Apple is still expected to refresh Mac Studio with an M5 Ultra later in 2026 and then an M7 Ultra in 2028, with little sign of a major redesign—just internal tweaks like an improved heatsink.
The Mac Studio’s next big chip upgrade isn’t being pushed back into the far distance—at least not by much. Apple is still expected to update the Mac Studio with an M5 Ultra in 2026. followed by an M7 Ultra version in 2028. and the timeline comes with a clear warning: don’t expect the box to look or feel radically different.
In Mark Gurman’s “Power On” newsletter for Bloomberg on Sunday, the plan is laid out as two Ultra updates. The near-term release would be the M5 Ultra model, due later in 2026. The second update is further out: an M7 Ultra expected sometime in 2028.
Mac Studio is the Mac to buy if you want the massive core counts associated with Apple’s Ultra chip tier. That “Ultra” slot hasn’t been filled since the M3 Ultra—Apple skipped the M4 Ultra entirely—so the absence of M6 Ultra also carries weight. Gurman ties that gap to a separate story dated June 25. where Apple is described as skipping the higher-end M6 chips in favor of bringing out AI-oriented M7 Pro and Max versions in 2027.
So while the Ultra timeline looks like it’s still moving, the tradeoff is where Apple seems to be concentrating. For buyers hoping the next Mac Studio generation brings more than speed, Gurman’s details point to a tighter scope.
When the M5 Ultra arrives, the most concrete change is internal. Gurman says internal modifications have been made to the Mac Studio, “chiefly” an improved heatsink designed to boost thermal performance under heavy loads. He also reports that a major redesign isn’t anticipated for the M5 Ultra.
The M7 Ultra gets a slightly different outlook. Gurman says there’s a slightly better chance of changes there, but Apple’s tendency to stick with model designs for long periods doesn’t bode well for anyone expecting a fresh shape.
One omission adds to the uncertainty. Gurman’s “Power On” report discusses the Ultra updates but doesn’t mention an M5 Max Mac Studio model. In earlier coverage, in March, Gurman had referred to Mac Studio models in plural form for the 2026 launches. The lack of a Max reference in the latest newsletter could be nothing more than a writing choice—Gurman may simply not have felt the need to bring it up.
Taken together. the timing and the limited hardware change paint a specific picture: the next Mac Studio Ultra upgrades are coming in 2026 and 2028. but the emphasis is on keeping the platform stable while tightening performance where it counts—especially cooling under load—and aligning the broader chip schedule toward AI-focused M7 Pro and Max versions in 2027.
Apple Mac Studio M5 Ultra M7 Ultra M3 Ultra heatsink Apple Silicon Bloomberg Power On Mark Gurman AI chips M7 Pro M7 Max thermal performance
So basically same box til 2028? Apple really loves recycling the “Ultra” thing.
They skipped M4 Ultra and now M6 Ultra? That sounds like they’re just making up names so people keep buying. If it’s only a heatsink change then what am I paying for lol.
Wait I thought M7 was already coming sooner. If M7 Ultra is 2028 then maybe the M6 Ultra thing was for AI or whatever and the Mac Studio isn’t the priority? Either way I don’t get why they can’t just refresh the design. Feels like a marketing spreadsheet.
Improved heatsink is the whole upgrade?? That’s wild. Also not seeing an M5 Max Mac Studio in the rumor makes me think they’re gonna force people into Ultra only, like always. I’d rather they just stop with the Ultra gaps and fix the product line.