Apple has quietly revised the specifications of its new Mac Studio, removing references to PCIe 6.0 from promotional and press materials following what appears to have been an inaccurate technical claim.
Apple typically highlights the latest technologies and advanced specifications when introducing new products. However, in the case of the new Mac Studio, the company has moved to correct a specification included in its original launch material.
According to reports first spotted by MacGeneration, references to PCIe Gen 6 have been removed from press releases relating to the new M5 Ultra Mac Studio. Earlier versions stated that the device’s high-speed storage was powered by PCIe 6.0, while the updated material now refers more generally to a “next-generation SSD architecture.”
The correction has appeared in the English-language version of Apple’s press release, although the French version reportedly still contains a reference to “PCIe Gen 6.”
Apple has not officially confirmed which PCIe specification is used in the new Mac Studio. One possibility is PCIe 5.0, which is also believed to be used in the M5 Max MacBook Pro.
While some observers may speculate that Apple removed the reference to avoid disclosing previously unannounced technology, the more likely explanation appears to be a mistake in the original promotional material. Apple would have little reason to conceal the use of PCIe 6.0 if the technology were genuinely included in the device.
The error may simply have resulted from incorrect information being provided during the preparation of the press materials or from a typographical mistake.
The Promise of PCIe 6.0
The PCIe 6.0 standard was announced in June 2019, several months after PCIe 5.0 was ratified. The standard was designed to deliver transfer speeds of up to 64 gigatransfers per second, double the capability of PCIe 5.0 and four times that of PCIe 4.0.
Although Apple has consistently adopted newer technologies across its hardware lineup, it has yet to officially introduce PCIe 6.0 support in its products.
The 2023 Mac Pro, for example, supports fourth-generation PCIe expansion cards, according to Apple’s technical documentation. Meanwhile, the M5 Max MacBook Pro is believed to achieve its high transfer speeds through PCIe 5.0, although Apple has not officially confirmed the specific standard used in that model.