from Hacker News

Apple Studio Display and Studio Display XDR

by victorbjorklund on 3/3/26, 2:00 PM with 311 comments

  • by densh on 3/3/26, 2:37 PM

    I might be the only one, but it's still to this date (and dating all the way back to 2014 with the first iMac 5k display) Apple is the only company that truly gets HIDPI desktop displays with high quality gloss and 200+ ppi at screen this large. In the meantime popular and widely sold gaming screens with matte blur filters and mediocre ppi give me headache and eye fatigue after a few hours of use. Prior generation Studio Display is the only external display that truly worked for text heavy work with my eyes (including software engineering), and I'm sure the latest generation is fantastic as well.

  • by anon7000 on 3/3/26, 5:42 PM

    So the $1600 Studio Display does not have 120hz.

    Here’s some monitors you can buy at that price point:

    - 6k 32” monitor (similar PPI) (Acer PE320QX)

    - most high-end 4k displays (even OLEDs) with 144hz+ refresh rate

    32” 4k isn’t great PPI, but it’s still fine PPI, at a reasonable distance. Double the refresh rate is a much more noticeable improvement to me than 40% better pixel density, at a distance where retina matters a bit less than laptops & handhelds. And you can get that for less than half the cost

    Plus, you can get it with multiple outputs & KVM to switch between MacBook & PC. And still run it off a single USB C cable.

  • by data-ottawa on 3/3/26, 6:59 PM

    I was hoping for OLED or dual-OLED based monitors, especially for this price point but I’d want this slightly lower than the XDR price. Sequoia+Tahoe seems like they’ve been laying the groundwork for OLED macs — removing the menu bar background and making text dynamically change colour, moving/cycling backgrounds, liquid glass reducing the effect of static UI elements, etc.

    I personally wouldn’t buy a new LCD based display anymore at this price. There are flaws inherent to the technology that affect all of my recent Apple displays (Studio Display, M1 Pro iPad, M1 Pro MPB, M4 Pro MPB). After using OLED TVs and OLED iPhones for years, it’s very difficult to look past LCD’s issues (edge yellowing+dimming specifically affects all my Apple screens more than I am happy with).

    There are no reviews/studies on long-term aging of Apple’s LCD displays, so all of this should be taken with a grain of salt, maybe my devices are just unlucky.

    I don’t know if the Pro XDR line is better or how that would carry over to the Studio XDR. I haven’t seen many complains about the Pro XDR, but the Studio Display form factor has a different cooling design which would affect longevity.

    I will say I can never go back from retina resolution text, and that alone has made the experience of Studio Display good. If we could get OLED it would be perfection. I think I would have to see the XDR in practice to be convinced, but 120hz requiring a whole new computer does make it a non-starter for me.

  • by desideratum on 3/3/26, 2:46 PM

    It's mind-boggling that Apple is considering the base 27 inch Studio Display with the same 4 year old panel, but with some new accessories slapped on an "upgrade".

  • by thiagoperes on 3/3/26, 2:23 PM

    I got the Kuycon G32P and it’s an incredible alternative. 32in + 6K for less than 2k$

    Also works great with other sources like an Xbox

    I used a Pro Display XDR as my daily driver at work and the difference is minimal

  • by microtonal on 3/3/26, 2:21 PM

    Pretty lame that the Studio Display with a height-adjustable stand is still 400 Euro more. My biggest regret is getting my Gen 1 Studio Display without.

    Also the non-XDR is only a small upgrade otherwise, no 120Hz, no HDR, only Thunderbolt 5 and a new camera. Finally a downstream Thunderbolt port though.

    This is all after 4 years?

  • by lifty on 3/3/26, 4:30 PM

    So it seems the new Studio Display XDR is the only display on the market that offers:

    - 5k resolution at HIDPI (27inch)

    - 120hz refresh rate

    - TB5 and single cable connectivity.

    There are a couple of other HIDPI displays at 5k with 120hz refresh rate but they don't do TB5.

  • by testfrequency on 3/3/26, 2:47 PM

    I’ve owned my nano-textured XDR since launch (with the stand), and I love it.

    As the years have gone, the only upgrade I wished to have was 120 refresh for some very limited design work - but 120 really is still not widely adopted in most places anywhere, so it’s really a non-issue for me.

    The new XDR is smaller, has a less ergo stand, and also loses the beautiful lattice etchings on the rear which I often admire.

    The XDR was overdue for a refresh, it’s nice the price dropped some, but I won’t be upgrading for now.

  • by ErneX on 3/3/26, 2:39 PM

    I was hoping for a 6k 32inch model.

    But even so, these 2 new monitors still don’t support multiple inputs.

  • by agys on 3/3/26, 2:46 PM

    Too small… I got used to my 4K Philips OLED 42" that I hung directly on the wall in front of my desk (no stand at all)… USB-C cable also charges the MacBook. This size is so good to work with; so much screen estate.

  • by tiffanyh on 3/3/26, 2:50 PM

    So Apple essentially introduce a new (middle) price point in their displays:

      $1,500  Studio Display
  $3,300  Studio Display XDR  <-- NEW
  $6,000  Pro Display         <-- DISCONTINUED ???
    Apple is amazing at "laddering" people up to the next higher tier.

    EDIT: It appears the Pro Display has been discontinued.

  • by WilcoKruijer on 3/3/26, 2:51 PM

    > Studio Display XDR replaces Pro Display XDR

    How does a 5k display replace a 6k display? Are they giving up on 6k? Disappointing.

  • by sq_ on 3/3/26, 2:17 PM

    I was curious to see the "Innovative DICOM Medical Imaging" section. I wouldn't have thought that Apple would be interested in niche applications like viewing radiology imaging, but I guess they're probably interested in any cost-insensitive market for these since they're so expensive.

  • by alexarena on 3/3/26, 2:32 PM

    Sad, but not surprising to see Apple discontinue the Pro Display XDR. Hard to go back to 5K once you’ve used 6K.

  • by earthnail on 3/3/26, 4:01 PM

    The only monitor on the market of this size and resolution that I am aware of that has really high brightness and works well when I work outside on the terrace.

    Really glad Apple is building it.

  • by amluto on 3/3/26, 3:28 PM

    > Featuring extensive connectivity to support a variety of workflows, Studio Display XDR includes two Thunderbolt 5 ports and two USB-C ports.

    That is not extensive connectivity. That’s the bare minimum one might credibly expect.

    If I were to consider buying a display like this, I would want at least two and preferably more inputs and at least a DisplayPort input. Not everything in the world is USB-C, especially when discrete GPUs are involved.

  • by bsimpson on 3/3/26, 7:05 PM

    As long as we're here:

    What are people's current favorites for a 5K 27" screen that doesn't cost as much as a whole damned computer?

  • by laksmanv on 3/3/26, 5:07 PM

    Is buying a used 32" XDR worth it if we want a 32" apple display? or is the tech not as good now?

  • by jpsimons on 3/3/26, 8:29 PM

    I keep hoping someone will release a nice monitor that’s monitor shaped (16:10) instead of TV shaped (16:9). That’s part of why early 2000s Cinema Displays are so great. Not to mention the last great Mac laptop before it all went south — the 2015 MBP

  • by SirMaster on 3/3/26, 2:51 PM

    Really, a $3300 Mini-LED display in 2026?

  • by t1234s on 3/3/26, 4:12 PM

    This looks like a new iMac Pro minus the computer. Its a shame they don't have anything where you can just dock your iPhone Pro to one of these to run macOS.

  • by csjr on 3/4/26, 12:21 AM

    May be an overkill but is anyone using it for coding? How is the experience so far?

  • by bdcravens on 3/3/26, 8:30 PM

    I may (think that I) have a 29 year old mind, but my eyes are at least their true 49 years of age, so I don't feel like I could do anything less than a 32 inch monitor, especially if I'm paying a premium.

  • by maytc on 3/4/26, 12:36 AM

    Was hoping to upgrade from my 2017 iMac and this new studio display is quite a bummer. 9 years later and it's basically the same display spec. (500 nits spec bump to 600 nits)

  • by detourdog on 3/3/26, 3:13 PM

    I just tried to look up the power usage for XDR and they only list voltage no amps or watts.

    Did I miss something

  • by maz1b on 3/3/26, 9:14 PM

    I really can't believe they discontinued the Pro Display XDR.. what is wrong with them? A company the size of Apple, surely must have the resources to update it every couple of years.

  • by dcchambers on 3/3/26, 7:56 PM

    A $1600 60hz display in 2026 just feels extortionate.

    The Studio Display XDR seems nice, but I wish they would have kept a 32" option.

  • by lastofthemojito on 3/3/26, 10:21 PM

    As sort of a tangent, am I the only one who has had bad experiences doing what the woman in the press release is doing? Ya know, touching the laptop while it's connected to external devices via Thunderbolt and/or USB-C.

    Sure, most of the time the cable seems secure enough to maintain connection when I accidentally nudge the laptop. But every once in a while, when I slightly shift the laptop here or there, flicker and everything goes batshit. The monitor loses connection, so maybe (depending on config) the laptop screen changes resolution and then eventually reconnects and flickers and changes back. Or the network drops out (if I'm connected to Ethernet over Thunderbolt). Or a program freaks out because the drive it was using disappeared. Or the laptop really freaks out and kernel panics.

    Like I said, it doesn't happen a ton, but it's happened a handful of times over the years, just enough that now I always use an external mouse and keyboard with a docked laptop to avoid such nonsense.

  • by sberens on 3/3/26, 7:44 PM

    As someone who likes bright monitors, I'm excited to try the 2000 nit peak brightness! Are there any comparable monitors to the XDR brightness wise?

  • by als0 on 3/3/26, 10:24 PM

    Since the base model is still 60Hz, I'm struggling to pick between the base model or a Kuycon G32P. Can anyone on here help?

  • by QuiEgo on 3/4/26, 12:35 AM

    Oddly thankful my current Studio Display doesn’t feel left behind by this upgrade and thus I feel no need to upgrade

  • by mark_l_watson on 3/3/26, 2:38 PM

    wow, the prices have come down. I inherited the old Pro XDR display when my father passed away a couple of years ago: I think he paid $6K for the display and another $1K for the stand.

    Off topic, but Apple seems to be dropping hardware costs / capability - relying more in subscription, app store, and cloud now? On an impulse buy, I bought the entry level MacBook Air at Best Buy about two months ago because it was $200 off list price. Amazingly capable laptop for $800.

  • by lgleason on 3/3/26, 5:34 PM

    For that base display, it is essentially the same as the previous monitor with the addition of Thunderbolt 5.

  • by duxup on 3/3/26, 4:49 PM

    I wish it came in an ultrawide format.

  • by sbszllr on 3/3/26, 3:42 PM

    Daisy chaining finally supported.

  • by 827a on 3/3/26, 3:16 PM

    > Studio Display XDR replaces Pro Display XDR and starts at $3,299 (U.S.) and $3,199 (U.S.) for education.

    My father-in-law is a monitor engineer. He is insanely gifted. We were in a Taiwanese factory together years ago and I asked him what it would cost to build the Pro Display XDR today. I will never forget his answer…

    “We can’t, we don’t know how to do it.”

  • by t1234s on 3/3/26, 4:05 PM

    anyone else still using their 30" cinema display from 2003?

  • by SamuelAdams on 3/3/26, 4:43 PM

    Does this still not support multiple inputs / devices?

  • by dmix on 3/3/26, 3:29 PM

    I might be missing how this differs from the previous model.

  • by ChildOfChaos on 3/4/26, 1:20 AM

    Bit disappointed with this release.

    I have a iMac 5k that I want to replace with a Mac mini or Studio, but monitors for Mac's are difficult since you need 5k at 27" or even 6k at 32" to keep th pixel density and then they aren't many options.

    It's getting better, but prices are very high and a big issue with the 5k 27" monitors is that they are stuck at 60hz, Apple announced an approved offering here, but it's very expensive for the XDR and ideally I'd like to upgrade to 6k at 32" and have 120hz but that just seems unobtainable at the moment.

  • by mackopes on 3/3/26, 7:46 PM

    32" when?

  • by JCharante on 3/3/26, 2:58 PM

    This is awesome! $3299 is a great price drop. I’m moving countries soon and wasn’t going to bring my old monitor, so this is perfect timing.

  • by hecifato on 3/3/26, 5:46 PM

    Is there any details on from whom Apple is sourcing the panel from? LG and MSI have both shown off 5K monitors at 165hz and 2304 dimming zones recently.

    I said about two years back I’d wait to upgrade my 1080p monitor until Apple shipped a high refresh rate one. I knew the monkey’s paw would curl but at nearly $5000 CAD that’s a hard no.

  • by IAmGraydon on 3/3/26, 7:50 PM

    Apple just doesn't seem to be hitting on all cylinders anymore. The price for this thing is outrageous compared to the competition, and the competition isn't lagging very far behind. It's certainly pretty and I'm sure it's an incredible piece of tech, but $1,600 on the low end and $3,600 on the high end is just not going to sell in this environment. While the competition has always started with the minimum viable product for a low price and iterated on the product, Apple's approach has been the opposite - maximum possible product and then try to iterate the price point down. The problem is that the competition is now encroaching on their product quality territory, and the offer doesn't seem as tempting. For example, see the ASUS Pro Art, which has arguably better specs with the addition of HDR10 for $799. Or the BenQ MA270S, which you can buy two of for $1,800.

  • by archagon on 3/3/26, 6:46 PM

    Curious to see if the XDR works at 120Hz on Windows; and if so, if there’s a KVM switch that would work with it.

    Probably not worth the hassle, but I wish there was literally any other display manufacturer out there with premium build quality.

  • by cubefox on 3/3/26, 2:46 PM

    XDR = LCD