Apple Mac Studio: Test of the professional computer in mini format
Apple has been building mini PCs for a long time – so far, the Mac mini models were not exactly slow, but they were not particularly powerful either. The Mac Studio isn’t much bigger (just taller), but it packs a lot more power.
The best MacBooks from Apple
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Details about the test
Per
Very high work pace
Even when playing fast
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Very high work pace
Also very fast when playing games
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Very high work pace
top display
against
Not all software adapted yet
Not upgradeable
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top display
Very high speed
against
Loud under load
Not upgradeable
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Very high work pace
top display
against
Not all software adapted yet
Not upgradeable
Complete list: The best MacBooks from Apple
Thick wallet necessary
The Mac Studio is very small, but not a bargain. Nice the smallest variant beats at 2,300 euros to book, keyboard and mouse or trackpad go again extra. The tested model with the latest M1 Ultra processor variant and lavish equipment even costs a good three times as much.
Easy to reach on the front: 2x USB-C (on the M1 Ultra with Thunderbolt) and the card reader for SD cards.
M1 Ultra – like ultra fast
Even the first Apple processor (M1) convinced the following models in the test of the Mac mini and the iMac 24 inch with high speed M1 Pro in the MacBook Pro 14 inch and M1 Max in the 16-inch MacBook Pro went a few steps further in the tests. the M1 Ultra in the tested Mac Studio, however, plays in a different league. With the right software, such as the 3D animation program Cinema 4D, it is twice as fast as the previously fastest chip, the M1 Max (which is found in the smaller versions of the Mac Studio). The reason: The M1 Ultra is assembled from two M1 Max.
Chic but rarely seen – “Mac Studio” engraved on the bottom. The Mac Studio uses the small holes for cooling.
Ultra-fast graphics
The graphics in the processor are twice as strong. Calculate in the tested Mac Studio 64 graphics cores and ensure an extremely high speed not only when working, but also when playing. On average, the M1 Ultra calculated at Play in 4K (3840×2160 pixels) 136 frames per second, the computer is twice as fast as the MacBook Pro 16 inch and almost ten times faster than the Mac mini. The speed boost is not always so drastic, for example in Office programs. Here the Mac Studio is “only” one and a half times faster than the Mac mini. But that’s simply because these programs don’t need that much computing power.
The cooling system occupies a large part of the rear. Most of the connections are underneath: 4x USB-C with Thunderbolt, network, 2x USB-A, HDMI and audio socket.
Extremely efficient
Great: Despite the concentrated power, the Mac Studio is very quiet and very economical. The fans are included maximum 0.5 sons hardly heard. The power consumption falls with it maximum 44 watts much less than a high-performance PC with Windows, which with a high-performance graphics card sometimes consumes more than 300 watts under full load.
Finally more connections
Many Apple users have asked for more connections, for example to connect several external SSDs as well as monitors and a printer at the same time. The get now at Mac Studio six USB-C (with DisplayPort and Thunderbolt) and two USB-A sockets. That’s enough for up to five monitors (four via USB-C, one via HDMI). There is also a particularly fast network connection (with a maximum of 10 gigabits per second) and a 3.5 millimeter socket for headset, headphones or loudspeakers as well as a card reader for SD cards. A small drop of bitterness: Maximum speed via USB is only available with USB 4 (then it is just as fast as Thunderbolt 4), with USB 3.2 a maximum of 10 gigabits per second is possible (USB 3.2 Gen2), Apple does not support Gen2x2 technology that is twice as fast. A maximum of 950 megabytes per second flow over the USB cable.
Pace with Office programs
Video editing speed
Game pace (Full HD / 4K)
USB tempo from external SSD to Mac / Mac to external SSD
RAM (built-in / expandable)
Memory: usable size, type
Free expansion options
Connections (front / rear)
Operating noise ( video / games)
Power consumption: Office / full load / costs per year
Quality of the keyboard/keyboard lighting/standard layout/Navigation keys standard size/biometric unlocking/connection
Quality of mouse/scrolling/additional buttons/connector
very smooth (146 / 136 frames per second)
very high (776 / 624 MB per sec.)
very much (128 GB / no)
very much (1858 GB, NVMe / no)
1x combo socket, 1x HDMI, 1x network (10 Gbit) / 6x USB-C (with Thunderbolt 4.0 and up to 4x display port), 2x USB-A
802.11ax (2.4 & 5 GHz) / Bluetooth 5
very quiet (0.5 sone / 0.4 sone)
27.16 watts / 44.39 watts / 17.16 euros
very pleasant, slightly less travel / no / yes / yes / yes / Bluetooth
a bit flat, unusable when charging/via gestures/via gestures/bluetooth
Please buy appropriate
Important! As always with Apple, if you want to buy the Mac Studio, you should think carefully about how much memory you need before you buy it. Because the main memory and SSD are firmly attached to the motherboard and cannot be replaced. More RAM (64 gigabytes for the M1 Max or 128 gigabytes for the M1 Ultra) should be needed above all by users who work with 3D software. More storage space on the SSD is not that critical – an external SSD can be connected if necessary. A model with PCI Express technology and a USB-C connection is best, the usually hefty surcharge for a Thunderbolt model is rarely worth it.
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Mac Studio 2022 MJMW3D/A
Extremely high work pace
Extremely high speed in games
Test conclusion Apple Mac Studio M1 Ultra
Ouch, it’s expensive: With the M1 Ultra, it costs Apple Mac Studio (Test grade 1.4) at least 4,600 euros. But there is a very quiet and well-equipped mini-PC with insane speed when gaming and working – no Mac was faster in the test. And so the Mac Studio easily gets a very good grade.
