If you have been holding off on a Mac upgrade while waiting for Apple to refresh the Mac Studio, you are going to have to wait a little longer. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple’s next Mac Studio will not ship until around October 2026, pushed back from an earlier expected window around WWDC 2026 in June.
The culprit is a memory shortage that has forced Apple to revise its production timeline. Here is what we know and what it means for buyers.
What Gurman Reported
In his Power On newsletter, Gurman wrote that sources within Apple believe the next Mac Studio models will not be ready to ship until around October this year. The delay is a direct result of supply constraints affecting the memory components Apple needs for the new machines.
Gurman had previously expected the Mac Studio refresh to land at or around WWDC 2026 — a schedule that would have seen Apple announce and ship the new model in June. That window has now closed. October puts the new Mac Studio alongside Apple’s traditional fall hardware refresh season instead.
Why Memory Shortages Are Causing Delays
The specific memory technology in question is tied to the high-bandwidth specifications required for Apple’s next-generation silicon. Apple’s M-series chips are deeply integrated with their memory architecture, and sourcing the right components at scale is not trivial — particularly as demand for advanced memory across the AI and semiconductor industry has intensified in 2026.
This is not the first time supply chain pressures have disrupted Apple’s plans this year. The same shortage is also affecting other upcoming Apple products. The HomePod has been tied to Siri AI features that Apple has delayed, and the Apple TV refresh has also been pushed to September 2026 for similar AI-related reasons.
What About the Touch MacBook and Other Products?
The memory shortage is also expected to cause at least minor delays for the rumored touch-screen MacBook Pro. Gurman noted this product — one of the most anticipated Mac updates in years — could also slip slightly, though it remains on track to arrive in 2026.
The Mac Studio delay is notable because the current model has been on shelves for a meaningful stretch without a significant performance jump. Buyers who have been eyeing the machine for creative workflows, video editing, or AI development tasks will now need to factor an October timeline into their planning.
Should You Buy the Current Mac Studio Now?
That depends entirely on your situation. If you need a Mac Studio today for active work, the current model is still a genuinely powerful machine. Apple’s M-series chips have strong longevity, and even the current Mac Studio will handle demanding workflows well.
If you can wait until October, however, the next Mac Studio should bring meaningful performance improvements across compute and memory bandwidth — particularly relevant for machine learning tasks and large-scale media work.
For context on how Apple is positioning its hardware roadmap this year, it is worth reading about macOS 27, which will drop support for Intel Macs entirely. That transition is a strong signal that Apple is doubling down on its own silicon, and the next Mac Studio will be a showcase for whatever comes next in the M-series lineup.
What Else to Expect at WWDC 2026
Even without the Mac Studio, WWDC on June 8 is shaping up to be a major event. Apple is expected to unveil iOS 27, macOS 27, and a completely revamped Siri experience. The WWDC 2026 preview we put together covers everything expected across all platforms, from the Liquid Glass slider to Siri 2.0.
The Mac Studio, when it does arrive in October, will almost certainly launch running macOS 27 and supporting the full suite of Apple Intelligence features that are also coming this fall.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the new Mac Studio be released?
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the next Mac Studio is expected to ship around October 2026. It was previously expected to be announced at WWDC 2026 in June, but a memory shortage has pushed the timeline back.
Why is the Mac Studio delayed?
The delay is due to a memory shortage affecting the components Apple needs for the next Mac Studio. The same supply constraint is also impacting other upcoming Apple hardware products.
Is it worth buying the current Mac Studio in 2026?
If you need a Mac Studio for active work right now, the current model is still a capable machine. If you can wait until October, the next Mac Studio should offer meaningful performance improvements, particularly for AI and creative workloads.
Will the new Mac Studio support macOS 27?
Yes. The next Mac Studio is expected to launch with macOS 27 installed and will fully support the new Apple Intelligence features tied to that update.
Is the touch MacBook Pro also delayed?
Mark Gurman has indicated that the memory shortage may cause at least a minor delay for the touch-screen MacBook Pro as well, though that product is still expected to arrive in 2026.
The Bottom Line
A Mac Studio delayed to October is not the end of the world for most buyers, but it is a meaningful change in Apple’s plans — and a sign that supply chain pressures continue to shape the company’s hardware calendar. Keep an eye on the WWDC 2026 tag on 8BitToast for all the announcements coming on June 8, and we will have full Mac Studio coverage when October arrives.
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