Apple has seemingly delayed the launch of the redesigned MacBook Air until later this year, and will likely not launch new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models until 2023, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
In his latest "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said that Apple originally planned to launch its new MacBook Air with "an all-new design, MagSafe, the M2 chip, and more" at the end of 2021 or in early 2022, but this timeframe has now seemingly slipped to the second half of 2022.
Gurman also said that he does not expect Apple to update its high-end 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models this year, with an update bringing the "M2 Pro" and "M2 Max" chips being more likely to arrive next year. This year, Gurman said that the only MacBook Pro update will likely be a refreshed entry-level MacBook Pro with a 13-inch display and the M2 chip.
Launching a series of new Macs with the M2 chip toward the end of 2022 could take similar shape to how Apple unveiled the M1 MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and entry-level Mac mini in November 2020, suggesting that the company's M-series chips have a upgrade cycle of approximately two years. Other than the MacBook Air and the 13-inch MacBook Pro, the entry-level Mac mini, 24-inch iMac, and iPad Pro would also be viable candidates for the M2 chip, but timeframes for updates to these devices is still unclear.
Some fifth-generation iPad Air users are complaining about a purported downgrade in build quality, according to posts on social media.
The complaints claim that the iPad Air has a noticeably thinner aluminum enclosure, resulting in creaking, a hollow sensation in the hand, and light pressure on the back of the device warping the display. A thread on Reddit (via iMore) contains a large number of complaints from iPad Air users who say they have build quality concerns about the device. The opening post on the thread states:
I ordered and received two blue iPad Air 2022 today and I'm a bit shocked. The aluminum backplate is a lot thinner than on the iPad 4 which I also have. You can almost feel the battery through the plate when you hold the device. Both iPads have the same feeling and are making creaking noises when you hold them. This did not happen on the iPad Air 4...
A multitude of responses on the thread agreed and expanded upon the issues, suggesting that it is not an isolated case, and some users have even posted videos of creaking noises coming from gentle taps on the device's display to highlight some of the problems. Some replies said that the iPad Air "feels very low quality" compared to its predecessor, noting that there is a detectable difference on the rear of the device. It "feels like I can feel the inside from the back," one reply claimed.
The first reviews of the fifth-generation iPad Air were shared earlier this week, but no reviewers mentioned any downgrade in build quality, and other than new color options, the iPad Air is externally identical to the previous-generation model. Key new features of the iPad Air include the same M1 chip found in the iPad Pro, 5G connectivity on cellular models, an upgraded 12-megapixel front camera with support for Center Stage, up to a 2x faster USB-C port for data transfer, and new color options. Pricing continues to start at $599 in the U.S. for 64GB of storage.
The Mac Studio's SSD storage is not soldered in place and could be upgradeable, according to a teardown performed by YouTube channel Max Tech.
Image via Max Tech
In a detailed teardown video of the new Mac Studio, Max Tech revealed that the Mac Studio's SSD storage is located in two slots, and is relatively easy to remove or replace since it is not soldered down. The individual SSDs can be swapped between the two slots and appear to be modular.
On its website, Apple claims that the Mac Studio's SSD storage is "not user accessible" and encourages users to configure the device with enough storage at the point of purchase. This is likely because the internals of the Mac Studio remain difficult to access from the outside. The rubber ring on the base of the machine has to be removed to reveal four screws that provide a way to open the device, but once inside, the SSD storage is fairly easy to access and remove.
Max Tech suggested that Apple could offer SSD storage upgrades at a later date, similar to how it introduced a kit to upgrade the Mac Pro's storage in mid-2020, but the easy access could be intended for use in repairs only, enabling repair technicians to remove and replace SSDs more conveniently.
Apple this week released an update for Boot Camp, its solution for running Windows on Intel-based Macs, to support the newly-launched Studio Display.
Boot Camp Update 6.1.17, released to the public earlier this week, adds support for the Studio Display and updates drivers for AMD and Intel GPUs. To update to the latest Boot Camp drivers, users need to navigate to the Start menu in Windows and open the Apple Software Update app.
When connected to any Windows system, the Studio Display's Center Stage, True Tone, and Spatial Audio functionality will be unavailable, as will any features that require firmware updates. The webcam, speakers, and USB-C ports will continue to function, but much like the Pro Display XDR, the Studio Display works best with macOS.
Macs powered by Apple silicon do not officially support Windows and there is no Boot Camp feature like there is on Intel Macs, meaning that the update will only benefit the minority of users who have purchased the new Studio Display but have an older, non-Apple silicon based system with Boot Camp set up. Microsoft has declined to make a version of Windows 11 available for Apple's M1 series of Macs that are built on an Arm architecture, potentially due to an exclusivity deal with Qualcomm.
We picked up a new Mac Studio and a Studio Display on order day last week, but unfortunately they arrived a bit late in the day so we weren't able to unbox them yesterday morning. MacRumors videographer Dan did a late night unboxing, though, which we're able to share today for those who want a closer look at Apple's newest studio devices.
We'll have a much more in-depth hands-on video coming next week, but for now, Dan shares some initial first impressions on the new machines and shows off just what comes in the box when you purchase a Mac Studio or a Studio Display.
Following last week's Apple event, this week remained busy with the launch of all of the hardware introduced at the event, as well as the next round of operating updates.
Ahead of Friday's hardware launch, we saw early media reviews of the Mac Studio, Studio Display, iPad Air 5, iPhone SE 3, and even some hands-on looks at the new green iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro colors.
We also saw the public release of iOS 15.4 and associated updates with a bunch of new features including the long-awaited Universal Control, so read on for all of the details on these stories and more!
Mac Studio Reviews: Faster Than a $13,000 Mac Pro
Just over a week after Apple introduced the Mac Studio, the first reviews of the desktop computer have surfaced.
Apple began accepting Mac Studio pre-orders last week ahead of a launch on Friday, March 18. Mac Studio pricing starts at $1,999 with an M1 Max chip and at $3,999 with an M1 Ultra chip.
Apple to Improve Studio Display's Camera in Software Update After Several Poor Reviews
The first reviews of Apple's Studio Display are out, and one common criticism among reviewers was that the webcam's image quality ranges from equivalent to an "old BlackBerry" to downright "awful."
iPhone SE 3 Reviews: Impressive Performance in a 'Tired Design'
While reviews of the third-generation iPhone SE praised the addition of a faster A15 chip and 5G support at a budget-friendly $429 price point, the device still has the same design as the iPhone 8 from 2017.
Other key features of the new iPhone SE include longer battery life, more durable glass, new camera features, the return of a 256GB storage option, and an increased 4GB of RAM.
iPad Air 5 Reviews: Great Value With M1 Chip From $599
Overall, the new iPad Air remains a great value, with performance now on par with the iPad Pro thanks to the addition of the M1 chip. The new iPad Air also features 5G connectivity on cellular models, an upgraded 12-megapixel front camera with support for Center Stage, up to a 2x faster USB-C port for data transfer, new color options, and more.
iOS 15.4 Released: Here is Everything New
Apple this week released iOS 15.4 and iPadOS 15.4 to the public following nearly two months of beta testing, and there are several new features for iPhone and iPad users to check out.
Should this information be accurate, it seems plausible that Apple might only offer a new chip with the "Pro" models, and then that chip would trickle down to the two cheaper iPhone models the following year.
MacRumors Newsletter
Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.
Apple last week introduced an updated iPad Air with an M1 chip, and now the new tablet is available for purchase. We picked one up to see how it compares to the iPad Pro, which also has an M1 chip, to give you an idea of which of Apple's iPads is right for you.
Design wise, the fifth-generation iPad Air looks just like the fourth-generation iPad Air, with the exception of the colors. You can get the new model in purple and a new shade of blue, along with pink, starlight, and space gray.
There are no other visual updates, and the iPad Air features the same all-display design with 10.9-inch screen and Touch ID Power Button. Unlike the iPad Pro, it does not have 120Hz ProMotion support, which is now one of the main differences between the Pro and Air iPad lines. If you're used to ProMotion, the lack of it on the iPad Air can be jarring, but if you've never had ProMotion, you won't know the difference.
Though Apple didn't change the look of the iPad Air, there are internal changes. Most notably, the iPad Air is using the same M1 chip as the iPad Pro, so in terms of performance, they're identical. You won't see any speed differences between the two lines until the iPad Pro gets an update with a faster chip, which is expected to happen later this year.
Apple added a new 12-megapixel Ultra Wide front-facing camera to bring the iPad Air in line with the iPad Pro, and it supports Center Stage, the feature that keeps you in frame as you move about the room.
The iPad Air has also been upgraded with 5G connectivity, but it is sub-6GHz 5G and it doesn't work with the fastest mmWave 5G networks. The iPad Pro does work with the faster 5G network, so that's worth keeping in mind.
If you have the prior-generation iPad Air or the last two iPad Pro models, it's not going to be worth upgrading to this new fifth-generation iPad Air, but if you're coming from anything else, it's worth choosing the iPad Air over the iPad Pro because it has almost the same feature set and it's $200 cheaper.
You're only going to be missing out on the faster 5G mmWave connectivity, the ProMotion display, and Face ID, and if these are important to you, you should hold out for the next-generation iPad Pro before upgrading.
Did you pick up a new iPad Air? Let us know what you think in the comments.
For those unfamiliar with ColorWare, it is a website that specializes in device customization, painting all kinds of electronics in unique custom colors that are unavailable from the manufacturer.
Priced at $249, the Touch ID Magic Keyboard can be painted in any of the colors that ColorWare offers. There are matte and gloss options, and ColorWare has almost every color of the rainbow, including shades of red, blue, green, purple, and pink.
For those who like a more muted device there are silver, white, and jet black options, along with a series of metallic shades. ColorWare also offers green and orange "Hi-Vis" shades that are super bright.
The coloration process includes each key and and the aluminum base of the keyboard itself, all of which can be turned a single color. The Touch ID power button is protected and remains the standard white color.
The customized Magic Mouse can be ordered from ColorWare for $149, and it comes in all of the same colors as the keyboard. The colorization process includes just the top of the mouse, leaving the silver aluminum base intact. It's worth noting that the customization of the Magic Mouse eliminates the Apple logo on the top.
ColorWare has been creating custom painted devices since 1998, and has perfected its painting process. ColorWare uses a multi-step coating system that includes a primer, the application of a primary color formula, and a liquid plastic coating that protects the color that's been applied.
Aside from the color change of the keyboard and mouse, all of the standard functionality remains available, with no change to the functionality. ColorWare also offers all kinds of other custom painted devices, including AirPods, AirTags, console controllers, the Nintendo Switch, and even robot vacuums.
We have one Magic Mouse and one Magic Keyboard with Touch ID to give away to a lucky MacRumors reader. To enter to win, use the Gleam.io widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winners and send the prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, or visiting the MacRumorsFacebook page.
Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older, UK residents who are 18 years or older, and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. All federal, state, provincial, and/or local taxes, fees, and surcharges are the sole responsibility of the prize winner. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.
The contest will run from today (March 18) at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time on March 25. The winner will be chosen randomly on March 25 and will be contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before a new winner is chosen.
It is the official launch day for the updated M1iPad Air and 5G iPhone SE, which means Apple is beginning to advertise its new products. On its YouTube channel, Apple today shared an ad focused on the new iPad Air.
Called "Election," the spot features a group of students using the iPad Air to create campaigns for a high school election. The iPad Air's camera, Apple Pencil support, 5G connectivity, messaging, keyboard compatibility, and other features are shown off.
Introducing the new iPad Air. Supercharged by the Apple M1 chip. In five amazing colors. 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display with 5G. (Cellular models subject to availability. Accessories sold separately.) 12MP Ultra Wide front camera with Center Stage. And, of course, it works with Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard.
"Your next computer is not a computer," reads the tagline for the video. Apple has used this phrasing in the past for various iPads, including the iPad Pro. The iPad Air is now quite similar to the iPad Pro as both tablets feature the same M1 chip and Center Stage camera setup.
Pricing on the iPad Air begins at $599 and it is available from Apple's website and Apple retail stores.
Apple plans to soon sell a third-party lock adapter for the Mac Studio that locks onto the bottom of the computer to physically secure the computer without damaging or modifying it.
On the bottom of the Mac Studio, there is a hole that some have speculated could be for a Kensington lock. Kensington locks, however, are large and are unlikely to fit under the Mac Studio. Instead, in a memo seen by MacRumors, Apple has said a "lock adapter" that customers can use to keep their Mac Studio "physically secure without modifying or damaging" will launch soon.
In the memo, Apple did not provide details on pricing or availability. With the previous trashcan Mac Pro, Apple did something similar and released a $49 lock that goes on the side of the computer to prevent it from moving or accessing the internals. As YouTuber MKBHD has pointed out, already, however, there is no way to easy and straightforward way to access the internals of the Mac Studio.
Today we're tracking a few different deals, including all-time low prices on the iPad mini 6, Apple Watch Series 7, and iPad Pro Magic Keyboard. These discounts can all be found on Amazon.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
iPad mini
Starting with the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad mini, Amazon has this model for $459.00 in three colors, down from $499.00. This is a match of the previous record low price on the 2021 iPad mini, and all models are shipped and sold by Amazon.
For more storage, you can also get the 256GB Wi-Fi iPad mini for $599.00, down from $649.00. This one is available in two colors at this sale price, and both versions of the iPad mini are in stock and ready to ship today.
Apple Watch Series 7
The 41mm GPS Apple Watch Series 7 in Midnight Aluminum with Midnight Sport Band is down to $339.00 today, down from $399.00. Only Midnight is being discounted to this price on Amazon.
Although it's just one color, this is a match of the previous all-time low price that we saw on this model earlier in 2022. If you want a different color and are willing to spend a bit more, all other aluminum 41mm models are priced at $349.00.
Magic Keyboard
Next you can save on both of the 2021 Magic Keyboards for the 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro, starting at $239.19 for the 11-inch model, down from $299.00. This deal is only available in White.
The Magic Keyboard for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is priced at $293.00, down from $349.00. Similar to the 11-inch model, this one is only available in White. Both models are in stock and sold directly from Amazon.
Every product that Apple announced at its "Peek Performance" event is now available for same-day pickup at select Apple Stores in the United States, including the Mac Studio, Studio Display, new iPhone SE, new iPad Air, and green iPhone 13 models.
The two standard configurations of the Mac Studio with an M1 Max chip for $1,999 or an M1 Ultra chip for $3,999 are available for pickup at some Apple Store locations, as is the Studio Display with standard glass and a tilt-adjustable stand, but custom configurations and other built-to-order options have very limited in-store availability.
The new iPhone SE and iPad Air models are more widely available for Apple Store pickup in many storage capacity and color combinations.
To order a product with Apple Store pickup, add the product to your bag on Apple.com or in the Apple Store app, proceed to checkout, select the "I'll pick it up" option, enter your ZIP code, choose an available Apple Store location, select a pickup date, and select a 15-minute check-in window for arriving to the store. Payment is completed online, and a valid government-issued photo ID and the order number are required upon pickup.
Apple began accepting pre-orders for the Mac Studio and Studio Display on March 8, followed by the new iPhone SE, iPad Air, and green iPhone 13 models on March 11, and the first deliveries to customers began today.
In System Information, under "Graphics/Displays," the Studio Display's software can be seen, showing that it runs "Version 15.4 (Build 19E241)." This is the exact same build number as iOS 15.4 and iPadOS 15.4, indicating that the Studio Display runs the full version of iOS.
The Studio Display contains an A13 Bionic chip, the same chip from the iPhone 11 lineup, 2020 iPhone SE, ninth-generation iPad, to support its 12-megapixel Ultra Wide front-facing camera with Center Stage and six-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio. While the presence of the A13 chip indicated that the display likely ran a variant of existing Apple software, in much the same way that the HomePod and HomePod mini run a version of tvOS, the device's exact software was unknown until now.
The Studio Display's firmware in System Information (via Daring Fireball).
Yesterday, the first reviews of the Studio Display were released, with a common complaint among reviewers being that the built-in webcam's image quality ranges anywhere from an "old BlackBerry" to downright "awful" in their hands-on testing. In his detailed review of the Studio Display, Gruber said that the camera is "crushingly disappointing" and "astonishingly poor," with the image being "terrible" and Center Stage being "glitchy."
Even without harsh sunlight, all images from the Studio Display camera, in all lighting conditions, are grainy, lacking in contrast, and make skin tones look cadaveric.
[...]
... How can the image quality from the camera on a $1600 display be so much worse — laughably worse — than the image quality from a $600 iPad Air that uses the exact same camera hardware? Let alone comparing it to the front-facing camera on the $430 iPhone SE, which makes the Studio Display camera look like a toy. And we waited years for Apple to ship this display. Again, it's usable. All sorts of people use way worse cameras for videoconferencing every day. But this image quality is embarrassing from a company that considers itself the leading camera company in the world... I expected to be impressed by the Studio Display camera. Instead, I'm baffled. I don't understand how this shipped.
It gets even worse. The Center Stage feature on the Studio Display should be called Off-Center Stage. Move around a bit or turn your head to the side and you get framed off to the side, even though you're sitting directly in front of the center of the display. It takes up to 5 seconds for Center Stage to catch up and re-center you in the frame, which it does slowly and sheepishly, as though it's embarrassed...
Apple told reviewers that it "discovered an issue where the system is not behaving as expected" and will be "making improvements in a software update." Apple did not specify what "improvements" will be made, and no timeframe was provided for the update. Gruber concluded:
The Off-Center Stage thing is obviously a bug, and I expect that to be fixed. The overall image quality, I'll bet, can and will be improved to some degree via software updates, but I'll be surprised — happily surprised, but surprised — if a software update can turn this camera into something Apple should be proud of. Maybe, though, given that it's the same camera hardware as the front-facing camera on the new iPad Air and last year's iPad Pros. But I'm not holding my breath.
Gruber later posted an update saying he has heard that the "the image quality problems really are a software problem, not hardware — a bug introduced at the last minute — and a future software update might not merely somewhat improve image quality, but raise it to a level commensurate with the iPad models equipped with the same camera."
With the confirmation that the Studio Display runs iOS, Apple's planned update to improve the quality of the webcam will presumably come as part of an iOS update. Other information about how software updates for the Studio Display work is as yet unknown.
German carmaker Porsche has discussed undertaking joint projects with Apple, the company's CEO mentioned today in its annual press conference (via Reuters).
Porsche CEO Oliver Blume said that the company has discussed "exciting common projects" with Apple, but it it is currently too soon to make any firm decisions on future projects. It is unclear exactly what the seemingly off-hand remark refers to, but it could relate to Apple's long-rumored electric vehicle project.
Blume said that Porsche and Apple traditionally cooperate closely and are "on the same wavelength," and managers from Porsche travelled to the United States late last year to discuss joint projects with Apple.
"We already have Apple CarPlay, we will expand on that," Blume added. Porsche has worked closely with Apple in recent years to offer a growing number of feature-rich non-CarPlay experiences that integrate with vehicles' infotainment systems, including a native Apple Music app with time-synced lyrics and a native Apple Podcasts app that works with Porsche's in-car voice assistant.
LG is working to supply Apple with OLED display panels for two iPad models before providing larger panels for the company's first OLED MacBook around 2025, The Elec reports.
LG Display is reportedly aiming to supply Apple with Gen 8.5 OLED panels for Apple's first OLED MacBook. The device is said to be scheduled to launch "around 2025."
LG has been evaluating the deposition process to manufacture Gen 8.5 OLED panels at its Paju facility since December 2021, The Elec claims. The evaluation procedure will purportedly take up to a year to complete. Previous reports have indicated that LG's factory in Paju, South Korea, is instrumental in Apple's plans to offer iPads with OLED displays, as well as to increase its supply of OLED displays for future iPhone models.
The Elec also explained that LG is planning to use its Gen 6 OLED production lines for 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad models, which will debut at some time earlier than the first OLED MacBook. Since the launch of the OLED MacBooks around 2025 will come after Apple's first two OLED iPads, LG is planning to use larger substrates such as Gen 8.5 since more panels can be cut out per substrate in less time.
Yesterday, renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo tweeted that the launch of Apple's first MacBook with an OLED display is dependent on the launch of 11-inch and 12.9-inch OLED iPad models in 2024, which correlates with today's report from The Elec:
I think the release date of the OLED MacBook is mainly dependent on the schedule of iPad’s adoption of OLED. MacBook would use OLED in 2025 at the earliest if Apple could successfully release 12.9-inch & 11-inch OLED iPads in 2024.
— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) March 17, 2022
It is officially March 18 in Australia and New Zealand, which means that it's Mac Studio and Studio Display launch day. Customers in these countries are always the first to get their hands on new devices, and Apple's new studio devices are being delivered.
The Mac Studio and Studio Display are starting to arrive to customers who pre-ordered when the devices went up for sale following the "Peek Performance" event, and customers will soon begin to share their photos on Twitter, Instagram, and the MacRumors forums.
New Zealand does not have Apple Stores, so Australian customers will be the first who are able to pick up a Studio Display or Mac Studio at a retail location, provided Apple has stock. Availability in Australia will give us an idea of what we can expect from other stores worldwide.
Apple will likely sell stock configurations of the Studio Display and the Mac Studio at its retail stores, with pricing beginning at $1,599 for the Studio Display and $1,999 for the Mac Studio. Supplies of both devices were limited on ordering day, so retail stores may also have limited quantities.
If you try to order a Mac Studio or Studio Display online, the order won't ship until April, so a retail store is now the only way to get a launch day device.
Following New Zealand and Australia, sales of the MacBook Pro will begin in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and then North America. Apple Stores globally are opening up right around 9:00 or 10:00 a.m. local time to allow customers to pick up reserved devices and make walk-in purchases.
Today also marks the delivery of the first iPhone SE and iPad Air models, though those are mostly iterative updates and not quite as exciting as the new studio product lines.
Have a new Mac Studio or Studio Display? Share pictures below and let us know what you think of your new device.
Apple is streamlining its iPhone purchase process with the launch of the iPhone SE, and has introduced a new buying method that allows customers to purchase T-Mobile and AT&T devices without inputting their current carrier information.
As outlined by Bloomberg, customers typically need to provide their wireless phone number and social security number when making an iPhone purchase, a process that allows their carrier to do a credit check and approve the transaction to ensure the person receiving the device will pay their cellular phone bill.
With the iPhone SE, AT&T and T-Mobile customers will not need to provide their carrier information when checking out, and can instead connect when turning on the iPhone SE for the first time. Customers also do not need to select a network plan at the time of purchase, cutting down on carrier involvement when a person buys an iPhone from Apple.
Apple told retail employees that the new method is called "on-device authentication," and it makes the iPhone checkout process quicker. The purchase process is available online right now and will be implemented in stores on March 29.
Apple already has a "Connect on your own later" option for iPhone 13 buyers who don't want to input their information at the time of purchase, but this is apparently separate from the way the iPhone SE on-device authentication works. Apple also offers unlocked devices that can be purchased without a carrier association.
As of right now, on-device authentication is limited to AT&T and T-Mobile customers who purchase an iPhone SE, but Apple is planning to expand it to Verizon and could also implement the feature for flagship iPhone purchases in the future to make the preorder process smoother.
Despite Apple's claims and charts, the new M1 Ultra chip is not able to outperform Nvidia's RTX 3090 in terms of raw GPU performance, according to benchmark testing performed by The Verge.
When the M1 Ultra was introduced, Apple shared a chart that had the new chip winning out over the "highest-end discrete GPU" in "relative performance," without details on what tests were run to achieve those results. Apple showed the M1 Ultra beating the RTX 3090 at a certain power level, but Apple isn't sharing the whole picture with its limited graphic.
The Verge decided to pit the M1 Ultra against the Nvidia RTX 3090 using Geekbench 5 graphics tests, and unsurprisingly, it cannot match Nvidia's chip when that chip is run at full power. The Mac Studio beat out the 16-core Mac Pro, but performance was about half that of the RTX 3090.
But it seems that Apple just simply isn't showing the full performance of the competitor it's chasing here.
It's sort of like arguing that because your electric car can use dramatically less fuel when driving at 80 miles per hour than a Lamborghini, it has a better engine -- without mentioning the fact that a Lambo can still go twice as fast.
The M1 Ultra is otherwise impressive, and it is unclear why Apple focused on this particular benchmark as it is somewhat misleading to customers because it does not take into account the full range of Nvidia's chip.
Apple's M1 Ultra is essentially two M1 Max chips connected together, and as The Verge highlighted in its full Mac Studio review, Apple has managed to successfully get double the M1 Max performance out of the M1 Ultra, which is a notable feat that other chip makers cannot match.
Image via Max Tech
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The Studio Display's firmware in System Information (via 
