Apple quietly kills 512GB M3 Extremely Mac Studio choice

You possibly can not purchase an M3 Extremely Mac Studio with 512GB RAM from Apple. As a substitute, the machine can now solely be configured with a most of 256GB of reminiscence.

Apple has additionally raised the value for upgrading the reminiscence from 96GB to 256GB by $400.

Mac Studio now tops out at 256GB reminiscence

The Mac Studio was the one machine in Apple’s lineup that you might buy with as much as 512GB of unified reminiscence. Whereas which will sound extreme for on a regular basis use, the large reminiscence pool proves invaluable for duties corresponding to working giant language fashions (LLMs), advanced knowledge evaluation and different compute-heavy workflows.

The 512GB Mac Studio has change into particularly in style amongst builders and AI fans who need to run LLMs domestically. The massive quantity of reminiscence permits working bigger fashions domestically, offering higher management over AI workloads. This additionally led to a rise in its demand in latest months.

Nevertheless, Apple has now silently eliminated the 512GB choice from its on-line retailer (through MacRumors). The transfer stems from the continued DRAM and NAND scarcity presently affecting the patron tech house.

Now you can solely configure the M3 Extremely Mac Studio with 256GB of reminiscence — 50% lower than earlier than. And even then, you’ll pay extra for it.

Till final week, Apple charged $1,600 to improve the M3 Extremely’s reminiscence from 96GB to 256GB. The identical improve now prices $2,000 — which isn’t an outrageous worth contemplating what 256 GB of RAM now sells for  

Pricing for the M4 Max-equipped Mac Studio stays unchanged, although it could actually solely be configured with as much as 128GB RAM.

Be able to pay extra for the M5 Extremely Mac Studio

The upper improve pricing may additionally sign that Apple plans to boost costs for the upcoming M5 Max and M5 Extremely Mac Studio fashions anticipated later this 12 months. Whereas the bottom configuration might retain its present pricing, customized builds — particularly higher-end configurations — may change into dearer.

Apple has already raised the costs of the M5 Professional/Max MacBook Professionals by $200, although additionally they include double the bottom storage. Likewise, the brand new M5 MacBook Air is $100 dearer than its predecessor.

Rajesh has been writing about shopper know-how for over a decade, with a powerful concentrate on iPhones, Macs and Apple’s ecosystem. He enjoys digging into Apple software program updates, {hardware} adjustments, and discovering new Mac apps that make work sooner and extra satisfying.