Apple recently quietly updated the Mac Studio online configuration options, removing the 512GB unified memory upgrade solution originally provided. The current memory limit of this model has been reduced from 512GB to 256GB.
According to the current configuration on Apple’s official website, Mac Studio comes standard with 36GB of memory, and users could previously upgrade to multiple levels between 48GB and 512GB, with high-end configurations limited to models equipped with M3 Ultra chips. Now the optional upgrade range has been reduced to 48GB to 256GB, and if you choose the 256GB memory configuration, you are expected to wait in line for delivery until May at the earliest.
At the same time, Apple has also raised the price of 256GB memory upgrades: on the high-end M3 Ultra model, the price increase from 96GB to 256GB has increased from the previous $1,600 to $2,000; before being cancelled, the price of the 512GB memory upgrade was $4,000. The main reason why Apple canceled the 512GB option this time is generally believed to be that the global DRAM supply continues to be tight, which has led to the drying up of high-capacity memory supply and a sharp increase in costs, which has also pushed up the delivery cycle and price pressure of the 256GB configuration.
The report pointed out that the global memory chip production capacity has been tight recently, and DRAM spot and contract prices have increased significantly. The related impact is expected to further affect the PC and smartphone markets in the coming months. However, compared with smaller machine manufacturers, Apple has more advantages in supply negotiation and procurement capabilities, and is capable of absorbing part of the cost increase itself in the short term to minimize the impact on end consumers.
It is worth noting that as the demand for local deployment of large models and AI agents heats up, Mac Studio, which can provide large-capacity memory and continuous computing power output, has seen a significant increase in demand among professional users and enthusiasts. This is also considered to be one of the reasons for the extended delivery time of some configurations.
Looking forward to product line upgrades, the market generally expects Apple to launch a new generation of Mac Studio equipped with M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips in 2026, but the specific release schedule is not yet clear.