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AtlanticFox 143K Views
Sep 23, 2026 2:46 PM

Select Stores: Apple Mac Studio Desktop (2026): M5 Max, 36GB RAM, 512GB SSD

$2,000

$2,500

20% off
(In-Store Only, Limited Stock)at Micro Center
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Deal Details
Select Micro Center Stores have Apple Mac Studio M5 Max Desktop Computer (2026, MHL64LL/A) for $1999.99 (In-Store Only).

Thanks to Community Member AtlanticFox for finding this deal.

Note: Select stores may be available for pickup. Availability may vary by location and is very limited.

Specs:
  • Apple M5 Max 18-Core CPU
  • 36GB Unified RAM
  • 512GB SSD
  • Apple M5 Max Chip 32-Core GPU
  • WiFi 7 (802.11be) + Bluetooth 6.0
  • 480 Watt Power Supply
  • SDXC Card Reader
  • macOS
  • Ports:
    • Front/Top Panel
      • 2x USB 3.2 (Gen 2 Type-C)
    • Back Panel
      • 2x USB 3.2 (Gen 1 Type-A)
      • 4x Thunderbolt 5
      • 1x HDMI 2.1
      • 1x LAN RJ45 (10 GbE)
      • 1x 3.5mm Headphone

Editor's Notes

Written by SubZero5 | Staff
  • About this deal:
    • Our research indicates that this deal is $449.01 less (18% savings) than the next best available price from a reputable merchant with prices starting from $2,449 at the time of this post.
  • About this store:
    • Details of Micro Center's return policy (here)

Original Post

Written by AtlanticFox
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
Select Micro Center Stores have Apple Mac Studio M5 Max Desktop Computer (2026, MHL64LL/A) for $1999.99 (In-Store Only).

Thanks to Community Member AtlanticFox for finding this deal.

Note: Select stores may be available for pickup. Availability may vary by location and is very limited.

Specs:
  • Apple M5 Max 18-Core CPU
  • 36GB Unified RAM
  • 512GB SSD
  • Apple M5 Max Chip 32-Core GPU
  • WiFi 7 (802.11be) + Bluetooth 6.0
  • 480 Watt Power Supply
  • SDXC Card Reader
  • macOS
  • Ports:
    • Front/Top Panel
      • 2x USB 3.2 (Gen 2 Type-C)
    • Back Panel
      • 2x USB 3.2 (Gen 1 Type-A)
      • 4x Thunderbolt 5
      • 1x HDMI 2.1
      • 1x LAN RJ45 (10 GbE)
      • 1x 3.5mm Headphone

Editor's Notes

Written by SubZero5 | Staff
  • About this deal:
    • Our research indicates that this deal is $449.01 less (18% savings) than the next best available price from a reputable merchant with prices starting from $2,449 at the time of this post.
  • About this store:
    • Details of Micro Center's return policy (here)

Original Post

Written by AtlanticFox

Community Voting

Deal Score
+309
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Why are you downvoting this deal?

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Top Comments

Caleo
6.8KComments
1.2KReputation
This is oddly reasonable. 36GB isn't super amazing but it's enough to run the decent MoE models that are targeted for 24GB VRAM (like gemma4:26b-a4b, qwen3.6:36b-a3b).. if local LLM is what you're looking to do with this.
Go to Comment
AtlanticFox
33Comments
26Reputation
It's $300 more than the Mac Mini M5 Pro. You get vastly better graphics performance, 12 GB extra RAM, better Ethernet. For $300 extra, it's a good deal for a lot of people. If it was the original price of $2.5k, I see your point more.
Go to Comment
ChaoticThrifty
35Comments
18Reputation
Get it while you can. I'm still kicking myself for not jumping on the Mac Mini and Mac Studio deals of winter 2025.
Go to Comment

Community Reviews

This Mac Studio stands out as a compact but powerful desktop for local AI, video work, and heavy productivity, with the M5 Max, 36GB unified memory, and lots of ports drawing the most praise. The 10Gb Ethernet, strong graphics, and lower throttling make it feel like a bigger step up than a Mac mini, and the price matchable $1,999 to $2,000 range looks unusually low for a fresh release. The main knocks are the fixed 36GB memory ceiling and 512GB SSD, which feel tight for larger LLMs and storage-heavy workflows. Availability and price matching have also been inconsistent, so timing and store stock matter.

Common Questions (5)

AI-generated summary based on comments from the community. Updated ago

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225 Comments

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Sep 27, 2026 3:40 PM
216 Comments
Joined Nov 2006
sidb1Sep 27, 2026 3:40 PM
216 Comments
My local MicroCenter has one. But I can't get past only having 36 GB of unified RAM. Even my mini PC has 64 GB (admittedly I had to pay $360 for the two 32 GB sodimms).
2
Sep 27, 2026 4:07 PM
207 Comments
Joined Nov 2005
milkmandanSep 27, 2026 4:07 PM
207 Comments
Quote from sidb1 View quoted comment :
My local MicroCenter has one. But I can't get past only having 36 GB of unified RAM. Even my mini PC has 64 GB (admittedly I had to pay $360 for the two 32 GB sodimms).
damn ill buy it off you if you can snag it
Sep 27, 2026 4:09 PM
207 Comments
Joined Nov 2005
milkmandanSep 27, 2026 4:09 PM
207 Comments
Quote from OrangeChannel8353 View quoted comment :
keep checking, i've seen mine restock the last few days. microcenter also truned on the add to cart option, so you can reserve it for pickup without having to show up and hope they are still in stock
i think i am sol, deal ends instore 9/28 which is monday (tomorrow) . does not seem like they restocked today (sunday), crossing fingers for a Monday restock but I highly doubt it
Sep 27, 2026 5:02 PM
78 Comments
Joined Aug 2015
JJSparksSep 27, 2026 5:02 PM
78 Comments
I price matched with BB this morning when their phone support began. The agent I got said she would have to get it approved, I was on hold for about 10 minutes and I thought they would probably say they couldn't do it for some reason, but when she came back she said she couldn't get a supervisor so she would just do it anyway and she sent me an invoice with the price matched price.
Sep 27, 2026 6:36 PM
33 Comments
Joined Oct 2024
BigDickJohnsonSep 27, 2026 6:36 PM
33 Comments
I just saw one available at my local microcenter. Should I buy it?
Sep 27, 2026 6:54 PM
7 Comments
Joined Jun 2019
GuiltyCrown12Sep 27, 2026 6:54 PM
7 Comments
Quote from Brando415 View quoted comment :
Best Buy told me they would price match then 3 hours later sent an email that they wouldn't. I spent 35 minutes on the phone with support and they still wouldn't match even though I didn't make the purchase until after they had said it was approved originally and to go ahead
Got the same email. Opened up a second chat afterwards to see what happened. Supposedly the first rep didn't include all the information, which is why it was rejected. Still waiting for that followup email saying if it was approved or rejected. Better thing to do would be to try make the order with the price match reflected without the refund.
Sep 27, 2026 7:06 PM
207 Comments
Joined Nov 2005
milkmandanSep 27, 2026 7:06 PM
207 Comments
Quote from BigDickJohnson View quoted comment :
I just saw one available at my local microcenter. Should I buy it?
yes buy it for me Wink ill pay for shipping and items
Last edited by milkmandan September 27, 2026 at 12:14 PM.

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Sep 27, 2026 8:26 PM
207 Comments
Joined Nov 2005
milkmandanSep 27, 2026 8:26 PM
207 Comments
if anyone has it in stock near their MC, and willing to help me proxy, let me know I'll cover shipping and the item cost obviously and for your time
Sep 27, 2026 8:41 PM
33 Comments
Joined Oct 2024
BigDickJohnsonSep 27, 2026 8:41 PM
33 Comments
Anyone in Illinois, they got 5 available at westmont in store only

As I was walking out a guy that works there said that they got a ton in. But that they have been selling like crazy
Last edited by BigDickJohnson September 27, 2026 at 01:59 PM.
Sep 27, 2026 9:08 PM
24 Comments
Joined Jun 2010
shortsniperSep 27, 2026 9:08 PM
24 Comments
Quote from j4j View quoted comment :
if anyone in here do video editing and able to tell me if this worth it over m4 based?I'm upgrading to 4k prores and braw and my m4 struggling sometimes.
Check your storage throughput. M4 max can easily chew through 8k footage
Pro
Sep 27, 2026 9:18 PM
4.5K Comments
Joined Nov 2015
dshoppr
Pro
Sep 27, 2026 9:18 PM
4.5K Comments
Quote from milkmandan View quoted comment :
if anyone has it in stock near their MC, and willing to help me proxy, let me know I'll cover shipping and the item cost obviously and for your time
keep trying to price match with Bestbuy.
2
Sep 27, 2026 9:22 PM
2.2K Comments
Joined Jan 2009
cockadoodleSep 27, 2026 9:22 PM
2.2K Comments
Quote from sidb1 View quoted comment :
My local MicroCenter has one. But I can't get past only having 36 GB of unified RAM. Even my mini PC has 64 GB (admittedly I had to pay $360 for the two 32 GB sodimms).
Your minipc has no where near the memory bandwith of this machine.
Sep 27, 2026 9:33 PM
23 Comments
Joined Aug 2010
gudstuffSep 27, 2026 9:33 PM
23 Comments
Seems silly to get a Max chip, but skimp on ram and disk space.
1
Sep 27, 2026 9:36 PM
671 Comments
Joined May 2013
igoogleSep 27, 2026 9:36 PM
671 Comments
Expect the price to come down further in thanksgiving
1

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Sep 27, 2026 9:43 PM
2.4K Comments
Joined Nov 2016
RectalRaptureSep 27, 2026 9:43 PM
2.4K Comments
Bestbuy told me I'd have to go in store to price match. I've been able to do it online in the past and just lie about my zip code. This time they ask the zip then said I'd have to go in store.
1

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