We’ve been hearing rumors about a potential new generation of Studio Display for a while, but 2025 came and went without an announcement. But that’s about to change, as Macworld has seen evidence of a new Studio Display with new features that will bring several notable upgrades.
New display with 120Hz and HDR
Legitimate Apple code for an internal pre-release build of iOS 26 seen by Macworld points to a new external display identified as “J527.” This codename had previously been associated with a second-generation Studio Display by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
While the existence of an imminent Studio Display upgrade is no surprise, we now finally have more details on what to expect when it comes to new features.
References in the code clearly show that this new Studio Display has a variable refresh rate that can go up to 120Hz, just like the ProMotion display on the latest MacBook Pros. The current Studio Display is limited to 60Hz.
The current Studio Display is limited to 60Hz, but the second-generation model may support 120Hz ProMotion according to internal Apple code.,
Foundry
Furthermore, the code references a “J527” monitor that also supports both SDR and HDR modes, sn upgrade from the current SDR-only model. This is a strong indication that Apple will replace the LCD panel with better technology, such as Mini-LED that can achieve higher brightness levels.
The LCD panel in the first-generation Studio Display can reach up to 600 nits of brightness, but without HDR. In contrast, the Mini-LED display in the latest MacBook Pro reaches up to 1,000 nits of sustained brightness and up to 1,600 nits for HDR content.
If Apple really goes with these leaked specs, the next Studio Display will be a huge step up in image quality compared to the current model.
A19 chip inside
Another small but interesting detail is that the new Studio Display will reportedly be powered by the A19 chip, while the current one has the A13 chip inside. Although Studio Display lacks smart features such as built-in apps, it uses its chip to handle webcam image processing and Spatial Audio.
Apple is targeting the launch of the new Studio Display sometime in 2026, possibly alongside a new M5 Mac Studio. Stay tuned to Macworld for more details.