New(ish) Apple Product & The Mac Studio

Too expensive, or just not for you?

I’m a little behind the times with this post. Between trying and failing to restore the website (a massive mistake on my part), working what feels like every hour of the day, and getting ready for a new arrival in the family, I haven't had much time to write. But let's finally talk about Apple's Mac Studio.

This device has been cropping up all over my feed lately. It’s Apple’s latest desktop, and as is tradition, it comes in multiple "flavors." It’s hard not to notice that since Steve Jobs left, Apple has regressed toward making dozens of versions of every product. I really miss the days when Apple said, "This is the phone; if you don't like it, that's all there is." Now, if you want a LiDAR feature—which I really do—you have to shell out for the top-tier model. It feels like Tim Cook has moved away from the "make no more than five products" philosophy.

Is it a "Pro" Mac Mini?

Not to be a total fanboy, but the Mac Studio is easily the best desktop Mac Apple has produced to date. It finally brings that high-end performance to a form factor that doesn't force you to buy a new monitor, keyboard, and mouse if you’re already happy with your setup—much like the Mac Minis I’ve been using as home servers for years.

In many ways, the Mac Studio is exactly what I was hoping for: a "Pro" Mac Mini.

The hardware is mental. Sure, it’s not a liquid-cooled gaming beast, but Macs have never really been focused on gaming. You can play a bit of Minecraft or Tomb Raider, but these machines are clearly targeted at the creative industries. With the M1 (and now M-series) chips, Apple is doubling down on the video encoders and machine learning chips that actually matter for video editing, photo workflows, and 3D modeling.

The Price Tag

With a starting price of £1,999 for the Max model and significantly more for the Ultra, Apple is clearly signaling that these machines aren't for Brenda down the street who checks her email and plays Candy Crush.

Don't get me wrong: I’d love to get my hands on a fully kitted-out M1 Ultra to replace my aging i3 Mac Mini. It would run my entire Docker-based smart home stack with ease, with enough headroom to render 3D animations on the side. But on the whole, the Studio is overkill for my current home server needs.

What about the Studio Display?

As for the Studio Display? It’s a harder pass. I don't work in 4K or HDR, and I have a feeling that before long, I’ll be able to pick up the high-end LG displays that other Mac users are upgrading from for a steal. The panel tech hasn't changed much in a decade, and while the speakers and Center Stage camera are nice, I don't need them. If I want to watch 4K HDR content, I don't want to be doing it while sitting three feet away from my desk monitor.

The Verdict

Is the Mac Studio worth the money? It depends entirely on who you are.

If you need the power, buy one right now. If you don't, it wasn't designed for you. Maybe one day I’ll pick up a maxed-out version for a grand when Apple is on the M5 or M6 chips—it’ll still be more than I need, but I have to admit, I’d still love to have one sat on my desk.

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