Apple plans two Mac Studio refreshes, an M5 Ultra this year and a major M7 Ultra in 2028. Skip M6 Ultra, because Apple cancelled higher‑end M6 Pro/Max chips, leaving only a base M6. The gap means Mac Studio will jump from M5 Ultra straight to M7 Ultra. The move also aligns with Apple's broader strategy to consolidate its high‑performance lineup and reduce production complexity.

The upcoming 2028 model will feature a redesigned internal architecture and an improved heat sink to handle higher thermal loads. Gurman notes Apple tested support for up to 768GB of unified memory, though supply constraints may limit that option at launch, and could influence pricing for top‑tier configurations. Memory chip shortages and price hikes already pushed the 2026 refresh back.

The M5 Ultra launch date remains uncertain, with October possible but current M3 Ultra units still shipping late into the year. Skipping the M6 Ultra streamlines Apple’s silicon roadmap toward on‑device AI and GPU‑intensive tasks. Consumers can expect a more capable, better‑cooled studio workstation once the 2028 M7 Ultra arrives, making it a compelling upgrade for video editors and 3D artists.

Industry analysts see the delayed yet ambitious Mac Studio refresh as a signal that Apple is betting heavily on on‑device AI to differentiate its pro hardware. By prioritizing a more efficient cooling solution and massive memory capacity, Apple aims to keep the Mac Studio relevant against competing workstations that rely on external GPUs in professional pipelines throughout.