Apple’s Mac Pro has been the flagship of the company’s desktop family for years, but the Apple silicon transition hasn’t been very friendly to the high-end workstation. The latest news, the M3 Ultra chip, looks to greatly improve the Mac Studio’s performance while leaving the Mac Pro in its dust, showcasing the shrinking niche for Apple’s most specialized machine.
The Mac Pro saga started in 2006 when the Power Mac G5 was replaced by a tower form factor with an Intel processor. But the Mac Pro saga has been marred with difficulties. In 2013, Apple launched the cylindrical Mac Pro, also referred to as the “trash can,” which was received with mixed feedback regarding its design and performance. In 2019, Apple went back to a more conventional tower form factor, along with a 6K Retina resolution Apple Pro Display XDR. The Mac Pro took its position as the most powerful device in Apple’s lineup once again, but that was short-lived as the Apple silicon transition started.
The launch of the M1 chip brought a new age to Apple products, with the MacBook Air and iMac enjoying enhanced performance and efficiency. The M1 Pro and M1 Max chips later fueled the revamped MacBook Pro models. Still, it was the Mac Studio in 2022 with the M1 Ultra chip that really set the bar high for performance, leaving behind the old Intel-based Mac Pro.
Most had dreamed of an M2 Extreme chip driving an even more powerful Apple silicon Mac Pro, but the economics of producing such a chip were too expensive for the small market. The first Apple silicon Mac Pro arrived from Apple in 2023, powered by the M2 Ultra chip, just like the second-generation Mac Studio.
Though the Mac Pro’s performance is that of the Mac Studio, it still boasts one benefit: more ports and PCIe slots. Yet with no possibility of RAM or GPU upgrades, formerly the signature of the Mac Pro, the Mac Studio is now the better bet for those desiring power and expansion.
As Apple moves forward in the Apple silicon era, the Mac Pro’s future remains uncertain, with the Mac Studio offering more speed and versatility, but the Mac Pro holding onto its legacy as the higher-end workstation.
