Joe Rossignol
Apple sells two external displays, including the Pro Display XDR and Studio Display, but neither has received hardware updates in years. In fact, the Pro Display XDR is almost five years old now, having launched back in December 2019.
Below, we'll recap the rumors surrounding potential next-generation Pro Display XDR and Studio Display monitors, but it doesn't look like anything's coming anytime soon.
Pro Display XDR
Launched alongside the 2019 Mac Pro, the high-end Pro Display XDR features a 32-inch LED-backlit display with 6K resolution, a 60Hz refresh rate, P3 wide color gamut, up to 1600 nits of brightness, one Thunderbolt 3 port, and three USB-C ports. In the US, the monitor still starts at $4,999, with the optional Pro Stand costing $999.
In December 2022, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman claimed that Apple was working on an updated version of the Pro Display XDR with an Apple-built silicon chip, something the current model lacks. In the Studio Display, the A13 Bionic chip powers features like Center Stage camera framing, spatial audio, and Siri voice commands. However, there have been no recent rumors of a new Pro Display XDR, so it's unclear what Apple's current plans are.
Additional features that customers are hoping to get from the next Pro Display XDR include a built-in camera, speakers, and a higher refresh rate.
Studio Display
Apple launched the Studio Display in March 2022 alongside the first Mac Studio. The monitor features a 27-inch 5K LCD screen with a 60Hz refresh rate, P3 wide color gamut, up to 600 nits of brightness, a built-in camera and speakers, one Thunderbolt 3 port, and three USB-C ports. In the US, the Studio Display still starts at $1,599, though the standard configuration is selling for $1,349 on Amazon at the time of writing.
In his December 2022 report, Gurman said that Apple is working on several new external monitors, but he didn’t specifically mention a new Studio Display. In July 2023, Gurman said that Apple's next-generation monitors might not launch until 2024, but the end of the year is only a few months away and there have been no recent rumors.
There have been on-and-off rumors that Apple is planning a new 27-inch external display with mini-LED backlighting that would allow for increased brightness and contrast. In April 2023, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that the display was scheduled to go into mass production in 2024 or early 2025. It's unclear whether this monitor will be the next Studio Display or will have different branding.
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