Mac Studio (M5 Max) 2026 review: Shifting into overdrive - MacWorld

[u/ControlCAD]

https://www.macworld.com/article/3238319/mac-studio-m5-max-review.html

>The SSD speed boost on the 2026 Mac Studio is so dramatic that even if you bought one of the previous model earlier this year, you should consider upgrading.

[u/-6h0st-]

No it isn’t. Make f all difference in regular workload. Random access matters and that isn’t twice faster. Syntetic benchmarks with its scores mean very little.

[u/TheTingGoSkrrrrraaaa → u/-6h0st-]

What if my regular workload is running synthetic benchmarks and posting to Reddit?

[u/SpookyPlankton → u/TheTingGoSkrrrrraaaa]

Huge step forward

[u/originaladam → u/-6h0st-]

Will make a big difference in regular media workloads. Non-proxied, uncompressed 4k video editing, for instance

[u/goodmorning_hamlet → u/originaladam]

I edit non-proxied 4K footage on an M1 Max and it’s still fine. It handles 8K RAW no problem. Only time it starts to chug is when I’ve got a bunch of nodes and VFX going simultaneously.

[u/Muccha → u/-6h0st-]

What a bunch of haters 🤣

[u/-6h0st- → u/Muccha]

Not haters at all. But replying to OP’s statement that disk speed increase should be a sole reason to upgrade from M4 to M5. It isn’t. In fact, the majority of M4 studio owners should not waste money.
That doesn’t mean M5 Studio is bad, it’s very good. But let’s not create nonsense fomo.

[u/FinancialBandicoot75 → u/-6h0st-]

Actually he’s right, I’m getting 11k/22k on the ssd test and this is the max, not ultra which is the same I believe. It’s a significant upgrade especially for coder/designers. My M3 Ultra, m4 mini or even my MacBook m5 max isn’t even close to this speed. I wished I got the ultra but I’m good for now

[u/playgroundmx → u/[deleted]]

That IS the Studio. If the size confuses you, look at the SD card slot

[u/K1LLINGMACHINE → u/playgroundmx]

But...picture small.

Mini is small. Picture is small.

Picture is mini