New Mac Studio's Biggest Upgrade Isn't the M5 Ultra Chip, Review Says

September 22, 2026 September 22, 2026

Early reviews reveal that the new Mac Studio delivers massive performance upgrades, highlighted by dramatically faster SSD storage speeds that outpace even Apple's official claims.

Ahead of the new Mac Studio with M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips launching this Tuesday, initial reviews from top technology publications and YouTube channels have officially arrived. While many tech enthusiasts expected the headlines to focus strictly on raw processor compute power, early hands-on testing shows another component stealing the spotlight. According to a detailed review published by Macworld's Roman Loyola, the standout enhancement is not just the M5 Ultra processor, but drastically faster drive speeds.

The new Mac Studio desktop workstation computer.

What Makes the New Mac Studio Storage Upgrade So Impressive?

"Typically, we start our reviews by looking at overall performance with Geekbench, and then we work our way through more specific aspects," Loyola noted in his analysis. "But the SSD performance is so overwhelmingly good, it's the story here."

To evaluate drive performance, Loyola ran the Blackmagic Disk Speed Test benchmark tool on a high-end test configuration. The system tested included an 18-core M5 Max chip, 128GB of RAM, and a 4TB SSD. The actual SSD performance gains measured during testing exceeded expectations across the board.

Blackmagic Disk Speed Test benchmark results for the new Mac Studio.

Key benchmark results from the drive speed evaluation include:

Faster Read Speeds: The system achieved roughly 2.6 times faster SSD read speeds compared to the previous-generation model equipped with the M4 Max chip.
Faster Write Speeds: The drive delivered approximately 2.1 times faster SSD write speeds than the prior generation.
Exceeding Official Claims: Apple originally advertised up to 2 times faster storage speeds, meaning these real-world tests actually beat Apple's marketing figures.

While day-to-day real-world performance always varies based on specific file sizes and workloads, users can expect significantly faster file transfers, quicker application launch times, and smoother project loading overall.

M5 Ultra Chip Benchmarks: Unprecedented Processing Power

For creative professionals who require maximum compute power, M5 Ultra benchmark results already surfaced last week, proving that Apple's silicon hardware continues to set new performance benchmarks. Unsurprisingly, the M5 Ultra stands as Apple's fastest chip ever built for a desktop computer.

Based on Geekbench 7 testing results, the new flagship processor demonstrates substantial generation-over-generation speed increases:

Single-Core CPU Performance: Up to around 30 percent faster compared to the M3 Ultra chip.
Multi-Core CPU Performance: Up to around 35 percent faster than the M3 Ultra chip.

These benchmark results align closely with Apple's official marketing claims. Apple stated that the M5 Ultra provides up to 1.25 times faster single-threaded CPU performance and up to 1.3 times faster multi-threaded CPU performance relative to the M3 Ultra. In practical benchmark testing, the chip meets or slightly beats those figures.

How Tech Reviewers Rate the New Mac Studio Performance

Across the technology sector, early reviewers have praised the exceptional speed of the updated desktop machine. The Verge's Antonio G. Di Benedetto described the top-tier configuration's performance as "outrageous" during initial testing.

Similarly, PCMag's Brian Westover highlighted the system's capability in heavy workflows, calling the computer "a serious powerhouse for top-tier local AI inference."

Pricing, Configuration Options, and Release Details

The updated workstation lineup has been available to pre-order since August 25, alongside a new Mac mini offering M6 and M5 Pro chip configurations. Both desktop systems officially launch this Tuesday, September 22.

However, top-tier performance comes at a higher price tag. Apple attributed recent pricing adjustments to the ongoing global memory chip shortage.

M5 Max Starting Price: Begins at $2,499 in the United States.
M5 Ultra Starting Price: Begins at $5,499 in the United States.
Price Comparison: The previous-generation model equipped with the M4 Max chip started at $1,999 when it launched.

Final Thoughts on the New Mac Studio

The new Mac Studio delivers an impressive balance of processing power and storage velocity. With record-breaking drive speeds that beat Apple's own claims and top-tier multi-core processor performance, it stands out as an exceptionally capable option for demanding creative tasks.

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