What are the "pros and cons" of the Apple Silicon Mac Pro? Is it for me?

Like just about any other product, only you can decide whether or not a "2023" Apple Silicon Mac Pro -- the Mac Pro "M2 Ultra" 24 CPU/60 GPU or Mac Pro "M2 Ultra" 24 CPU/76 GPU -- is the right Mac for you, but you can evaluate objective pros and cons to see if the Mac Pro is best for your needs.

Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. ("2023" Apple Silicon Mac Pro)

EveryMac.com also provides a detailed comparison of the 2023 Mac Pro configurations for those who prefer a comprehensive evaluation, but for those who like a quick-to-read summary, the following can be all you need:

Pros:

• Very fast, especially for high-end applications that can take full advantage of multiple processor cores and graphics cores.
• The last expandable Mac; a large number of easy-to-upgrade PCIe slots makes it straightforward to add more SSD storage and additional capabilities.
• The internal SSDs can be upgraded, albeit with limitations.
• Extensive external display support.
• Quiet fans.
• Eight Thunderbolt 4 ports provide extensive, fast external connectivity.
• Fast dual 10-Gigabit Ethernet ports.

Cons:

• Expensive.
• Essentially the same performance as the much cheaper Mac Studio.
• Processor cannot be upgraded.
• RAM cannot be upgraded after initial system purchase and the maximum is paltry compared to earlier Mac Pro models.
• Although there are effective workarounds, the internal SSDs are essentially blocked from third-party upgrades.
• PCIe slots do not support video cards.
• No SD card slots or front-mounted Thunderbolt 4 ports.

So, is the Mac Pro for me?

Ultimately, the Mac Pro is expensive, but it can be upgraded to some extent; it is the last expandable Mac. Like all earlier Mac Pro models, the Apple Silicon Mac Pro is designed for true power users who use high-end graphics, video, 3D, VR, and scientific software that takes full advantage of multiple processor cores and graphics cores.

The majority of users who would like a desktop Mac almost certainly would be best served by a cheaper Mac mini or Mac Studio -- Mac Studio models even are the same speed for many tasks -- but for those who need maximum power and expansion, the Mac Pro is the only new option.

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