Apple has confirmed to Engadget that the Mac Pro is discontinued. The desktop tower, last updated in 2023, has vanished from Apple’s website and storefront. For now, the Mac Studio is Apple’s most powerful desktop for professionals.
The current Mac Pro debuted in 2019 with its signature cheese-grater look, Intel chips, and a rare-for-Apple focus on expansion slots. It was Apple’s answer to years of pro users complaining about underpowered hardware. But the celebration didn’t last. In 2020, Apple started its shift to custom M-series Arm chips, leaving Intel behind for more power and efficiency.
While the Mac Pro eventually got an M2 Ultra refresh, Apple didn’t bother updating the design. Meanwhile, the smaller Mac Studio-introduced in 2022-quickly caught up, supporting the same chips and getting more frequent updates. The writing was on the wall: the tower was living on borrowed time.
What it means for power users
If you’re a creative pro, developer, or anyone who needs serious horsepower, the Mac Studio is now your only option from Apple. The Mac Pro’s legendary expandability is gone; the Studio is compact and powerful, but it doesn’t offer the same internal upgrade paths. If you want PCIe slots or massive RAM upgrades, you’ll have to look elsewhere-or stick with your old Mac Pro for as long as possible.
Apple’s move isn’t a shock. Bloomberg reported plans to retire the Mac Pro by November 2025, but Apple pulled the plug months early. The company’s pro hardware focus now lives on through the Mac Studio and the new Studio Display XDR, which replaces the old Pro Display XDR originally launched with the 2019 Mac Pro.
Pricing and availability
With the Mac Pro gone, the Mac Studio is Apple’s most expensive desktop, starting at €2,429 for the base model. You can spec it up with the M2 Ultra chip and more RAM, but you won’t get the same physical expansion options as the Mac Pro. The Studio Display XDR is available for those who need a high-end monitor, but it’s a separate purchase.
For anyone who invested in the Mac Pro for its upgradability, this marks the end of an era. Apple’s desktop lineup is now streamlined, but less flexible for tinkerers and power users who want to swap parts.
The bottom line
- The Mac Pro is officially discontinued-no more cheese-grater towers from Apple.
- The Mac Studio is now the top-tier desktop, but with fewer upgrade options.
- If you need PCIe slots or serious expandability, you’ll need to look outside Apple’s current lineup.
Speculation: Apple could update the Mac Studio with an M5 Max chip in the future, but for now, this is as “pro” as it gets in the Mac world.