Best MacBook for Home Studio: A Powerful and Compact Option

If you're a fan of the Mac mini, then you'll likely appreciate the design of the Mac Studio - it's essentially a beefed-up version of its little brother. However, we're already seeing huge demand for this device, leading to longer wait times for delivery.

But if you need the power of the M1 Ultra chip, the Mac Studio is currently the only option that comes with it, and it's available to pre-order right now, with deliveries starting March 18. For others, the latest Mac mini (M1, 2020) may be a more affordable proposition, starting at $699 / £699 / AU$1,099.

However, this device is strictly for professionals in the creative industries, and its price reflects that. Compared to other options on the market, the Mac Studio looks like a much better value for those seeking a professional-grade creative workstation, especially considering the performance benefits of the M1 Ultra chip.

The Mac Studio's price puts it in a different league compared to Apple's ageing Mac Pro workstation, which starts at $5,999 / £5,499 / AU$9,999. The maximum spec with the M1 Ultra, 128GB memory and 8TB SSD will set you back a whopping $7,999 / £7,999 / AU$12,099.

Meanwhile, the Mac Studio with the new M1 Ultra chip, 64GB of unified memory and 1TB SSD will cost a substantial $3,999 / £3,999 / AU$6,099. The base model starts at a hefty $1,999 / £1,999 / AU$3,099 for the M1 Max option.

While Apple should be commended for its achievements with this device, it's not necessarily the best choice for mainstream users. However, if you're a creative professional looking for a powerful and compact PC to work on, the Mac Studio is likely to be an attractive investment.

One of its standout features is its quiet operation - a testament to the power efficiency of Apple's M1 chips and the thermal design of the Mac Studio. In our tests, the device performs beautifully, handling 8K video editing extremely well and utilizing advanced AI-powered photo editing tools in Adobe Photoshop.

As expected from PCs for creative professionals, Apple has included a good selection of ports, including an all-important SD Card reader at the front. Overall, the Mac Studio is an impressive option for those who require its level of performance and power.

Best macbook for home studio