What are all the differences between the Mac Studio "M2" (2023) models? Which one is right for me?

As documented by EveryMac.com, there are two standard 2023 Mac Studio models -- the Mac Studio "M2 Max" 12 CPU/30 GPU and "M2 Ultra" 24 CPU/60 GPU -- as well as two configure-to-order models, the Mac Studio "M2 Max" 12 CPU/38 GPU and "M2 Ultra" 24 CPU/76 GPU.

Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (Mac Studio - Front)

Although these models look the same, there are significant external and internal differences between the Mac Studio M2 Max and Mac Studio M2 Ultra.

External Differences

The Mac Studio M2 Max and M2 Ultra share the same cuboid case -- 3.7 inches tall and 7.7 inches wide and 7.7 deep. However, the M2 Ultra is two pounds heavier -- 7.9 pounds rather than 5.9 pounds -- because the higher performance and higher heat M2 Ultra uses a heavier copper heatsink for cooling whereas the entry-level M2 Max use a lighter weight aluminum one.

Connectivity Differences

Connectivity also is a notable difference between the Mac Studio M2 Max and M2 Ultra.

Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (Mac Studio - Rear Ports)

The Mac Studio M2 Max and M2 Ultra have the same rear ports -- four Thunderbolt 4 ports (USB-C shaped connector), two USB-A ports, an HDMI port, a 10-Gigabit Ethernet port, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. Both also support 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6E) and Bluetooth 5.3.

However, the Mac Studio M2 Max models support as many as five external display -- formally including one that supports 8K resolution -- whereas the Mac Studio M2 Ultra models support as many as eight displays total including the option of three 8K displays.

On the front, both the Mac Studio M2 Max and M2 Ultra include the same SDXC (UHS-II) card slot, but the unlabeled ports are different. The entry-level Mac Studio M2 Max has two USB-C ports (up to 10 Gb/s) whereas the higher-end Mac Studio M2 Ultra has two much faster Thunderbolt 4 ports (up to 40 Gb/s).

Identification Differences

As diligently hand documented by EveryMac.com, the 2023 Mac Studio models share the same Model Numbers and EMC Numbers on the hardware itself, but have different Model Identifiers in software.

The Model Number and EMC Number also can be useful to collectively identify these Mac Studio models, but they may be shared by later models, so the Model Identifier is a more specific, long-term way to differentiate between these systems:

Mac Studio	Model No.	EMC No.	Model ID
M2 Max	A2901	8292	Mac14,13
M2 Ultra	A2901	8292	Mac14,14

EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Lookup feature can identify these models by other identifiers, as well.

More information about specific identifiers is provided in EveryMac.com's extensive Mac Identification section.

Internal Differences

Internally, there are the most substantial differences between the entry-level Mac Studio M2 Max and the higher-end M2 Ultra. Both models use highly similar internal designs, but there are a number of different components.

The M2 Max models use 12-Core CPUs, have 30-Core or 38-Core GPUs, a 16-Core Neural Engine, 400 GB/s of memory bandwidth, and an aluminum heatsink. By default, they ship with 32 GB of RAM (configurable with 64 GB or 96 GB of RAM only at the time of purchase) and 512 GB of SSD storage (configurable with 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB, or 8 TB at the time of purchase).

The M2 Ultra models, on the other hand, use 24-Core CPUs, have 60-Core or 76-Core GPUs, a 32-Core Neural Engine, 800 GB/s of memory bandwidth, and a copper heatsink. By default, they ship with 64 GB of RAM (configurable with 128 GB or 192 GB only at the time of purchase) and 1 TB of SSD storage (configurable with 2 TB, 4 TB, or 8 TB at the time of purchase).

Comparison Chart

The specific differences between processors, graphics processors, configurations, connectivity, identifiers, and prices for the standard Mac Studio models are summarized below:

	Mac Studio M2 Max	Mac Studio M2 Ultra
Std. Processors:	3.68 GHz M2 Max	3.68 GHz M2 Ultra
CPU Cores:	12-Cores	24-Cores
GPU Cores:	30-Cores*	60-Cores*
Neural Engine:	16-Core	32-Core
Memory Bandwidth:	400 GB/s	800 GB/s
Heatsink:	Aluminum	Copper
Std. RAM:	32 GB	64 GB
Max. RAM:	96 GB†	192 GB
Std. Storage:	512 GB	1 TB
Wi-Fi:	6E (802.11ax)	6E (802.11ax)
Thunderbolt 4:	4 Ports	6 Ports
10-Gigabit Ethernet:	Yes	Yes
Display Support:	5	8
8K Displays:	1	3
Order Number:	MQH73LL/A	MQH63LL/A
EMC Number:	8292	8292
Model Identifier:	Mac14,13	Mac14,14
Weight:	5.9 lbs. (2.7 kg)	7.9 lbs. (3.6 kg)
Intro Price (US):	US$1999	US$3999
Intro Price (CA):	C$2699	C$5499
Intro Price (UK):	£2099	£4199
Intro Price (FR):	€2399	€4799
Intro Price (AU):	A$3299	A$6599

* The Mac Studio M2 Max also is available with a 38-Core GPU via custom configuration. The Mac Studio M2 Ultra also is available with a 76-Core GPU via custom configuration.

† The RAM in the Mac Studio M2 Max can be upgraded to 64 GB at the time of purchase via custom configuration or to 96 GB if also configured with the 38-Core GPU upgrade. The RAM cannot be upgraded after the initial purchase of the system at all in any Mac Studio models.

For pricing information in dozens of other countries, refer to EveryMac.com's Global Original Prices section.

So, is a Mac Studio M2 Max or M2 Ultra best for me?

Ultimately, just compared to one another, and ignoring other Macs, if the Mac Studio M2 Max or M2 Ultra is best for you essentially comes down to whether or not you use software that can take advantage of multiple processor cores and graphics cores and/or you need support for more than five displays overall or formal support for more than one 8K display.

The Mac Studio M2 Ultra costs twice as much as the Mac Studio M2 Max but both models are the same speed in single core tasks. In multicore tasks, though, the Mac Studio M2 Ultra is around 88% faster (and it includes twice as much RAM and storage by default, as well).

Demanding high-end software like audio editing, video editing, 3D modeling, and scientific applications that are optimized for multiple cores will be substantially faster on the M2 Ultra. Those who need this power, and have the budget, likely will be best served by the Mac Studio M2 Ultra. For those with less demanding needs, or lower budgets, the Mac Studio M2 Max (or Mac mini M2) should be quite sufficient.

New & Used Mac Studio Purchase Options

There are an abundance of places to buy a new Mac Studio. However, purchasing from a well respected business with a solid track record in the Mac game will provide the ideal experience and save you money and time, too.

In the US, site sponsor Adorama sells new Mac Studio models with free shipping. Other World Computing sells used and refurb Macs at bargain prices with free shipping, as well. Finally, if you need to sell a Mac Studio or just about any other recent Mac, A+ BBB-rated Cash for Your Mac will buy your older Mac with an instant quote and prompt payment.

In the UK, site sponsor Hoxton Macs sells used Mac Studio with a one-year warranty and free next working day delivery throughout the UK.

In Australia, site sponsor Mac City likewise may have used Mac Studio models available at low prices and with a free warranty and fast shipping across Australia.

Please also refer to EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Comparison feature to dynamically compare any Mac Studio to any other Mac.