Apple's 'Cheese Grater' Mac Pro Discontinued, Signaling End of an Era for High-End Workstations

Apple has quietly removed the Mac Pro from its online store, effectively discontinuing its most expensive and expandable desktop computer. The move, first reported by 9to5Mac, marks the apparent end for the iconic 'cheese grater' workstation, a product that had become an awkward holdover in Apple's lineup since the company's full transition to its own M-series silicon.

The Mac Pro had been a flagship product since 2006, originally replacing the Power Mac G5 during Apple's shift to Intel processors. Its identity became uncertain after Apple abandoned Intel for its custom Arm-based chips. The final model, an M2 Ultra edition launched just three years ago, was pitched by Apple hardware executive John Ternus as the solution for professionals needing internal PCIe expansion. However, its limited upgrade path compared to the Intel-era models left it feeling like a vestigial product.

This discontinuation signals a definitive closure for users who relied on the Mac Pro's unique internal hardware expansion capabilities. It consolidates Apple's pro desktop strategy entirely around the Mac Studio and the more modular yet less internally expandable Apple Silicon architecture. The move pressures high-end creative and scientific professionals to adapt to Apple's new ecosystem, where raw power is prioritized over traditional, user-serviceable internal hardware slots.