The M3 Ultra-equipped Apple Mac Studio delivers the massive multi-core performance and workstation grunt that pros with demanding workflows need. However, its high price and older core architecture mean the M4 Max model is more versatile—and accessible.

This is the kind of computer that can’t be reviewed in a matter of days, so we’re just getting started.

The Apple Mac Studio Ultra, even at more than $14,000 is a bargain if you’re looking for as much system memory as possible, at $28 per GB. That’s a bit less than Puget Systems and almost a third of what you’d pay for a maxed-out Mac Mini (or half the Apple Mac Pro with its puny 192GB RAM).