If you have been refreshing Apple's lineup waiting for an M5 Mac Studio, the wait just got longer. The refresh has slipped to around October 2026, and the reason is supply rather than design: a global DRAM shortage has pushed Apple's timeline for the whole Mac Studio line back, leaving the current M4 model as the machine to buy if you cannot wait.

Quick Answer

The M5 Mac Studio is now expected around October 2026, delayed by a global DRAM shortage that has squeezed Apple's component supply. The hold-up affects the entire Mac Studio line, which makes the existing M4 Ultra Mac Studio the strongest option for anyone who needs a desktop now rather than late this year.

Why it slipped

The delay is not about the chip being unready. It traces back to memory supply. DRAM is in short supply globally, and high-memory desktops like the Mac Studio are exactly the products that feel a memory squeeze first. With limited DRAM to allocate, the Mac Studio refresh moved to the back of the queue, and the expected window settled around October 2026.

For buyers, that distinction matters. A delay driven by silicon problems can mean the eventual product changes. A delay driven by memory supply usually means the design is fine and the calendar simply moved, so the M5 Studio you eventually get should land close to what was planned, just later.

What to do while you wait

The practical answer for most people is the M4 Ultra Mac Studio. It is the current best option in the line, it is shipping now, and it already handles serious creative and compute workloads comfortably. Waiting roughly until October 2026 for a refresh makes sense only if you have a specific need that the M4 cannot meet today, and for most editors, developers, and studios it can.

If portability matters as much as raw desktop power, it is worth looking sideways at Apple's laptops too. A high-spec MacBook Pro covers a lot of the same professional ground, and the MacBook lineup at Evetech is the quickest way to compare what is in stock against what a delayed Studio would offer.

Buy now or hold?

Hold only if you can comfortably wait until around October 2026 and you specifically want the newest silicon. Buy the M4 now if you need the machine for active work, since the performance on offer is already high and the refresh is months out with no guarantee the window will not shift again under continued supply pressure. To gauge what professionals are actually choosing in the meantime, the best-selling laptops give a clear read on current demand.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the M5 Mac Studio expected?

Around October 2026, based on the revised timeline after the DRAM shortage. That window could still move if supply pressure continues.

Why was the M5 Mac Studio delayed?

A global DRAM shortage pushed back Apple's supply timeline. High-memory desktops like the Mac Studio are affected first when memory is scarce, so the whole line slipped.

Should I buy the M4 Mac Studio now or wait?

Buy now if you need a desktop for active work, since the M4 Ultra is already very capable and the refresh is months away. Wait only if you specifically want the newest chip and can hold until late 2026.

Does the delay affect the whole Mac Studio line?

Yes. The DRAM-driven delay applies across the Mac Studio range rather than a single configuration, which is why the M4 model remains the current pick.

Is a MacBook Pro a reasonable alternative?

For many professionals, yes. A high-spec MacBook Pro covers much of the same workload with the bonus of portability, making it a sensible stand-in while the Studio refresh is delayed.

Not keen to wait until October 2026? The M4 Ultra Mac Studio is shipping now, and you can line it up against current MacBooks in the Apple range at Evetech to pick the machine that fits your work today.