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Apple’s maxed-out M5 Ultra Mac Studio is here, and it costs as much as a Chevy Bolt EV

Apple’s most powerful Mac ever is finally here, and your wallet might want to sit down for this one.

By Rachit Agarwal Published October 28, 2026 11:01 PM

2025 Mac Studio — Fionna Agomuoh / Digital Trends

When Apple launched the M5 Max and M5 Ultra Mac Studio in August, it quietly mentioned that one configuration would arrive later. Apple listed 512GB of RAM as an option, but you couldn’t actually buy it. That changes today, as Apple has opened pre-orders for the fully loaded M5 Ultra Mac Studio, which might just be the most powerful Mac ever made.

How much does the maxed-out Mac Studio cost?

The base M5 Ultra Mac Studio starts at $5,499 and comes with a 30-core CPU, 64-core GPU, 96GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage. If you want more power, you can upgrade to a 36-core CPU and 80-core GPU for an extra $1,300. Bumping the storage all the way up to 16TB will cost you another $7,500.

The 512GB RAM option is only available with the 36-core CPU and 80-core GPU model. Once you tick every box, the Mac Studio costs a whopping $29,799, up from the $18,299 maximum when it launched in August.

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For context, the Chevy Bolt LT starts at $28,995 after offers. That means you could drive home a brand-new electric car and still have about $800 left over, or you could put one very expensive box on your desk.

Who should buy this Mac Studio?

Let’s be honest, very few people need a $29,799 computer. This Mac Studio is built for AI professionals whose workflows can actually put 512GB of RAM to good use. If that’s you, you’ve waited since August for this configuration, and the good news is the wait is almost over. The first orders will start arriving on December 3.

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Rachit is a seasoned tech journalist with over ten years of experience covering the consumer technology landscape.

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