple sell the 32 - inchPro Display XDRthat be $ 4,999 and does n’t even amount with a tie-up ( that ’s an surplus $ 1,000 ) .
The Studio Display has a aboriginal 5 K resolution of 5,120×2,880 at 218 pel per inch , with 600 nits of brightness , supporting for the P3 color gamut , and True Tone . That ’s very like to the 27 - inch iMac ’s showing , which had the same feature of speech and resolution but lead out at 500 nit luminance . Like the iMac , the standard Studio Display uses received public eye - resistive glass with a mat nano - texture glass option for an additional $ 300 .
The design is very similar to the 27 - inch iMac without a Kuki , and functions in the same means — you may tilt the CRT screen but not align the pinnacle . Apple does offer a tilt - and - height adjustable stand for the Studio Display that costs another $ 400 .
The Studio Display has a few features that the iMac and other Macs and third - party displays lack , thanks to the cellular inclusion of an A13 chip shot ( as picture in the iPhone 11 ) . These feature admit a built - in 12MP Ultra Wide television camera , which is an melioration over the 1080p FaceTime HD photographic camera in the 27 - column inch iMac . The camera also let in support for Center Stage , which mechanically keeps you centered in the frame if you move while on a call .
The Studio Display also has a three - mike array with guiding beamforming for “ Hey Siri ” support , as well as six speakers ( four military force - cancel woofers , and two gamey - functioning tweeter ) with Spatial Audio . Finally , you get three extra USB - C ports on the back .
Of course , you do n’t have to spend that kind of money to get a decent display . Any reminder will shape with the Mac Studio , and you could get a very dear 27 - inch monitor ( or bigger ) for far less than $ 1,599 . Most of them wo n’t have a camera , high - end speakers , or far - field microphone , so you ’ll need to press how authoritative those feature of speech are .
Mac Studio vs iMac:Price
Now that we ’ve gone over the differences between the two model , countenance ’s seek to compare the prices . you could get a Mac Studio with a 10 - core M1 Max CPU , 24 - pith GPU , 32 GB RAM , and 512 GB SSD for $ 1,999 . Add a Studio Display and you ’re looking at a lower limit of $ 3,598 .
To match that with a 27 - column inch iMac , you would have been looking at a build - to - decree selection as the 10 - effect model was n’t standard . If you want to max out your 27 - inch iMac with a 3.6GHz 10 - essence Intel Core i9 and 32 GB RAM , you would have been look at a cost of $ 3,299 , very nigh to the Mac Studio and Studio Display bundle above , and not all that far off the price of the M1 Ultra Mac Studio ( without a exhibit , of class ) .
Mac Studio vs iMac:Verdict
There is no doubt that the Mac Studio declare oneself an melioration over the 27 - column inch iMac , not only in specs but also in value . When you break down the price of a comparable 27 - inch iMac , you ’re getting a much salutary machine with more expandability and versatility for less .
The only existent matter is the ledger entry - level cost . You could previously get a 27 - inch iMac for $ 1,799 , while the Mac Studio bulge out at $ 1,999 without a display . Until an M1 Pro Mac mini comes along , drug user who do n’t need the power of a Mac Studio could look at one of Apple ’s M1 machines , which equal up well with the base - level 27 - inch iMac . You could also look at the 14 - in MacBook Pro for $ 1,999 with an 8 - essence M1 Pro processor .
But if you ’re looking for a replacement for a gamy - end iMac at a like price , you ’ll be extremely happy with the Mac Studio , no matter which display you determine to pair with it .
