M1 Ultra Mac Studio is 2 Pounds Heavier Than M1 Max Version Due to Thermal Differences

The Mac Studio comes in two varieties, one with the same M1 Max chip used in the 2021 MacBook Pro models and a second featuring an M1 Ultra chip, which is two interconnected ‌M1 Max‌ chips that operate as a single chip.

mac studio ports
Following yesterday's event, Apple's technical specifications for the ‌Mac Studio‌ went live, and there was a curiosity - the ‌M1 Ultra‌ version of the ‌Mac Studio‌ is a full two pounds heavier than the ‌M1 Max‌ version, and it wasn't clear why. Apple today provided an explanation to The Verge, and it turns out the two machines have a different thermal setup.

According to Apple, the ‌M1 Ultra‌ has a copper thermal module, while the ‌M1 Max‌ has an aluminum heatsink. Copper is heavier than aluminum, hence the weight difference. The ‌M1 Max‌ ‌Mac Studio‌ weighs in at 5.9 pounds, while the ‌M1 Ultra‌ version is 7.9 pounds.

They have the same 370W power supply. The additional weight is due to M1 Ultra having a larger copper thermal module, where as M1 Max has an aluminum heatsink.

Different thermal management setups is not a surprise given the power of the ‌M1 Ultra‌ vs. the standard ‌M1 Max‌. The ‌M1 Ultra‌ includes a 20-core CPU and up to a 64-core GPU for double the computing power of the ‌M1 Max‌. Despite the high-powered chip, Apple has said that the ‌Mac Studio‌ is able to run quietly, with an architecture that that pulls air in through the airflow channels on the bottom using double-sided blowers and pushes it out through additional perforations on the back of the chassis.

Related Roundup: Mac Studio
Buyer's Guide: Mac Studio (Don't Buy)
Related Forum: Mac Studio

Popular Stories

iPhone SE 4 Vertical Camera Feature

iPhone SE 4 Production Will Reportedly Begin Ramping Up in October

Tuesday July 23, 2024 2:00 pm PDT by
Following nearly two years of rumors about a fourth-generation iPhone SE, The Information today reported that Apple suppliers are finally planning to begin ramping up mass production of the device in October of this year. If accurate, that timeframe would mean that the next iPhone SE would not be announced alongside the iPhone 16 series in September, as expected. Instead, the report...
iPhone 17 Plus Feature

iPhone 17 Lineup Specs Detail Display Upgrade and New High-End Model

Monday July 22, 2024 4:33 am PDT by
Key details about the overall specifications of the iPhone 17 lineup have been shared by the leaker known as "Ice Universe," clarifying several important aspects of next year's devices. Reports in recent months have converged in agreement that Apple will discontinue the "Plus" iPhone model in 2025 while introducing an all-new iPhone 17 "Slim" model as an even more high-end option sitting...
Generic iPhone 17 Feature With Full Width Dynamic Island

Kuo: Ultra-Thin iPhone 17 to Feature A19 Chip, Single Rear Camera, Semi-Titanium Frame, and More

Wednesday July 24, 2024 9:06 am PDT by
Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today shared alleged specifications for a new ultra-thin iPhone 17 model rumored to launch next year. Kuo expects the device to be equipped with a 6.6-inch display with a current-size Dynamic Island, a standard A19 chip rather than an A19 Pro chip, a single rear camera, and an Apple-designed 5G chip. He also expects the device to have a...
maxresdefault

These 5 Features Will Make the iPhone 17 the Biggest Update in Years

Monday July 22, 2024 4:02 pm PDT by
The upcoming iPhone 16 models that we're expecting to see in September are going to be quite similar to the iPhone 15 models, but rumors suggest that Apple is making big changes in 2025. We've been hearing hints of an all-new device in the iPhone lineup, and it may be the most expensive iPhone Apple has offered to date. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. New 'Slim'...
iPhone 16 Pro Sizes Feature

iPhone 16 Series Is Less Than Two Months Away: Everything We Know

Thursday July 25, 2024 5:43 am PDT by
Apple typically releases its new iPhone series around mid-September, which means we are about two months out from the launch of the iPhone 16. Like the iPhone 15 series, this year's lineup is expected to stick with four models – iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max – although there are plenty of design differences and new features to take into account. To bring ...
iOS 18 on iPhone Feature

Everything New in iOS 18 Beta 4

Tuesday July 23, 2024 1:08 pm PDT by
Apple released the fourth beta of iOS 18 today, introducing small changes to a number of features throughout the operating system. There are no big additions in this beta, but Apple is continuing to refine existing settings and design choices. Apple plans to continue updating iOS 18 over the next few months, with the update set to be released this fall. We've rounded up all of the changes...
iPhone SE 4 Thumb 1

iPhone SE 4 Rumored to Launch Early Next Year With OLED Display, 48MP Camera, and More

Monday July 22, 2024 7:22 am PDT by
The fourth-generation iPhone SE will offer a series of major upgrades over the current model, the leaker known as "Ice Universe" claims. The information was listed in a post on Weibo, which also detailed the specifications of the iPhone 17 lineup. As previously rumored, the fourth-generation iPhone SE is expected to feature Face ID and USB-C, marking a major upgrade from current and previous ...
iPhone 17 Plus Feature Purple

iPhone 17 Rumored to Feature Mechanical Aperture

Tuesday July 23, 2024 9:32 am PDT by
Apple is planning to release at least one iPhone 17 model next year with mechanical aperture, according to a report published today by The Information. The mechanical system would allow users to adjust the size of the iPhone 17's aperture, which refers to the opening of the camera lens through which light enters. All existing iPhone camera lenses have fixed apertures, but some Android...

Top Rated Comments

Danoc Avatar
31 months ago
They should have named it Big Mac.
Score: 45 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DHagan4755 Avatar
31 months ago
This should answer the question of whether the M1 Ultra will end up in a laptop...
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kingalien Avatar
31 months ago
That's $1,000 a pound difference between the models!!
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BlueCreek Avatar
31 months ago

Interesting that they supply the same 370W power supply for both. Perhaps it is cheaper for them to just make 1 power supply. That's how they're able to pass the savings on to the customer.
Apple > savings > customer. Are not three words I would associate together.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Brandon42 Avatar
31 months ago

That's $1,000 a pound difference between the models!!
It is an investment. When copper hits $1,250 a pound you will be kicking yourself for not buying one.

/s
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ddtmm Avatar
31 months ago
Interesting that they supply the same 370W power supply for both. Perhaps it is cheaper for them to just make 1 power supply. That's how they're able to pass the savings on to the customer.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)