Apple's recently launched creative application subscription package Apple Creator Studio has sparked widespread discussion among professional users, especially regarding the debate over whether the buyout version and the subscription version of Final Cut Pro are functionally equivalent. In response, Apple marketing manager Brian O'Neil Hughes made a positive statement in an interview, clarifying the support policies for AI features across different versions.

Hughes confirmed that the Mac version of Final Cut Pro will continue to offer a buyout option at 299.99 USD, and promised that the current intelligent core functions—such as visual search, transcribed text search, and beat detection—will be fully available to buyout users. However, he also clearly stated that buyout users may not be able to access all "premium content" from the Apple Creator Studio subscription service in the future, and Apple no longer guarantees that all new AI features will be fully available to buyout users in the future.

On the mobile side, Apple's strategy is more stringent. Starting from January 28, the iPad platform will eliminate the single-app subscription option, and new users must purchase a subscription package that includes all audio, video, and image tools to use Final Cut Pro. Additionally, even some currently free applications such as Keynote will transition to a "freemium" model with advanced templates and certain smart features exclusive to subscribers in the future.

In contrast, users of the audio software Logic Pro have a more favorable situation. Apple has promised that the buyout and subscription versions will maintain completely consistent functionality. However, in the fields of video and image processing, Apple is guiding professional creators toward its new subscription ecosystem through this "feature tiering" hybrid model.

Key points:

  • ⚖️ Function Concerns: Although the current buyout version of Final Cut Pro includes the latest AI features, Apple states that it does not guarantee that the buyout version and subscription version will remain 100% functionally equivalent in the future.

  • 📦 Strong Bundling: iPad users will fully implement the Apple Creator Studio bundle starting January 28, and no longer offer individual subscriptions for video applications.

  • 📉 Model Transition: Several applications, including Keynote and Pages, are moving towards a "freemium" model, with advanced templates and future AI features becoming exclusive benefits for subscribers.