Science & Tech · Gadgets & EVs · 6 hrs ago
Two 256GB Mac Studios cost less than one 512GB model
Apple's Mac Studio M5 Ultra costs $10,799 with 256GB of memory.
Upgrading to 512GB raises the price by $11,500, for a total of $22,299.
Two 256GB systems cost $701 less than one 512GB system, and each has its own processor, graphics hardware and storage.
This comparison has drawn attention to the high cost of Apple's largest memory upgrade.
The systems use different memory chips, and higher-capacity components may help explain the price, but Apple has not provided an official explanation.
Connecting two computers does not create one shared 512GB memory pool, though separate workloads may be run across them.
A single 512GB system may still be needed for software that requires one large memory pool.
Apple’s 512GB Mac Studio M5 Ultra costs $22,299, while two 256GB systems cost $21,598.
The two smaller systems therefore cost $701 less than one 512GB system.
Each 256GB system has its own processor, graphics capabilities and storage.
Apple charges an additional $11,500 to upgrade from 256GB to 512GB.
The article says the larger configuration may use higher-density memory chips but notes Apple has not officially explained the upgrade price.
- Who
- Apple sets the prices, and customers choosing between the Mac Studio configurations are affected.
- What
- Two 256GB Mac Studio M5 Ultra systems cost $701 less than one 512GB system.
- When
- The article was published on November 2, 2026.
- Where
- Not stated
- Why
- The comparison highlights the price difference; the article says specialized higher-density memory chips could contribute to the upgrade cost, but Apple has not confirmed the reason.
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- 256GB Mac Studio price
- $10,799
- 512GB Mac Studio price
- $22,299
- 256GB-to-512GB upgrade
- $11,500
- Price difference
- Two 256GB systems cost $701 less
- M5 Ultra CPU
- 36 cores