The M1 Extremely Mac Studio is three years previous, and for the “time is cash” crowd, it could be time to replace. This is how the M1 Extremely Mac Studio compares to the M4 Max Mac Studio in 2025.
It is in regards to the time of 12 months when back-to-school gross sales assist college students get their {hardware} in line for the tutorial 12 months forward. For Mac customers who’re in lessons the place there’s numerous information processing, it is a possibility to get new {hardware}.
This improve season is not simply restricted to college students, because it’s a possibility for corporations too. Crew leads with a little bit of a surplus to their price range have an incentive to make use of all of it up, in order that the subsequent 12 months’s price range is not trimmed down.
With a price range of round $2,000, the Mac Studio is a good buy for each pupil and enterprise wants.
In each instances, a Mac Professional would’ve been the reply 15 years in the past, particularly when quantity crunching is so essential right here. Nevertheless, within the period of Apple Silicon, the Mac Studio is the higher play.
Sure, you may get the newest M4 Max model, however for a similar cash, you may get an M1 Extremely mannequin as a substitute. The sky-high core counts are tempting, however not essentially the very best thought.
What follows is a comparability of the M4 Max and 2022 M1 Extremely variations of the Mac Studio. We’re contemplating the core variations of every, sans probably costly upgrades.
M4 Max Mac Studio vs M1 Extremely Mac Studio – Specs
| Specs | M4 Max Mac Studio | M1 Extremely Mac Studio (2022) |
|---|---|---|
| Value | $1,999 Finest Mac Studio costs |
$1,800-$2,200 Store M1 Extremely gross sales |
| Dimensions (inches) | 7.7 x 7.7 x 3.7 | 7.7 x 7.7 x 3.7 |
| Weight (kilos) | 6.1 | 7.9 |
| Processor | Apple M4 Max 14-core CPU, Apple M4 Max 16-core CPU, |
Apple M1 Extremely 20-core CPU |
| Graphics | 32-core GPU (14-core CPU), 40-core GPU (16-core CPU) |
48-core GPU, 64-core GPU |
| RAM | 36GB (14-core), 48GB (16-core), 64GB (16-core), 128GB (16-core) |
64GB, 128GB |
| Networking | 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6E wi-fi networking IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac suitable, Bluetooth 5.3, 10Gig Ethernet |
802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 wi-fi networking IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac suitable, Bluetooth 5.0, 10Gb Ethernet |
| Storage | 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, 8TB |
512GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, 8TB |
| Show Help | Most of 8: Eight 4K shows, Eight 6K shows, 4 8K shows |
Most of 5: 4 Professional Show XDRs and one 4K |
| Ports | HDMI, 4 Thunderbolt 5, Two USB-A, Two USB 3 Sort-C (entrance) 10Gig Ethernet, SDXC (entrance) 3.5mm headphone |
HDMI, 4 Thunderbolt 4, Two USB-A, Two USB 3 Sort-C (entrance) 10Gig Ethernet SDXC (entrance) 3.5mm headphone |
M4 Max Mac Studio vs M1 Extremely Mac Studio – Design, weight, dimension
Apple habitually likes to maintain to the identical sort of design throughout a number of generations of {hardware}. After 4 chip generations, it is nonetheless the case for the Mac Studio.
Initially surfacing as a Mac mini that had taken too many steroids, the Mac Studio was, and nonetheless is, a chunky block of computing. Its 7.7-inch by 7.7-inch foot has remained the identical, echoing the earlier design of the Mac mini.
The peak of the aluminum enclosure can also be unchanged at 3.7 inches apiece.
M4 Max Mac Studio vs M1 Extremely Mac Studio: The entrance ports fluctuate by chip tier
Weight-wise, they’re each fairly heavy, however one is heavier than the opposite. The M4 Max variant is 6.1 kilos in weight, which is kind of a bit contemplating it is a big block of aluminum on your desk.
Nevertheless, the M1 Extremely from 2022 suggestions the scales at 7.9 kilos. That enhance is just not from having a bodily bigger chip, however extra from the necessity for significantly extra thermal administration, with heatsinks and different parts including weight.
The styling, too, hasn’t actually modified at all around the years, with the venting and ports all in the identical positions. Across the entrance is a reminiscence card slot and two USB Sort-C connections, with the rest across the rear with additional venting for air circulation.
M4 Max Mac Studio vs M1 Extremely Mac Studio: The rear has a big vent, and virtually equivalent ports
Visually, the 2 are equivalent. They weigh otherwise, and a few of these ports have undergone modifications, however there’s little exterior distinction to be involved about right here.
At this level, in case you had been pointing issues out to somebody, you’d care extra about it being a Mac Studio than brazenly stating its classic.
M4 Max Mac Studio vs M1 Extremely Mac Studio – Processing
Whereas the surface will not offer you any actual clues that there are variations between the fashions, you will notice a distinction in what they will truly do.
The M4 Max is a SoC with a 14-core CPU, with a 16-core variant additionally obtainable. The 14-core is made up of ten efficiency cores and 4 effectivity cores, accompanied by a 16-core Neural Engine.
M4 Max Mac Studio vs M1 Extremely Mac Studio: A Mac Studio on a desktop.
The M1 Extremely is actually a pair of M1 Max chips speaking with one another utilizing an interconnect. Meaning there are double the sources than the M1 Max, and infrequently increased counts for specs versus the M4 Max.
For the CPU, it is a 20-core model within the M1 Extremely, utilizing 16 efficiency cores and 4 effectivity cores. There are additionally double the Neural Engine cores at 32 in whole.
Reminiscence bandwidth ranges from 412GB/s on the 14-core CPU mannequin of M4 Max to 546GB/s on the 16-core. Over on the M1 Extremely, it is a phenomenal 800GB/s.
The reminiscence you may configure additionally varies between the 2 M4 Max variations, beginning at 32GB alone for the 14-core choice, whereas the 16-core has 48GB, 64GB, and 128GB capacities.
On the M1 Max, you may select between 64GB and 128GB.
On the GPU aspect, the M4 Max has a 32-core model within the 14-core CPU mannequin, rising to 40 within the 16-core mannequin. On the M1 Extremely, it is both 48 cores or 64 cores, however you do not get the hardware-accelerated ray tracing discovered within the newer GPUs.
Every additionally has the Media Engine, Apple’s hardware-accelerated video encoding system. On the M4 Max, there is a video decode engine, two encode engines, two separate ProRes encode and decode engines, and AV1 decoding.
The M1 Extremely, having double all the pieces, additionally goes large with the Media Engine. Meaning there are two video decode engines, 4 encode engines, and 4 ProRes encode and decode engines, although no AV1 decode.
For video, the M1 Extremely might deal with as much as 5 shows, together with 4 Professional Show XDR screens and one 4K display. The M4 Max can deal with as much as eight 6K screens or 4 8K shows.
Having the ability to join so many shows has its makes use of, equivalent to in constructing levels for productions with a number of video screens. It is much less helpful from a desk-work viewpoint, nevertheless it’s good to know the enlargement choices can be found.
M4 Max Mac Studio vs M1 Extremely Mac Studio – Benchmarks
With such excessive core counts on show, you may count on both mannequin to do effectively on the subject of precise quantity crunching. Nevertheless, there’s a distinction on the subject of how every mannequin truly lays down that efficiency.
The M1 Extremely might have extra cores usually, in addition to increased reminiscence bandwidth, however the M4 has its advantages. Its cores have improved over time, so every core does much more work than its predecessors.
With a three-generation hole, these enhancements can rapidly add up.
M4 Max Mac Studio vs M1 Extremely Mac Studio: Geekbench Single-Core scores
Geekbench scores for single-core efficiency illustrate this handily, with the M1 Extremely managing a results of 2,396. By comparability, the M4 Max will get round 3,900 for a similar check.
On the subject of the multi-core benchmark, it is secure to say that the core enhancements have countered the sheer core counts of the Extremely. At 18,392, the M1 Extremely does effectively with its 20 cores, however the 14-core M4 Max beats it at 23,001.
The 16-core M4 Max does even higher at 25,604.
M4 Max Mac Studio vs M1 Extremely Mac Studio: Geekbench Multi-Core scores
On the subject of graphics, it is a bit extra balanced. Geekbench listings for the M1 Extremely Mac Studio put its Steel benchmark rating within the vary of 162,000.
The M4 Max’s 14-core CPU variant is shut at 158,710, whereas the upper-tier chip does higher at 187,300.
M4 Max Mac Studio vs M1 Extremely Mac Studio: Geekbench Steel scores
Once more, it’s a case of core rely advantages in older fashions being outpaced by core enhancements.
This all stated, the efficiency on provide for the M1 Extremely is not to be sniffed at. It might be getting on a bit, nevertheless it nonetheless does numerous processing and holds its personal towards extra fashionable releases.
M4 Max Mac Studio vs M1 Extremely Mac Studio – Storage, connectivity, audio
Whereas the 2 fashions look fairly related, the change in processor additionally implies that there are delicate variations on the subject of hooking it as much as stuff.
On the entrance, the Max mannequin has a pair of USB-C ports, whereas the Extremely packs two Thunderbolt 4 ports as a substitute. Apple has at all times made the entrance ports USB-C on the non-Extremely Mac Studio mannequin, so that is much less of a generational change and extra a continuation of Apple’s specification insurance policies.
Accompanying these entrance ports is an SDXC card slot rated to UHS-II. When you’re a content material creator offloading video from a reminiscence card, you are going to have the identical expertise throughout the board.
Across the again, the M1 Extremely Mac Studio’s port choice consists of 4 Thunderbolt 4 ports, 10-gig Ethernet, HDMI, a pair of USB 3 Sort-A ports, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
M4 Max Mac Studio vs M1 Extremely Mac Studio: Two Mac Studios, stacked
The M4 Max modifications issues slightly bit, with the 4 Thunderbolt 4 ports switched for Thunderbolt 5 variations.
To finish customers, this implies a substantial enhance of bandwidth from 40Gbps to 80Gbps, and as much as 120Gbps in some conditions. In fact, you want the {hardware} that may join at these speeds to essentially profit from it.
On the subject of storage, there isn’t any actual distinction between the fashions in any respect. In each instances, you get 512GB SSDs at a base degree, with upgrades obtainable from 1TB to 2TB, 4TB, and even 8TB.
That’s, in case you’re keen to abdomen Apple’s traditionally excessive improve costs.
For audio, there’s a built-in speaker, and you should utilize that 3.5mm headphone jack across the rear, however different choices can be found. For instance, utilizing HDMI to pipe audio via a monitor, utilizing AirPlay with a pair of HomePods, and even some AirPods will likely be higher than the interior speaker.
M4 Max Mac Studio vs M1 Extremely Mac Studio – Pricing
The entry-level M4 Max Mac Studio begins at $1,999 with the 14-core CPU, 36GB of reminiscence, and 512GB of storage.
Getting the M4 Max with the 16-core CPU is “$300” extra, nevertheless it additionally upgrades the reminiscence to 48GB on the identical time. Apple considers this ram improve to be a $200 additional, so going to the 16-core is actually $500 extra, reminiscence included.
Going to 64GB is $200 extra, whereas 128GB is a $1,000 improve.
The storage upgrades from 512GB to 1TB is $200, with 2TB one other $400 on high, 4TB one other $600 once more, and 8TB an additional $1,200 on high of that.
Apple does not promote the M1 Extremely Mac Studio model new and straight, so your finest transfer is to look into refurbished fashions. Apple’s licensed refurbished retailer can record the M1 Extremely mannequin on occasion, with the bottom model bought for $2,879.
This can be a lot, however it’s an Apple-refurbished unit. A search on eBay comes up with higher, however not by that a lot. Working M1 Extremely fashions are continuously listed with increased storage capacities than the bottom mannequin, and value round $2,000.
Do keep in mind that the M1 Extremely Mac Studio began at $3,999. Like different Apple {hardware}, it nonetheless holds its worth over time fairly effectively.
M4 Max Mac Studio vs M1 Extremely Mac Studio – Simply get the brand new mannequin
The purpose of the Extremely fashions of Mac has at all times been efficiency by way of extreme specs. In lieu of main updates to the Mac Professional, the mantle for high-specification hijinks was shifted over to the Mac Studio, with its Extremely editions handily taking to the position.
Nevertheless, the march of know-how enchancment means taking place the route of extra is not helpful in the long term.
M4 Max Mac Studio vs M1 Extremely Mac Studio: The surface hasn’t modified, however the processing issues
The M1 Extremely does maintain its personal towards some fashionable chips, definitely, because of its core counts and usually increased portions of all the pieces. Nevertheless it’s not sufficient to counter a three-generation leap in efficiency enhancements.
Add within the worth premium for the Extremely fashions, even when taking a look at second-hand {hardware}, and it is exhausting to suggest going for the M1 Extremely Mac Studio when the M4 Max does so effectively.
Positive, you might get an M1 Extremely Mac Studio for bragging rights, however the good cash is to disregard the attract of the Extremely and simply get the M4 Max.
If efficiency is essential, the newer releases are your finest wager, even on a price range.
The place to purchase the M4 Max Mac Studio vs M1 Extremely Mac Studio
The usual M4 Max Mac Studio is obtainable for $1,859.07 because of an unique low cost at Apple Premier Companion Expercom (search for the particular AppleInsider worth above the add to cart button). You may as well save on upgraded fashions, together with the M3 Extremely Mac Studio, in our Mac Studio Value Information.
Clearance offers, in the meantime, can be found on M2 Max fashions, with costs as little as $1,394.07.
And in case you favor the M1 Extremely Mac Studio talked about on this in-depth comparability, fashions in new situation can be found on eBay, with costs at press time obtainable from $2,299.
