Apple’s Studio Display XDR is Here: 120Hz, Mini-LED, and a Massive Leap for Creators

Apple just dropped a major update to its desktop monitor lineup. Say goodbye to the aging Pro Display XDR. In its place, we have the all-new 27-inch Studio Display XDR, alongside a refreshed standard Studio Display.

Whether you are color-grading high-res videography, arranging a dense music production session, or managing a sprawling tech blog, these monitors are built to be the centerpiece of a modern setup. With pre-orders starting today (March 4) and shipping on March 11, here is everything you need to know about these new creative powerhouses.

Studio Display XDR: The 120Hz Mini-LED Dream

The star of the show is undoubtedly the Studio Display XDR. Apple took the premium tech from their top-tier displays and packed it into a much more accessible 27-inch 5K form factor.

• Mini-LED Brilliance: It features an advanced mini-LED backlight with 2,304 local dimming zones.

• Blinding Brightness: Expect up to 1,000 nits of sustained SDR brightness and a massive 2,000 nits of peak HDR brightness.

• 120Hz ProMotion: Finally, high refresh rates come to the Apple desktop monitor. It features a 120Hz refresh rate with Adaptive Sync, shifting seamlessly from 47Hz to 120Hz depending on your content.

• True Color: It supports both P3 and Adobe RGB wide color gamuts from a single preset, offering a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio.

• The Stand is Included: Unlike the older Pro Display XDR that required a separate $1,000 stand, the Studio Display XDR starts at $3,299 and actually includes a tilt- and height-adjustable stand out of the box.

The Refreshed Standard Studio Display

While the XDR steals the spotlight, the standard Studio Display received a stealthy but significant upgrade, keeping its $1,599 starting price.

• Familiar Panel: It retains the gorgeous 27-inch 5K Retina display with 600 nits of brightness and a 60Hz refresh rate.

• Upgraded Camera: The 12MP Center Stage camera has been overhauled to improve image quality and now supports Desk View.

• Better Bass: The six-speaker sound system has been revamped to deliver 30 percent deeper bass than the previous generation.

Thunderbolt 5 Arrives

Both the standard Studio Display and the Studio Display XDR now feature Thunderbolt 5 connectivity.

• This new standard provides up to 120 Gbps of bandwidth.

• You can now daisy-chain up to four Studio Displays together for an incredible multi-monitor setup.

• The XDR model can deliver up to 140W of charging power to a host machine (enough to fast-charge a 16-inch MacBook Pro), while the standard model delivers 96W.