Apple doesn't want you to open the Mac Studio
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Get smartphone skins and cases at dbrand.com Apple's Mac Studio was a long-awaited refresh to their desktop computer line-up other than the iMac. There are some fantastic improvements, but there are some serious flaws. We're not turning it on as that's for Linus Tech Tips, but we'll give you a glimpse of what's inside! Buy the Apple Mac Studio with M1 Max: geni.us Buy the Apple Magic Keyboard (Black): geni.us Buy the Apple Magic Trackpad (Black): geni.us Buy the Apple Magic Mouse (Black): geni.us Buy the iFixit Pro Tech Toolkit: geni.us Purchases made through some store links may provide some compensation to Linus Media Group. ► GET MERCH: lttstore.com ► AFFILIATES, SPONSORS & REFERRALS: lmg.gg ► PODCAST GEAR: lmg.gg ► SUPPORT US ON FLOATPLANE: floatplane.com FOLLOW US ELSEWHERE --------------------------------------------------- Twitter: twitter.com Instagram: @shortcircuityt TikTok: @linustech Facebook: @ShortCircuitYT CHAPTERS --------------------------------------------------- 0:00 - It's not the Mac Mini 0:10 - Overview 1:24 - Unboxing 2:24 - Exterior impressions 3:08 - Apple Magic peripherals impressions 5:44 - Sponsor - dbrand! 6:49 - Mac Studio disassembly 7:28 - We found the screws 7:47 - Unacceptable 8:01 - Disassembly continued 8:17 - PSU impressions 9:00 - We found something interesting 9:46 - Cage removal 10:18 - Mainboard impressions 11:04 - Linus gives his thoughts 11:45 - Final thoughts
The video opens with Linus breaking down the Mac Studio, contrasting it with the familiar Mac Pro mini idea and highlighting its form factor, front panel IO, and perceived design choices. The host discusses the initial unboxing experience, the packaging complexity, and the peripherals that accompany the Mac Studio, including the Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad, and Magic Mouse, noting perceived overpricing and ergonomic concerns. Throughout the early portion, the presenters reflect on Apple’s design decisions, such as front IO inclusion, removable SSDs, and the overall aesthetic, while teasing a later disassembly to peek inside the machine. They acknowledge Apple’s engineering prowess in some areas but quickly pivot to critique, emphasizing accessibility and user-friendliness in contrast to how the device is assembled and how its internals are accessed. The segment culminates in a plan to continue the teardown, despite mixed feelings about packaging, pricing, and peripheral design, setting up a deeper look at cooling, power, and component layout. Finally, the hosts frame the Mac Studio as a mixed bag, admiring some innovations yet calling out practical flaws and user experience trade-offs, leaving viewers with a clear sense of a device that excels in some respects but falters in others from a repairability and usability standpoint.
Topics · technology · hardware · consumer_electronics · product_disassembly
Questions answered
- What makes the Mac Studio's internal access unusual for a user repair scenario?
- The teardown shows screws hidden under a black tab and a layered construction that makes opening the shell non-trivial, with some components like the power supply and cooling not easily serviceable.
- Are the storage modules upgradable in the Mac Studio according to the video?
- The hosts point out replaceable storage slots and suggest there may be potential to swap to larger or faster SSDs, but the process is not straightforward and involves accessing internal components.
- Do the peripherals affect the overall value of the Mac Studio package?
- Yes, the peripherals are noted as expensive and ergonomically questionable by the presenters, impacting perceived value despite the Studio's performance and compact design.