Mac Studio 32 or 48 RAM?

[Nick5]

Will be purchasing a new computer in 2026.
I will purchase a Mac Studio with 2TB, as it has more ports compared to the Mac Mini along with two Studio Displays to eliminate hauling my 27” 2019 Intel Fusion Drive iMac which has 32 GB RAM, to both of our homes which is a three hour drive. And of course less wear and tear on me.
The base model has 32 RAM along with 14 core
The next step up has 48 GB RAM with 16 core.
Is it worth the extra $500 or is the base 32 more than enough as I use LrC and Photoshop for Photography only. No video or gaming.
I also Merge to HDR Frequently for interior Architectural work using Canon 5D Mark IV RAW files.
The iMac is still going strong however not sure if I will be to upgrade to Tahoe.
Thank you so much.

 

[3Rotor]

I would personally go the extra $500 route for a bump up in CPU, GPU and RAM. I am sure the base model will be fine but extra RAM does come in handy.

 

[tony-s]

I have the Studio 48 and it is overkill for photo-only work.

 

[theAngryMarmot]

You have to ask yourself how long you plan on using the computer. If the answer is “long term” (in computer years) then I would spend the extra. You are getting more than just ram as well, as the core count is higher. With more and more photo suites and software implementing locally ran “Ai” it would be advantageous.

 

[KD_Reno]

The Apple website shows a $300 cost for the chip upgrade. As others have mentioned, that includes more CPU and GPU cores as well. The base model will be a big upgrade compared to a 2029 Intel Mac, and is plenty good for now. The 16/40 chip will become useful as software gets more AI based.

The better place to save money is to go with 1TB of storage. You can get a Thunderbolt enclosure and a 4TB SSD for not much more than Apple charges for an extra 1TB.