Apple is taking pre-orders for the new Mac Studio now, but one configuration can't be selected yet. It's certain to push the maximum price well over $20,000, too.

If you chose to, you could now spend $899 on a base Mac mini and wince at how much more those cost these days. Or you could go the other way and try to max-out a new Mac Studio.

You can try. Very unusually, Apple has opened pre-orders for the Mac Studio but excluded one configuration, which it just says is "coming late October."

That's the configuration of the M5 Ultra Mac Studio with the maximum 512GB of unified memory. That M5 Ultra model starts at 96GB and for now can only be ordered with that or 256GB RAM.

Given that Apple will charge you $4,000 for going up from 96GB RAM to 256GB, the jump to 512GB is not going to be cheap and not just going to be another $4000. Apple does not quote a price yet, either.

What you can get now

It's hard to imagine that a 512GB RAM model will be the biggest seller, but holding it back completely is a sign of the global chip shortage. Nonetheless, it can't be pre-pre-ordered and there will be users who will have no option but to wait.

If you can do with a miserly 256GB RAM, then your maximum configuration available for pre-order consists of:

  • M5 Ultra 36-core CPU, 80-core GPU
  • 256GB unified memory
  • 16TB SSD storage

The base M5 Ultra Mac Studio costs $5,499, and the jump to a 36-core CPU with 80-core GPU adds $1,300. Going from the included 1TB to the maximum 16TB adds $7,500.

Mac configuration screen showing memory choices: 96GB costing $4,000 and 256GB. Note about upcoming 512GB option for M5 Ultra and help text for choosing the right memory.

As yet you cannot select the promised 512GB RAM configuration of the M5 Ultra Mac Studio - image credit: Apple.

So before any taxes, the current maximum cost of an M5 Ultra Mac Studio is $18,299. You might also want to add AppleCare insurance, but you have to click through the next couple of pages of accessories and services to get there.

That AppleCare box is right on the first page for the MacBook Neo and the iMac, but the same as the Mac Studio, for the new Mac mini.

Apple does list the Mac Studio in its AppleCare One bundle options, though. The current figures say the Mac Studio can be covered under the $19.99 per month base fee.

Remember that you can add AppleCare later, but you cannot upgrade processors, storage, or RAM after ordering. So if you need 512GB RAM, you have to wait before we can find out how much that will cost.

At least Apple doesn't sell wheels for the Mac Studio.