The M3 Ultra-equipped Apple Mac Studio delivers the massive multi-core performance and workstation grunt that pros with demanding workflows need. However, its high price and older core architecture mean the M4 Max model is more versatile—and accessible.

This is the kind of computer that can’t be reviewed in a matter of days, so we’re just getting started.

If you can afford to really spend a lot on a new video rendering machine this year (or you can expense it), the Mac Studio M3 Ultra has the potential to be an absolute beast of a production machine. The base $3,999 model has the M3 Ultra chip sporting a 32-core CPU and an 80-core GPU, with 96GB of RAM and a basic 1TB of storage to start.