Apple Working on New 27-Inch Mini-LED Studio Display

[CWallace]

I know the way, I need to put one straight ahead in front of me, one on the side, but then not only my desk wasn't symmetrical anymore, my neck would hurt on one side 😅

I kept them for two weeks. The day I returned them, my neck problems were fixed.

I mount my displays on top of each other, that way I only need to slightly tilt my head up.

I own a Studio Display and love it, but my biggest gripe with it isn't the 60Hz, or lack of HDR/deep blacks — it's the dirty screen effect. People never seem to comment on that on here, but imo it's its biggest flaw. All the models that I saw in the Apple Store (and other shops) had it, as did the XDR models I looked at. I really hope they can fix this with the new panel, will be such a shame if it continues on.

Interesting, the glossy models all look beautiful to me. Could it be perhaps the displays you have seen have the optional Nanotexture coating to reduce glare?

 

[Apple_Robert]

We have been getting this rumor for several years. Not holding my breath.

 

[Realityck]

I bought a Studio Display this year during one of the times Amazon had it for a bit of a discount. I had previously debated getting a 42" OLED TV, but since I do more work than gaming the Studio Display seemed like the wiser choice.

I would love any or all of the things for an updated display to be true:

• Ability to daisy-chain 2 display to use only one connection to a Mac (I suppose this would probably require hardware with Thunderbolt 5)
• Removable power cord, magnetic connection or something like the iMac currently has?
• Have the stand be VESA compatible so that it can be easily removed or changed without having to pick a specific model at purchase
• Upgraded camera
• Ethernet port on the back (yes I know you can use USB-C adapters but I haven't had great luck getting full speed with various options)
• Have more than one size option; I know many people ask for a 32 inch 6k screen, but a 24 inch 4.5k option using the same display as the iMac would be great as a secondary screen. I currently use an LG 23.5 inch 4k Ultrafine (which was discontinued) as a secondary screen and it would be much nicer to have an Apple model to match my Studio Display.

I honestly don't care about 120Hz although it seems like a vocal percentage like to complain about that. (And if it is part of a new model they will then complain that you need hardware with Thunderbolt 5 to accommodate the bandwidth.)

A few mention a flicker sensitivity to 60 hz displays vs 120hz. Sounds weird doesn’t it as content on 4K tvs is usually only 60 hz

 

[fathergll]

Three 5K is nice, three 6K would be nicer, but for affordability, nothing like a 57" Samsung 8K2K on the market. Unfortunately, not built out of 5K panels, but cheaper than one Apple Studio Display.

I had my eye on that 57" Samsung though I bought dual 49" ultrawides stacked before it came out so I'm staying put for a bit.

I would actually like to see a better Samsung 55" Ark come out. If they could get that in 8k that might replace my current setup.

 

[CWallace]

Back in July of 2022, TFTCentral ran an article on new panels coming from BoE over the next 12-18 months and one of them was said to be a 27" 60Hz 5K miniLED panel with 2304 dimming zones and 9216 LEDs. It was said to be available in early 2023. BoE has not had a lot of luck meeting Apple's standards so I wonder if a 120Hz variant of this panel might have been used in the proposed ASD update Young said Apple cancelled in 2023.

BoE was also said to be working on a 31.5″ panel with 8K resolution and 60Hz refresh rate and "more than 5000" dimming zones for 1H 2023.

 

[John_Blackthorne]

It’s not USB-C ports, but additional vídeo inputs what is missing.

Also, it’s not a keyboard you need to change settimgs, but a Mac.

Finally, height is not adjustable unless you but the crazy expensive optional stand. So that’s 0 out of 3.

"it’s not a keyboard you need to change settimgs [sic], but a Mac."

A keyboard attached to a Mac. This is MacRumors and we're talking about running Apple devices on this display.

If you're spending over $1,000.00 on a monitor, what is another couple hundred is how I think of it.

How long do your displays last? I have an old TB display hooked up in my parent's house I still use when I visit them.

Bottom line is these Apple monitors last more than a decade. If spending $150.00 a year for 10 years or more is "too expensive," then okay.

 

[jakey rolling]

If you're spending over $1,000.00 on a monitor, what is another couple hundred is how I think of it.

Well, for starters, that "couple hundred" is a 20% premium. And that's if you're comparing the $1000 monitor at MSRP to the "couple hundred more" that is a sale price of the Apple-branded one.

 

[Asthmatic Kitty]

Interesting, the glossy models all look beautiful to me. Could it be perhaps the displays you have seen have the optional Nanotexture coating to reduce glare?

Nah, it’s not the glass itself but the display underneath. Hard to describe what the dirty screen effect looks like, it’s kind of like a cloudy sky instead of a clear sky. Most noticeable when scrolling on a page with a grey background, like daring fireball.

 

[John_Blackthorne]

Well, for starters, that "couple hundred" is a 20% premium. And that's if you're comparing the $1000 monitor at MSRP to the "couple hundred more" that is a sale price of the Apple-branded one.

I think I spent $1,500 or thereabouts for the tilt stand (not nano-texture). I know it sounds silly, but the hinge on the more expensive model? The engineering and build quality is exquisite. You can tell why they charge a premium. It's not crummy plastic.

You like what you like ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ . Money is a non-factor for me.

 

[O.N.Y.X]

No buy if it’s <120 Hz. It’s 2025 and not 2005.

 

[jakey rolling]

I think I spent $1,500 or thereabouts for the tilt stand (not nano-texture). I know it sounds silly, but the hinge on the more expensive model? The engineering and build quality is exquisite. You can tell why they charge a premium. It's not crummy plastic.

Very few stands are made of plastic. But sure, the tilt stand moves nice and smoothly for the relatively small distance that you can actually move it.

For the extra cost, you're better off getting a third-party monitor arm and VESA mounting it. A good quality monitor arm will cost less and be far more useful than the stand that comes with the monitor. Of course, if you bought an Apple monitor with a stand rather than literally anything else, a good monitor arm would be useless to you. But that's a different conversation that really shouldn't even exist in this day and age.

You like what you like ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ . Money is a non-factor for me.

I like things that work well. You like things that look like they work well. Money has nothing to do with it.

 

[PaulD-UK]

@Asthmatic Kitty "Hard to describe what the dirty screen effect looks like, it’s kind of like a cloudy sky instead of a clear sky. Most noticeable when scrolling on a page with a grey background, like daring fireball."

Not having any idea what DSE (dirty screen effect) looks like, I've just spent 20 mins trying to understand (=see) what is upsetting you.
I watched a video which helpfully said 'stop watching here because you can never unsee what is going to follow....'
I did watch, and indeed, I can't unsee it, as it's showing their screen's faults on my own screen...

But then I spent time scrolling up and down on Daring Fireball.
And I can't see anything, but equal greyness everywhere...

I tried the Eizo monitor Test Page, and the only page I can see any (very very slight) non-uniformity is the bright white and bright green pages.
But I realise on the bright blue page I can see non-uniformity, but it moves around as I move my head.
In other words, I'm seeing bright-screen fatigue in my own eyeballs...

So: I can see a very slight effect on very bright blank pages, but if there is any 'information' on the screen - like the opening test chart on the Eizo Test - everything looks pixel-pin sharp and very nice to look at, and, apparently, very uniform.

So if you are seeing DSE on your ASD, then the manufacturing and QC isn't as good as when LG manufactured my glossy 27" 5K iMac Pro screen panel, which I bought brand new-in-box in 2022, and turned into a DIY iMac 5K conversion, and have used daily since April 2023, with an M1 mini, now an M4 Pro mini.
And it also has the bonus of the choice of USB-C (+PD), DP and HDMI input ports.

The boxed screen panel cost £180 (which was a steal and non repeatable), and I spent about the same amount for hardware and bits, and £280 for the video driver board.
Also another £50 for iMac Pro speakers, to give me an on-the-cheap quasi Apple 6 speaker experience (actually there are 8 👍).
(And Apple have conveniently provided a webcam with Continuity Camera).

So the total cost to me (not counting the iPhone) for a ASD-level experience came to £690...

 

[picpicmac]

It’s not USB-C ports, but additional vídeo inputs what is missing.

Also, it’s not a keyboard you need to change settimgs, but a Mac.

Apple is not in the display business.

Repeat after me: Apple is not in the display business.

The ASD is the top half of a Mac.

That is its purpose in life.

 

[cforbesdesign]

Absolutely and spot-on. For photographers who are fussy about color and edit/process loads of image files, 120 Hz is really a mice nuts thing. It *could* be important for gamers, though.

What Apple's ASD offers with stable display profiles is far more important. I've had my ASD for around two years. Once set up (without needing a color calibrator, btw), every print I make matches what I see on the display, saving time and $$$ not wasting paper and expensive ink.

With respect to displays, apparently not having 120 Hz has become the go-to thing to be unhappy about.

O

I’m hoping this will work with older m-series macs at 60hz and then full 120 hz promotion for newer machines.

100% This. It would be great for families with multiple machines on different upgrade cycles. Makes it easier to sell to wife.

 

[chars1ub0w]

I had my eye on that 57" Samsung though I bought dual 49" ultrawides stacked before it came out so I'm staying put for a bit.

I would actually like to see a better Samsung 55" Ark come out. If they could get that in 8k that might replace my current setup.

For me, the work productivity of the curved 57" 8K2K is nice. I'm not going to wait for something from Apple. Then I can also view my panorama photos (2nd picture). Now, if there is a higher resolution version, when this plastic Samsung dies, I'd gladly move up, but I think the 57" form factor didn't become popular.

 

[arclamp]

For me, the work productivity of the curved 57" 8K2K is nice. I'm not going to wait for something from Apple. Then I can also view my panorama photos (2nd picture). Now, if there is a higher resolution version, when this plastic Samsung dies, I'd gladly move up, but I think the 57" form factor didn't become popular.View attachment 2482649
View attachment 2482650

Why are you posting AI images of curved screens? And why is the boy's shirt turned inside out? 🤔

 

[chars1ub0w]

Why are you posting AI images of curved screens? And why is the boy's shirt turned inside out? 🤔

These aren't AI images. I took these photos of my monitor at home. A 16" M1 Max 64GB RAM/4TB SSD MacBook Pro drives both sides of the monitor using HDMI cables.

As for the shirt, only my kid knows why he wants to wear the shirt inside-out, or different color socks on each foot, or different shoes on each foot...
P.S. I just asked him about the shirt, he says it's much more comfortable inside out.

 

[johnsawyercjs]

A few mention a flicker sensitivity to 60 hz displays vs 120hz. Sounds weird doesn’t it as content on 4K tvs is usually only 60 hz

The screen refresh technology used in TVs is markedly different than in computer monitors. It's designed to minimize flicker to the point of imperceptibility even at 60 Hz. Why more computer monitors don't incorporate more of these approaches, I don't know. The details are better explained than I can remember, by ChatGPT:

1. Different Pixel Refresh Methods (Sample-and-Hold vs. Pulse-Based)

• Most modern TVs use “sample-and-hold” displays, meaning each frame stays on screen until the next one replaces it.

• Some monitors, especially older ones, use pulse-based (strobed) backlighting or other techniques that can make flicker more noticeable.

• Monitors often have lower display persistence, making flickering more perceptible during rapid eye movements.

2. Motion Processing & Frame Interpolation in TVs

• Many TVs process motion differently than monitors.

• Some 60Hz TVs use motion interpolation (“soap opera effect”), adding artificial frames to smooth out motion.

• Even if interpolation is off, TVs often use a form of black-frame insertion (BFI) or backlight scanning to reduce motion blur, which can hide flicker effects.

3. Backlight Differences (PWM vs. Constant Backlight)

• Monitors often use PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation) dimming, which rapidly turns the backlight on and off to control brightness.

• Lower PWM frequencies can create noticeable flicker, especially at lower brightness levels.

• TVs typically use constant backlighting or high-frequency PWM, making flicker much less noticeable.

4. Viewing Distance & Perception

• TVs are viewed from a farther distance, which naturally reduces the perception of flicker.

• Computer monitors are viewed up close, meaning subtle flicker effects are more noticeable to our eyes.

• Peripheral vision is more sensitive to flicker—since monitors fill more of our close-up vision, they can appear to flicker more than TVs.

5. Scrolling vs. Panning Differences

• On a computer monitor, rapid scrolling through text or UI elements can create a noticeable strobing effect due to frame persistence and refresh rate limitations.

• TVs don’t typically display fast-moving UI elements like a computer screen does (text is usually static, and most content is smooth-motion video).

6. OLED & Other Panel Technologies

• OLED TVs refresh differently than traditional LCD monitors, as each pixel emits its own light and doesn’t require a backlight.

• Some gaming monitors and high-end TVs use variable refresh rates (VRR), helping reduce perceived flicker.

 

[arclamp]

These aren't AI images. I took these photos of my monitor at home. A 16" M1 Max 64GB RAM/4TB SSD MacBook Pro drives both sides of the monitor using HDMI cables.

As for the shirt, only my kid knows why he wants to wear the shirt inside-out, or different color socks on each foot, or different shoes on each foot...
P.S. I just asked him about the shirt, he says it's much more comfortable inside out.

Okay, both photos seem a bit strange though. In the top one, it's the colours. Is there a filter on it? In the second one, something in the lower right area is not quite right.

 

[chars1ub0w]

Okay, both photos seem a bit strange though. In the top one, it's the colours. Is there a filter on it? In the second one, something in the lower right area is not quite right.

Top one.

Okay, both photos seem a bit strange though. In the top one, it's the colours. Is there a filter on it? In the second one, something in the lower right area is not quite right.

I inverted part of the first picture so people can see the Z gauge railway I’m running on my desk. 2nd one, yes you are observant, I lightly scrubbed something from view on the right.

 

[pacalis]

Because Apple was not, and is not, in the display business.

That apparently is not clear to some people.

Ya, weird because they probably sell more displays than anyone on the planet - displays in their watch, iphones, ipads, macbooks and iMacs.

They are just so stupid about hitting margins on a per product basis that they let their internal metrics completely drive their product strategy without any big picture realization that there is a massive gap in their product offerings.

 

[pacalis]

Oh, and lets be serious, how could they not hit a 50% margin on a purple or blue or pink 27", 4K monitors.

You can buy ugly ones from Dell for $250, and I'd easily pay $500 for multiple pretty ones.

And lots not lose track apple sells a lot of products that would generate less revenue than 4K monitors like homepods, vision pros and studio diplays.

 

[Kier-XF]

The current ASD badly needs an update - the webcam is criminally poor, compared even to its contemporary low-end iPhone, and the lack of a downstream Thunderbolt port (or even better, a hub) is frankly ridiculous when it only uses 9Gbps of bandwidth for the display itself due to DSC.

I'd like to see a 27 inch panel with proper HDR (mini LED display), 120Hz and at least one downstream Thunderbolt 4 port so that another display can be daisy-chained to the same port on the Mac (which supports two DisplayPort channels per port). This would easily fit within the Thunderbolt 4 specifications.

 

[pacalis]

.