According to 9to5Mac, Apple plans to release M5 Ultra and M5 Max chips for the Mac Studio next year. The report, citing Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, indicates the M5 Ultra will arrive in 2025 alongside new M5 and M5 Pro Mac mini models. This development means Apple is completely skipping an M4 Ultra chip generation, which many pro users expected when the current Mac Studio launched. Instead of offering both M3 Ultra and M4 Max options, next year’s lineup will feature chips from the same generation. Gurman also mentions that new low-cost MacBooks are in development, though he doesn’t specify which other Macs might get the M5 Ultra chip. A Mac Pro with M5 Ultra could potentially arrive in 2026 if that product is still in Apple’s plans.
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Finally, some clarity for pro users
Here’s the thing: Apple‘s current Mac Studio situation is kind of a mess for power users. You’ve got this weird choice between an M3 Ultra that’s technically more powerful overall, but an M4 Max that might actually perform better in specific workflows thanks to newer architecture. It’s like choosing between raw horsepower and modern efficiency – and nobody wants to make that compromise when they’re spending serious money.
Basically, Apple created a situation where you couldn’t just buy the “best” chip without considering generational trade-offs. Now they’re apparently fixing that by keeping the Max and Ultra chips in the same generation. Smart move, honestly. Pro users hate uncertainty when they’re investing in workstation-level hardware.
What about the Mac Pro?
Now here’s where it gets interesting. Gurman doesn’t mention the Mac Pro getting the M5 Ultra, but he previously expected a new Mac Pro in 2025. If that timeline holds, we might see the professional workstation skip straight to M5 Ultra in 2026. Or maybe Apple’s rethinking the entire Mac Pro lineup given how powerful the Mac Studio has become.
Think about it: the Mac Studio with M3 Ultra already handles most professional workloads. Does Apple even need to update the Mac Pro regularly anymore? The modularity argument only goes so far when most pros are perfectly happy with the Studio’s power in a much smaller package. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Mac Pro becomes more of a niche product moving forward.
Where this leaves the competition
Apple’s chip strategy continues to be their secret weapon. While Intel and AMD are playing catch-up in efficiency, Apple just keeps stacking more performance into their silicon. The M5 Ultra will likely widen that gap even further in creative workflows where Apple’s unified memory architecture shines.
And let’s be real – who else is offering this kind of performance in such compact, quiet systems? The Mac Studio with M5 Ultra will probably crush most Windows workstations while using a fraction of the power and making zero noise. That’s a compelling selling point for studios, editors, and developers who value both performance and workspace comfort.
Follow the latest Apple news on Twitter and YouTube for more updates as this story develops. The M5 generation is shaping up to be exactly what pro users have been waiting for – a return to predictable, straightforward upgrades without the generational confusion.
