Apple opens orders for 512GB M5 Ultra Mac Studio at $22,299
Apple's online store began offering the 512GB unified-memory configuration of the M5 Ultra Mac Studio on Oct. 28, as TechRepublic and TechRadar reported. The option requires the top-tier M5 Ultra with a 36-core CPU and 80-core GPU, and the 512GB upgrade adds $15,500, bringing the minimum price to $22,299 and $29,799 with a 16TB SSD. Apple says the M5 Ultra supports up to 512GB of unified memory at 1.2TB/s of bandwidth, and new orders are quoted for delivery between late November and early December 2026.
TechRadar noted that Apple's memory pricing has risen sharply amid a tight memory market, and that Meta's 816-billion-parameter Muse Spark Open takes about 493GB even in 4-bit form, so a single 512GB Mac Studio still cannot hold it. The launch gives local-AI and creative buyers Apple's highest-memory desktop, though TechRepublic cautioned that cheaper configurations may offer better value.
- Apple now sells the M5 Ultra Mac Studio with 512GB of memory from $22,299, rising to as much as $29,799 with a 16TB SSD in tow
- The $15,500 upgrade costs about 3.9 times more per gigabyte than the same step on the M3 Ultra in 2025, roughly in line with soaring memory prices for PC
- The entry 512GB build costs less than a base Corolla; only the maxed-out model reaches Camry territory, and orders ship late November to early December
Apple has finally delivered the one Mac Studio configuration it left hanging in August.
The company's online store now lets buyers configure the M5 Ultra Mac Studio with 512GB of unified memory, right on the schedule it promised.
The catch is the price, and it is not a small catch: To unlock the option, you first need the top-tier M5 Ultra with a 36-core CPU and 80-core GPU, which starts at $6,799 with 96GB of memory and a 1TB SSD. Selecting 512GB then adds $15,500, for a minimum of $22,299.
A memory crisis meets top-of-the-line hardware
To even get to the pricing stated above, you first need the top-tier M5 Ultra with a 36-core CPU and 80-core GPU, which starts at $6,799 and includes 96GB of memory and a 1TB SSD. Selecting 512GB then adds $15,500, for a minimum of $22,299.