Apple Studio Display 2 is shaping up to be a major upgrade over the original. Code found Wednesday in iOS points to the upcoming high-end monitor getting a ProMotion screen, HDR and a much newer processor.
The new leak builds on earlier reports that the next-gen Studio Display will drop its traditional LCD in favor of a mini-LED panel.
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Apple Studio Display 2: Supercharging Apple’s pro monitor
Apple’s Studio Display is a premium 27-inch 5K monitor designed to bring the clarity, color accuracy and refinement of Apple’s all-in-one desktops to any Mac setup. Plus, it packs extras, including a 12-megapixel Center Stage camera, a high-fidelity six-speaker audio system with spatial audio, and a studio-quality three-mic array.
That said, the product launched in 2022 and is starting to show its age. An upgrade with newer technology has been expected for some time.
Code in iOS 26 references an unreleased external monitor with the code-name J527, according to MacWorld. This is apparently the Apple Studio Display 2, which is rumored for 2026.
Ultra-smooth visuals
The code reveals that the screen supports a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz, making it a ProMotion screen like so many MacBooks, iPhones and iPads utilize. That means it’ll offer smoother scrolling, swiping and animations, while general UI responsiveness will be improved.
In addition, the Apple Studio Display 2 supposedly supports High Dynamic Range, not just Standard Dynamic Range. HDR expands the range between the darkest blacks and brightest highlights a screen can show. It also supports a wider color gamut and higher peak brightness than SDR. In short, everything shown looks more lifelike and cinematic.
The 2022 model of Apple’s monitor doesn’t offer either ProMotion or HDR, and it uses a traditional LCD. The improved performance in the upcoming version will reportedly come with the move to a mini-LED panel. This type of screen uses thousands of tiny LEDs to provide backlighting for the LCD and illuminate very specific areas. The result is a higher contrast screen, with blacker blacks and improved brightness.
And a smarter chip, too
The extra features of the current Apple Studio Display come courtesy of an Apple A13 Bionic processor. Wednesday’s leak says the next-gen version will get upgraded to an A19 Pro. This chip already goes into the new iPhone 17 models.
The monitor needs a chip because it runs its own operating system based on iOS. Its camera and audio features function independently, without burdening the Mac the display is connected to. A move to the A19 should “future-proof” the product for years to come.
Making Apple Studio Display 2 a better option for pros
Despite the $1,599 price, the Apple Studio Display isn’t truly a professional-grade external monitor. That would be Apple’s Pro Display XDR, which launched in 2019 and starts at $4,999. (For more info, read our buying guide: How Apple Studio Display stacks up against Pro Display XDR and others.)
The Studio Display’s shortcomings become even more true as the 2022 model ages. It’s more for prosumers — enthusiasts or creators who want higher performance and more features than typical consumer products, but don’t need the extremely costly gear built for professionals.
If the rumors pan out, the Apple Studio Display 2 could appeal more to professionals. Most notably, the inclusion of HDR and ProMotion would help the external monitor better fit the needs of graphics pros.
That said, many creators want a display larger than 27 inches. And Apple supposedly isn’t increasing the size of the second-gen version. So perhaps it’ll stay a favorite of prosumers.
The 27-inch Apple Studio Display packs an impressive panel coupled with a six-speaker system and studio-quality microphones.
It’s not as beautiful as Apple's Pro Display XDR, but the Studio Display costs thousands less.
- Crystal clear 5K resolution
- Excellent color accuracy
- 12MP Center Stage camera
- Expensive
- Lacks HDR
- Height-adjustable stand costs extra
Ed Hardy has been writing full-time about tech for 25 years, and using it for much longer than that. His intro to Apple was a Macintosh Classic II (which he still has), but now he uses a 13-inch iPad Pro as his primary computer. He’s written for NotebookReview, TabletPCReview, and Brighthand, as well as other sites.
