Two More Studio Display 2 Upgrades Leaked In New Report
MacworldFilipe Espósito today also reported that Apple seems to be making two new models of Studio Display with different specifications.
Based on lines of code in “internal Apple files,” which may refer to the MacOS Tahoe Kernel Debug Kit leaked online last year, Espósito continues to believe that both Studio Display models will feature ProMotion, which enables a 120Hz refresh rate, as well as HDR support for more brightness and dynamic range.
With the high-end Studio show, the report revealed two other possible improvements that have been rumored so far, including higher speakers and more and/or higher ports. Apple says the current Studio Display has a “reliable six-speaker system” that supports Spatial Audio, and the monitor has one Thunderbolt 3 port for connecting and charging a Mac, and three USB-C ports for connecting accessories.
The new Studio Display will likely include at least one Thunderbolt 5 port, ensuring there is enough bandwidth for both 5K resolution at 120Hz and other devices. However, one leaker speculated that at least one of the new Studio Display models will be outputting 90Hz, so we’ll have to see which of these rumors is accurate. The current 60Hz refresh rate boost can make videos and scrolling look smoother on the eyes.
Espósito said the high-end Studio Display could have a 32-inch screen, while the low-end model could stick to a 27-inch screen. However, this claim was just speculation, rather than information from Apple’s internal files. Remember that with a 32-inch screen, the resolution of 5K would not be Retina quality, so the resolution would have to be increased to 6K as in Apple’s Pro Display XDR high-end.
Display industry expert Ross Young previously said that at least one new Studio Display will feature mini-LED lighting. If so, perhaps Apple will choose to ditch its Pro Display XDR with a full LED lighting system and instead offer both a low-end and a high-end Studio display configuration. But again, this is just speculation.
Another previously rumored feature of at least one Studio Display model is the A19 or A19 Pro chip, which moves up from the A13 Bionic chip in the current model. This can result in improved performance, camera enhancements, and more.
Overall, the full set of Studio Display upgrades may include a higher refresh rate of 120Hz, HDR support for increased contrast and contrast ratio, improved speakers, Thunderbolt 5 support, mini-LED lighting, a new A19 or A19 Pro processor chip and camera improvements, and hopefully a larger 32-inch screen.
No major design changes are expected.
Apple is reportedly planning to release new Studio Display models in the first half of 2026. The current Studio display launched in March 2022, around the same time as the original Mac Studio, so there has been a long wait for an update. With the appearance of Apple’s new monitor on the regulatory website last month, the launch should finally be near.
