Aside from the launch of the sky blue M4-powered MacBook Air, this week’s flurry of Apple announcements saw the introduction of the most powerful Apple silicon desktop processor yet. Given Apple’s numbering scheme for its own chipsets, you’d think that would be one with an M4 label attached, but it’s actually the M3 Ultra, which will power the newest Mac Studio.

Since Apple started releasing its own chipsets with the M designation, we’ve seen a variety of different labels attached. First came the standard processor, then the Pro, then the Max, and then the Ultra, with performance improving with each iteration. We’re now up to the M4 Max and the M3 Ultra.

When preordering directly from Apple, you can fit the latest Mac Studio with either the M4 Max or the M3 Ultra, but the latter’s superior capabilities are evident in the pricing: The starting price of an M3 Ultra Mac Studio is double that of an M4 Max Mac Studio.

The M3 Ultra is available in the new Mac Studio.
Credit: Apple

Here’s what’s going on: As with previous generation chipsets with the Ultra moniker, the M3 Ultra is essentially two M3 Max processors fused together and appearing as one, using a technique Apple calls UltraFusion. You’re basically getting twice the performance: This piece of silicon features an incredible 184 billion transistors.

So many cores

Here are some more stats: The M3 Ultra offers up to 32 CPU cores (compared to 24 on its most comparable predecessor, the M2 Ultra. It sports up to 80 CPU cores (compared to 76 on the M2 Ultra), 32 neural cores (the same as the M2 Ultra), support for up to 512GB of memory (compared to 192GB on the M2 Ultra), and up to 819GB/s of memory bandwidth (compared to 800GB/s). Overall, performance is around 1.5x of the Apple M2 Ultra.

While the M2 Ultra chipset is the direct forebear to the M3 Ultra, if you’re buying a Mac Studio, you’ll be choosing between the M3 Ultra to the M4 Max—the latter being the processor that launched last year with the refreshed MacBook Pros. The M4 Max gives you up to 16 CPU cores, up to 40 GPU cores, 16 neural cores, support for up to 128GB of memory, and up to 546GB/s of memory bandwidth.

One of the benefits of the M3 Ultra supporting so much RAM—more than half a terabyte—is that users can run more powerful AI models locally, on their own machines. A Mac Studio with an M3 Ultra inside should have enough oomph to run something like DeepSeek R1 locally, without having to connect to servers in China.

Apple’s two latest chipsets, compared.
Credit: Apple

The M3 Ultra also comes with a Thunderbolt 5 upgrade, doubling the maximum data transfer rates from Thunderbolt 4, up to 120Gb/s. This means you can even link multiple Mac Studios together (if you’ve got the budget for them), while the display engine on the M3 Ultra is capable of driving more than 160 million pixels—the equivalent of eight Pro Display XDRs.

“M3 Ultra is the pinnacle of our scalable system-on-a-chip architecture, aimed specifically at users who run the most heavily threaded and bandwidth-intensive applications,” says Johny Srouji, a senior vice president of hardware technologies at Apple.

And what of the M4 Ultra? Apple hasn’t said anything about it yet, but intimated to Ars Technica that it might not add an Ultra model this time around. That would make the M4 series the first to go without an Ultra variant, but as these super-powerful, super-expensive chipsets are only of interest to those with the most demanding needs and the deepest pockets, less frequent launches may be the most logical course of action.

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If you need an extra set of eyes at home without spending a lot, the TP-Link Kasa KC410S indoor security camera is currently down to $26.99 from its usual $44.99.

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You can swivel the KC410S 360 degrees horizontally and 113 degrees vertically for full-room coverage and motion tracking (though its pan and tilt controls can reportedly feel a bit jerky at times). As for its video quality, it delivers clear 2K footage during the day, with vibrant colors and good detail, but its nighttime performance depends on ambient light—if there isn’t enough, its Starlight sensor struggles, leaving the image dark and washed out. That said, according to this PCMag review, its black-and-white infrared night vision is crisp and well-lit.

The KC410S also has sound and motion alerts, pushing notifications to your phone when it detects movement or a loud noise (intelligently differentiating between people and general motion, so you’re not getting spammed with alerts every time the AC kicks on). However, if you want to store video recordings, you’ll need to buy a microSD card (up to 256GB) or subscribe to Kasa Care. The Plus plan costs $3 per month for a single camera and gives you 30 days of video history, manual clip recording, and activity notifications with screenshots. If you have multiple cameras, the Premium plan, at $10 per month, supports up to 10 cameras and unlocks all features. Inserting a microSD card also lets you keep the camera running 24/7, regardless of motion or sound detection, if you prefer a continuous recording mode,

The Kasa Smart app gives you full control over the camera, letting you view live footage, talk through the built-in mic, adjust motion sensitivity, enable night vision, and set patrol routes, among others. It integrates seamlessly with other TP-Link Kasa smart devices but doesn’t support Apple HomeKit. It does, however, work with Alexa and Google Assistant, so voice commands are still on the table. For a slightly higher price, the eufy Security Indoor Cam E220 ($34.99, down from $54.99) offers another solid indoor security camera with a high-res option.

Tax season can reduce even the most organized individuals to stressed-out procrastinators. And if you’re anything like me, you’re not exactly the most organized individual in the first place. The complexity of gathering documents, understanding deductions, and meeting deadlines creates anxiety that many of us dread each year. But with a well-designed tax preparation checklist, I’ve been able to turn my taxes into a manageable (maybe even even satisfying?) task well before the April 15 deadline. Here’s how you can, too.

A tax preparation checklist serves as your personalized roadmap through the filing process. Luckily, I’ve create this template to get you started. It includes sections for personal information, income documentation, deductions and credits, a tax preparation timeline, and a final verification check-list. All you need to do is to download it or make a copy in Google Docs for your own use. Here’s how to make the most of this checklist, or build your own from scratch.

Gather personal information

Start with the basics. Your checklist should include spaces to confirm you have:

• Social Security numbers for yourself, spouse, and dependents

• Birth dates for all dependents

• Last year’s tax return (helpful for reference)

• Bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit

Identify your income sources

List all potential income sources to ensure nothing gets missed:

• W-2 forms from employers

• 1099 forms for self-employment, investments, etc.

• Income records from gig work or side hustles

• Alimony received

• Rental property income

• Social Security benefits

• Unemployment compensation

Document potential deductions

This section often represents the biggest opportunity for tax savings:

• Homeownership documents (mortgage interest, property taxes)

• Educational expenses (tuition, student loan interest)

• Medical expenses exceeding threshold amounts

• Charitable donations with receipts

• Business expenses for self-employed individuals

• Retirement contributions

• Childcare expenses

Organize by timeline

Structure your checklist with time-based sections:

• January: Collect arriving tax documents (W-2s, 1099s).

• February: Organize receipts and deduction documentation.

• March: Schedule appointment with tax professional or prepare software.

• April: Complete final review and file.

Include verification steps

Add verification checkpoints to ensure accuracy:

• Compare this year’s return to last year’s for consistency.

• Double-check math and entries.

• Verify all Social Security numbers.

• Confirm all required forms are signed.

• Make copies of everything for your records.

Making the most of your tax prep checklist

While the template provides a comprehensive starting point, your personal tax situation may require additional items. Customize your checklist so that it suits your tax needs. Review last year’s return to identify recurring items specific to your finances.

Digital vs. physical organization

Choose the system that works best for you:

• Digital: Use a spreadsheet, note-taking app, or dedicated tax software.

• Physical: Create a folder system with labeled sections for each category.

• Hybrid: Scan physical documents and organize them in digital folders.

Begin early

The biggest tax preparation mistake is waiting until the last minute. Begin organizing as soon as all your documents first arrive, and you’ll avoid the mid-April stress entirely.

Review and improve annually

After filing, take a few minutes to note what worked well and what didn’t. Add a “Notes for Next Year” section to your checklist to remember adjustments needed for the coming tax season.

The bottom line

A personalized tax preparation checklist transforms tax filing from a dreaded chore into a methodical process. By breaking down the complex task into manageable steps, you’ll not only reduce stress, but potentially identify additional deductions you might otherwise miss.

Again, here’s my downloadable template for you. Feel free to add or remove items based on your financial circumstances and filing requirements. With this system in place, you’ll be able to approach tax season with confidence rather than anxiety.