Apple’s recent product announcements might suggest a stable supply of memory and storage, but the reality is quite different. The company has discreetly eliminated the 512GB RAM option from its top-tier M3 Ultra Mac Studio desktop, a move that underscores the ongoing challenges in the memory market.
Between March 4 and the present, Apple has adjusted its offerings, increasing the price of the 256GB configuration from $1,600 to $2,000. While the Tech Specs page still lists the 512GB option, it has been removed from the Apple Store and configuration listings. Apple has been approached for comment regarding this change.
Typically, Apple refrains from removing product configurations, opting instead to adjust shipping estimates to manage supply chain issues. The 512GB Mac Studio was not a mass-market product, as it required purchasing the most expensive M3 Ultra model, bringing the total cost to approximately $9,499. This configuration was particularly valuable for demanding workloads that require extensive graphics memory, such as those involving large language models.
In the recent macOS Tahoe 26.2 update, Apple introduced a feature allowing Thunderbolt 5-equipped Macs, including the Studio, to function as a single compute cluster. This enables the pooling of memory and resources for complex tasks. Consequently, to achieve a configuration with 512GB of RAM, users must now purchase two Mac Studios.
Apple’s Ultra chips are unique in supporting more than 128GB of RAM, while the upcoming M4 Max and M5 Max chips will also be limited to 128GB. The M4 Pro and M5 Pro models max out at 64GB, and the standard M4 and M5 support a maximum of 32GB.
The current RAM shortage is partly due to manufacturers reallocating production towards more profitable high-bandwidth memory (HBM), which is in high demand for AI accelerators like Nvidia’s H200. This shift has resulted in limited availability of traditional DRAM, leading to increased prices and delayed product launches for many companies. Despite Apple’s significant purchasing power, CEO Tim Cook has indicated that rising memory costs could impact the company’s profit margins later this year.
This article was produced by NeonPulse.today using human and AI-assisted editorial processes, based on publicly available information. Content may be edited for clarity and style.
