Apple Upgrades Studio Display with ProMotion, HDR for 2026

Apple is developing a significantly upgraded version of its Studio Display, with new details emerging from internal software code that point to enhanced display technology and processing power, positioning the monitor for a potential launch in the first half of 2026.

The refresh, identified in code by the device designation J527, will introduce a variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz, known as ProMotion, and support for high dynamic range, or HDR, content. These features mark a departure from the current model's limitations. The existing Studio Display, released in March 2022, uses a 27-inch 5K Retina IPS LCD panel that operates at a fixed 60Hz and supports only standard dynamic range, or SDR, imaging. Analysts have noted that the addition of HDR indicates Apple plans to adopt advanced panel technology, likely MiniLED, to achieve higher brightness levels and improved contrast. MiniLED panels, as seen in recent MacBook Pro models, can deliver sustained brightness of up to 1,000 nits and peak HDR luminance exceeding 1,600 nits, compared to the current Studio Display's maximum of 600 nits.

The upgraded monitor will also feature Apple's A19 chip for processing, an advancement over...