Apple Mac Studio (M5 Ultra) review: incredible benchmark scores, high base memory, and a generous number of ultra-fast Thunderbolt 5 ports, but very expensive (Steve Dent/Engadget)

Apple’s Mac Studio with M5 Ultra delivers standout benchmark performance, abundant base memory, and a strong I/O advantage with multiple ultra-fast Thunderbolt 5 ports, making it a compelling option for highly demanding creative, engineering, and AI-adjacent workflows. However, at $11,299, its premium pricing means the business case is narrow: for most IT organizations, the incremental gain over the M5 Max is unlikely to justify broad deployment, so it is best treated as a specialized workstation rather than a standard fleet upgrade.