The first reviews of the new M5 Max and M5 Ultra Mac Studio are out, and if they quibble about the pricing, there's no questioning that these are the most powerful Macs ever. The Verge tested a $12,299 M5 Ultra configuration with a 36-core CPU, 80-core GPU, 256GB RAM, and 4TB storage, finding it roughly 30% faster than an M3 Ultra and 63% faster in GPU Cinebench renders. Engadget's similar unit cost $11,299 and called the 20% to 30% gain over the M5 Max worth it only for select buyers.

YouTuber ZY Cheng compared the Mac Studio to an industrial drill versus the Mac mini's cordless drill. Most reviews lead with Apple's raised prices, with some models costing more than predecessors.