Apple currently offers two external displays, including the Studio Display and the Pro Display XDR, but neither has received hardware upgrades in years.
Will there be a next-generation Studio Display or Pro Display XDR any time soon? Below, we recap the latest rumors about the monitors.
Studio Display
Apple released the Studio Display in March 2022 alongside the first Mac Studio. The monitor features a 27-inch LCD screen with 5K resolution, a 60Hz refresh rate, P3 wide color, up to 600 nits brightness, a built-in camera and speakers, one Thunderbolt 3 port, and three USB-C ports. In the U.S., the Studio Display continues to start at $1,599.
There haven't been any specific rumors about a new Studio Display. A few years ago, however, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple was working on multiple new external monitors. At the time, he said at least one of these monitors could double as a smart home hub, but it is unclear if he was referring to a new Studio Display.
In July 2023, Gurman said Apple's next-generation monitors would launch in 2024 at the very earliest. There are still a few months left in the year, but there have not been any recent rumors about the Studio Display or Pro Display XDR.
There have been on-again, off-again rumors about Apple planning a new 27-inch external display with mini-LED backlighting, which would allow for increased brightness and higher contrast ratio. In April 2023, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the display was slated for mass production in 2024 or early 2025. It is unclear if this monitor would be the next Studio Display, or if it would have different branding.
Pro Display XDR
Released in December 2019, the high-end Pro Display XDR features a 32-inch screen with LED backlighting, 6K resolution, a 60Hz refresh rate, P3 wide color, up to 1,600 nits of brightness, one Thunderbolt 3 port, and three USB-C ports. In the U.S., the monitor still starts at $4,999, while the optional Pro Stand costs $999 extra.
Gurman said one of the new external monitors that Apple was working on was an updated version of the Pro Display XDR with an Apple silicon chip, something the current model lacks. In the Studio Display, an A13 Bionic chip powers features such as Center Stage camera framing, spatial audio, and Siri voice commands.
While no other features have been rumored yet, some additions that customers are hoping for include a camera, speakers, and a higher refresh rate.
The current Pro Display XDR will turn five years old later this year.
