M5 Ultra Mac Studio Potential Release Date, Specs, Features, Price and Everything We Know So Far

Apple's high-performance Mac users were left wondering in 2025. After the M4 chip generation arrived, the top-tier 'Ultra' variant was conspicuously missing. This led to speculation: had Apple abandoned its most powerful chip configuration? Was the M3 Ultra the end of the line?

According to a new report from Bloomberg, the answer is a definitive 'no.' The Ultra is not dead; it was just skipping a generation. Apple is reportedly planning a major return for its powerhouse silicon, targeting a 2026 debut for the M5 Ultra chip.

This move signals a significant future upgrade for Apple's most demanding creative and professional users. Here is everything we know so far about the M5 Ultra Mac Studio's potential release date, specs, features, and price.

Why the M5 Ultra Chip Is a Big Deal After the M4 Skip

To understand the excitement around the M5 Ultra chip, one must first look at the chip that never was: the M4 Ultra.

Earlier this year, Apple made the unusual decision to update its Mac Studio line with a confusing mix of generations, offering M4 Max and M3 Ultra chip options. This made it clear that no M4 Ultra was coming.

The reason was technical. An 'Ultra' chip is not a single piece of silicon but rather two 'Max' chips fused together using Apple's proprietary 'UltraFusion' technology. The M4 Max chip, however, was designed without the necessary UltraFusion connector, making an M4 Ultra an impossibility.

This move confirmed that Apple did not plan to create a high-end Ultra chip for every single M-series generation. The apparent pause in the Ultra line left Mac Pro and high-end Mac Studio users uncertain about the future of their upgrade path.

The news of a planned M5 Ultra chip, therefore, isn't just an update; it's a confirmation that Apple is still committed to this hyper-performance tier.

M5 Ultra Mac Studio: Potential Release Date

Apple's silicon release strategy has become a predictable, staggered rollout. The base M5 chip has already debuted, making its way into the latest MacBook Pro models. However, professional users are still waiting for its more powerful siblings.

We will likely be waiting until early 2026 for the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips to appear, presumably in updated MacBook Pro and Mac Studio models. Only after the M5 Max is in the market can the M5 Ultra be released.

Historically, the Ultra chips have followed the Pro and Max variants by several months. Given this timeline, the M5 Ultra chip will likely come after the early 2026 Pro/Max launch, pointing to a release in mid-to-late 2026.

A launch at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June 2026 or even a September 2026 event seems plausible.

M5 Ultra Chip: Rumoured Specs

While no official specs for the M5 Ultra exist, we can make highly educated guesses based on Apple's established formula. The M5 Ultra will be built on the same third-generation 3nm process as the base M5 chip.

The 'Ultra' chip is architecturally two 'Max' chips connected via UltraFusion. We can look at the M3 Ultra for a baseline:

• The M3 Max chip features up to a 16-core CPU and a 40-core GPU.
• The M3 Ultra chip, consequently, features up to a 32-core CPU and an 80-core GPU, with support for up to 256GB of unified memory.

It is logical to assume the M5 Ultra will be a similar doubling of the M5 Max. If the M5 Max (launching in early 2026) follows its predecessor, the M5 Ultra could feature specs in the range of 32 CPU cores and 80 GPU cores, or even more if Apple pushes the core counts on the Max model.

Expect staggering memory bandwidth and support for a massive unified memory pool, likely exceeding 256GB at the high end.

M5 Ultra Mac Studio: Expected Features

The main feature will be the M5 Ultra chip itself. Based on the M5 chip's launch, this new Mac Studio will be an AI powerhouse. The M5 architecture includes a new 16-core Neural Engine paired with new "Neural Accelerators" inside the GPU cores, designed for massive AI and machine-learning performance.

Other expected features include:

• Next-Generation AI Performance: A massive leap in on-device AI processing for pro-level "Apple Intelligence" features, 3D rendering, and video analysis.
• Advanced Media Engines: Dedicated hardware for the fastest-possible ProRes, H.264, and HEVC encoding and decoding, aimed at high-end video professionals.
• Third-Generation Ray Tracing: The new GPU architecture in the M5 family supports hardware-accelerated ray tracing for more realistic graphics in 3D applications and games.
• New Apple Displays: To complement the new hardware, Apple is also rumoured to be developing a pair of new high-end displays. It is possible that at least one of these new monitors could launch alongside the new Mac Studio in 2026.

M5 Ultra Mac Studio: Estimated Price

There is no official pricing for the M5 Ultra Mac Studio. However, Apple's pro-grade pricing has been relatively consistent. The current Mac Studio with the M3 Ultra chip (which, as of November 2025, is sold alongside the M4 Max model) has a starting price of $3,999 / £4,199.

It is safe to assume that the M5 Ultra Mac Studio will start at a similar price point, at or above the $3,999 mark. This price would be for the base configuration, with costs increasing significantly for unified memory, storage, and higher-end GPU configurations.

What New Macs Will Feature the M5 Ultra Chip?

The M5 Ultra chip is reportedly slated to be the new brain of the Mac Studio. This positions the Mac Studio to once again become the undisputed performance champion in Apple's non-pro-tower lineup.

It is also highly likely, given historical precedent, that Apple will use the M5 Ultra chip in a future Mac Pro update. The Mac Pro is designed for users who need not only the power of an Ultra chip but also the internal expansion capabilities that its tower chassis provides.

An M5 Ultra-powered Mac Pro would be a formidable machine for Hollywood studios, 3D rendering farms, and high-end scientific research.

The M5 Ultra Mac Studio is shaping up to be a massive return to form for Apple's high-end desktop, reaffirming its commitment to pro users after the M4 Ultra skip. While we must wait for a mid-to-late 2026 release, all rumours point to a 3nm AI and graphics powerhouse that will likely start at or above the $3,999 mark.