Katarzyna Petru
Apple is preparing to return to the category of external displays for Mac computers. According to Mark Gurman from Bloomberg, the company is in the final stretch before the start of mass production of two new models, which may debut as early as 2025 or in early 2026.
This would be the first time since 2022 that Apple has refreshed its line of monitors – that year saw the launch of the Apple Studio Display.
Two models in preparation
The monitors have been internally designated with codenames J427 and J527. Gurman previously suggested that Apple is developing a successor to the Studio Display, as well as a second model that may differ in size or specification.
However, it is unclear whether this pertains to a refreshed Studio Display or a new version of the Pro Display XDR, which has not seen any updates since its launch in 2019.
Mini-LED in the new Studio Display?
Display industry analyst Ross Young mentioned at the beginning of the year that Apple is working on a 27-inch monitor with mini-LED backlighting. Such technology would significantly increase brightness and contrast compared to the current model, which uses traditional LED diodes.
In practice, this would mean something between the existing Studio Display and the more professional Pro Display XDR.
What does the current Studio Display offer?
For comparison – the current Apple Studio Display debuted in 2022 alongside the Mac Studio. It is a 27” monitor with a 5K resolution, a refresh rate of 60 Hz, and a brightness of 600 nits. It features built-in speakers, a camera, one Thunderbolt 3 port, and three USB-C ports.
The starting price in the USA is 1,599 USD – and here’s how it translates into other currencies:
Currency | Price |
|---|---|
USD | 1,599 $ |
EUR | approx. 1,490 € |
GBP | approx. 1,280 £ |
AUD | approx. 2,450 A$ |
PLN | approx. 6,750 zł |
(indicative rates, calculated based on the average currency conversions from September 2025)
When is the premiere?
According to Gurman, both new Apple monitors could hit the market at the end of 2025 or the beginning of 2026. For now, we do not know if the company will opt to update the entire line or focus on one model.
One thing is certain – the market is waiting for a refresh, as both the Studio Display and the Pro Display XDR are starting to lag behind the competition, especially in terms of backlighting technology.
