Apple’s Studio Display hasn’t been updated for a while and the company didn’t need to, as the monitor was and is an excellent complementary machine for all lower-end and high-end Macs. However, it appears that the company has an upgrade planned for users, more importantly, professionals and editors.
Apple’s Next Studio Display 2 Becomes A True Pro Level External Monitor With Major Upgrades
According to Macworld, the company is testing a refreshed model with 120Hz ProMotion, full HDR support, and a new A19 chip to power smarter processing across the entire display experience. The leak was discovered in internal code, and such leaks are potentially accurate, which gives more heft to the story.
Key Expected Upgrades That You Should Look Forward To
- 120Hz ProMotion display for smoother macOS interaction
- HDR support for deeper contrast and brighter highlights
- A19 chip replacing the A13 for stronger processing
- Possible panel improvements based on HDR requirements
- Smarter onboard tuning for video, audio, and dynamic refresh
Apple Finally Plans A Modern Display Experience
The original Studio Display was a solid product when it comes to design but fell a little behind competitors because it lacked support for HDR and only had a 60Hz panel. Macworld reports that Apple is now planning to fix these weaknesses with a more advanced panel and ProMotion support, giving it all the essentials that a high end monitor requires.
Ultimately, macOS would feel noticeably smoother during everyday use and offer a more responsive experience across animations and motion heavy tasks. Games on the monitor would also look more responsive with the panel able to handle higher refresh rates. General scrolling on the display would also be more responsive and smooth compared to the current generation Studio Display.
HDR Support Suggests A Serious Panel Upgrade
Macworld notes that Apple is preparing full HDR support, which requires higher brightness levels and deeper contrast than LCD panels can offer. This feature alone suggests a move to improved panel technology, possibly mini-LED or a redesigned backlight system. If the news has any heft to it, the next model will produce a much richer and more dynamic viewing experience for creative work and entertainment.
A19 Chip Onboard For Smarter Processing
The expected jump from the A13 to an A19 chip represents more than a routine refresh, as the upgraded chip will boost internal processing for camera features, enhanced audio tuning, and support for smoother adjustment of dynamic refresh rates. It also positions the display to receive more meaningful software improvements in the future, something the first model struggled to deliver effectively.
Good, But Not A Replacement For The Pro Display XDR
While the Studio Display 2 is not expected to replace the Pro Display XDR, the rumored upgrades would narrow the gap in everyday use. ProMotion and HDR would bring smoother motion and improved contrast, two areas where the Pro Display XDR still leads with higher brightness and mini-LED precision. The difference would remain in extreme brightness, reference level accuracy, and professional mastering tasks.
Why These Upgrades Matter For Mac Users
If Apple does deliver the rumored features, the Studio Display 2 becomes a much more capable external monitor instead of a basic companion screen. ProMotion brings fluid motion, HDR boosts color depth and highlights, and the A19 chip enables smarter processing. It remains to be seen if Apple goes ahead with the new features and decides to offer design tweaks, which are highly unlikely.
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