New Mac Studio M5 Ultra released

The new Mac Studio M5 Ultra was introduced in late August, alongside the Mac mini M6. It is designed to handle the largest language models available locally, offering advanced computing capabilities for tasks that require significant processing power.

Enhanced memory and performance

The version tested by a French outlet includes 256 GB of unified memory, much more than the 128 GB in a Mac Studio M4 Max tested in March 2025. The M5 Ultra chip has 36 CPU cores and 80 GPU cores, enabling it to manage language models with up to 100 billion parameters.

Available configurations and pricing

The Mac Studio M5 Ultra is available in multiple configurations, starting at 2,999 euros for a model with an M5 Max chip, 18 CPU cores, 36 GB of unified memory, and 512 GB SSD. A version with 512 GB of unified memory is expected to be available by the end of October 2026, with a price of at least 25,000 euros.

Design and connectivity features

The Mac Studio M5 Ultra retains the same design as the Mac Studio M3 Ultra, launched in 2022. It is compact, measuring 9.5 cm in height, 19.7 cm in width and depth, and weighing 3.6 kg. It includes multiple ports, such as four Thunderbolt 5 ports, two USB 3 ports, and an HDMI 2.1 output, supporting high-speed data transfer and connectivity.

Advanced networking and memory access

The device features an Apple N1 chip that supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, though Wi-Fi 7 has some limitations. A notable feature is the use of RDMA (Remote Direct Memory Access) with Thunderbolt 5, which reduces latency and improves performance for managing large language models locally.

Chip architecture and performance

The M5 Ultra chip uses a quad-die architecture, combining two M5 Max double-die chips with "UltraFusion" technology. This results in an inter-die bandwidth exceeding 4.4 To/s. The chip includes 12 super cores, 24 performance cores, and 80 GPU cores, with a unified memory bandwidth of 1.2 To/s, much higher than the M3 Ultra.

Performance in benchmarks and gaming

Benchmarks show the M5 Ultra achieving a score of 201 points in single-core and 3912 points in multi-core on Cinebench R24, outperforming the Mac mini M6 and competing chips. However, the Mac Studio M5 Ultra struggles with gaming, managing only about 50 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077 in 4K ultra settings.

Use cases and target audience

The Mac Studio M5 Ultra is aimed at SMEs and professionals needing local processing of large AI models to prevent data leaks. Its high cost, around 14,079 euros in France, limits its use to intensive applications, such as 24/7 operation, where the benefits of local processing justify the investment.