Apple’s latest Mac Studio has become substantially more expensive, largely because it targets professionals running local AI models, advanced video workflows and Hollywood-level visual effects. The M5 Max version now starts at $2,500, while the M5 Ultra begins at $5,500, increases of $500 and $1,500 respectively compared with earlier models.

The machines offer up to 512GB of unified memory, very high memory bandwidth and enough performance to run huge language models or edit multiple 8K video streams locally. Apple attributes wider price rises to rapidly increasing component costs, while the article also points to expensive high-performance memory and storage, precautionary pricing and Apple’s profit margins; a fully configured M5 Ultra can cost $11,299, compared with $7,499 for a comparable M3 Ultra.