Apple unveils Studio Display and Studio Display XDR, 5K monitors with mini-LED technology

Apple has officially unveiled two new monitors in the Studio Display family, namely Studio Display (an update of the 2022 model) and Studio Display XDR, to global markets this week. Both are designed to accompany Macs for a range of needs, from everyday work to professional content production. The most noticeable difference between the two 5K displays (5,120 x 2,880 pixels) lies in the technology used. The Studio Display XDR excels by adopting mini-LED technology widely used in premium smart TVs to deliver higher contrast and more dramatic HDR effects. The Studio Display XDR features a 27-inch 5K Retina XDR panel with a resolution of 5,120 x 2,880 pixels. The monitor uses a mini-LED backlight system with 2,304 local-dimming zones. The mini-LED technology enables thousands of tiny backlights to be precisely controlled across many lighting zones. The monitor is said to support brightness up to 1,000 nits for SDR imagery and 2,000 nits peak for HDR content, with a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1. The Studio Display XDR’s refresh rate reaches 120 Hz and includes Adaptive Sync (47 Hz–120 Hz) to smooth motion. For professional use, the Studio Display XDR supports the P3 and Adobe RGB colour spaces, with coverage claimed to exceed 80 per cent of Rec. 2020 for HDR editing and colour grading. Apple also includes a DICOM medical imaging preset and a Medical Imaging Calibrator feature in macOS for radiology needs. However, the calibrator feature is still awaiting regulatory approval in the United States, so it cannot be used for the time being. On the accessory side, the monitor is equipped with a 12 MP Center Stage camera with Desk View, three studio-quality microphones, and six speakers with Spatial Audio. The 5K monitor includes two Thunderbolt 5 ports and two additional USB-C ports. The bundled Thunderbolt 5 Pro cable can deliver up to 140W, deemed sufficient to power a 16-inch MacBook Pro.