Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Mac Studio desktop, 7K studio monitor could be in the works

While Apple has been long rumored to be working on transitioning its Intel-powered Mac Pro to its own ARM-based silicon, as well as an updated Mac mini with more powerful internals that could debut as early as March 8 at its Peek Performance event, there are now rumors that a third, unannounced desktop may be showing up in the near future.

Speculated to be called the Mac Studio, it is believed that this new desktop will more closely resemble the form factor of Apple’s compact Mac mini than that of the cheese grater-inspired Mac Pro, and it could bring more performance to Apple’s Mac lineup.

Related Videos
The Mac Pro cheese grater design.
Simon Hrozian/Unsplash

It is rumored, according to a report from 9to5 Mac, that Apple is working on two new variants of the Mac Studio, one featuring the same M1 Max processor that’s found on the latest MacBook Pro model and a second one with yet to be announced silicon that takes performance even further. Whether this will be a new processor series in the M1 family or a new upgrade to an M2 chipset isn’t clear at this time.

Prior to the latest Mac Studio rumors, it was reported that Apple is working on a new desktop with boosted performance that’s handled by an M-series processor configured with up to 40 processing cores and 128 graphics core. That processor could go into the Mac Studio, which would mean that this new model will be the most powerful M-series desktop in the company’s lineup. Professionals who need Intel power would still have access to the Mac Pro until Apple creates silicon powerful enough for a pro-class successor.

The Mac Studio is said to go by the code name of J375 internally according to the same report. It is believed that Apple’s forthcoming Mac Studio, if the rumor are true, won’t be replacing the Mac Pro nor the Mac mini. Instead, this will be a new desktop that augments Apple’s current Mac lineup, which also includes the all-in-one iMac. If this is the case, the Mac Studio, with its Mac mini-like form factor, could be similar to a Mac mini Pro, akin to how Apple used to offer an iMac and a more elevated iMac Pro in that series.

Apple's new Mac Pro sits on display in the showroom during Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC).
Brittany Hose-Small/AFP via Getty Images

It’s still unclear if the Mac Studio will launch during Apple’s March 8 event, but Bloomberg speculates that new Mac models could arrive later this year. The publication noted that Apple’s developer-centric Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June could be a likely venue for the company to introduce new models. The WWDC launch could help Apple complete its transition away from Intel, a process that began in 2020, according to Bloomberg.

In addition to the Mac Studio, Apple is also believed to be working on a new display. According to a report on AppleInsider, Apple is said to be testing a 7K display, though it’s unclear if the new Studio Display will replace the pricey Apple Pro Display XDR or if the new panel will augment Apple’s first-party lineup of monitors. There were no additional details for the new Studio Display at this time.

Editors' Recommendations

Is Apple’s Mac Mini M2 any good? Here’s what reviews say
A Mac Mini M2 being used for video editing.

Apple's Mac Mini M2 looks like a welcome upgrade to the aging M1 model, but is it any good? After Apple's disappointing debut of the M2 chip, this update to the Mac Mini seemed doomed for failure. But reviews say otherwise.

TechCrunch's Matt Burns wrote the Mac Mini has "never looked better than it does now with the M2 and M2 Pro," specifically pointing to the value the machine introduces to Apple's lineup. The desktop starts at just $600 for the base model, which is a $100 price cut compared to the M1 model.

Read more
Apple’s secret spring event could be in yet more trouble
Apple CEO, Tim Cook, stands on stage at the September 2021 Fall Apple Event.

Waiting for new Apple products to launch, perhaps at the company’s rumored spring event? Well, according to a new report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the whole thing might have been delayed and thrown into uncertainty.

In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Gurman outlined the scene in spring 2022, during Apple’s second fiscal quarter. During that quarter, Apple launched the Mac Studio, Studio Display, and a new iPhone SE in March. Somewhat ominously, Gurman then explained that “There is no equivalent stream of new products” coming at the same time this year.

Read more
Apple’s massive spring event could be dead on arrival
tim cook at the apple spring loaded event 2021

Recently, we’ve seen a flurry of rumors that Apple is planning a massive spring event where it could launch everything from a mixed-reality headset to a powerful new Mac Pro. Yet, recent events have threatened to bring that idea crashing down to earth.

That’s because numerous products shortlisted for the rumored event have launched well ahead of schedule. If this keeps happening, there won’t be anything left for Apple to show off come the spring.

Read more