Incredibly powerful and remarkably quiet, the compact Studio is, without a doubt, impressive. But how much speed you need -- and how many displays -- might have you weighing other options. In other words: Think before you pay.

For the first time ever though, Apple is offering the Mac Studio with two different generations of chip. The entry-level $1,999 Mac Studio is powered by the M4 Max, while the more powerful $3,999 Mac Studio is the only Mac to ship with the M3 Ultra.

Apple rarely offers you more for less, especially in its most popular products with the broadest appeal. It has perfected the measured, iterative year-over-year product cycle. But for the 13- and 15-inch M4 MacBook Airs, Apple has put new chips in its established design while shoring up the device’s biggest flaws and dropping the price by $100.