Apple Studio Display XDR Review: It Looks So Good, I Wish It Were an iMac

If you’re a creator, professional, or you’ve sworn off using anything but a Mac, Apple has a new aluminum-and-glass monitor to sell you—one that doesn’t start at $5,000 and, thankfully, doesn’t cost another $1,000 just for its stand.

Compared to Apple’s previous professional-level monitor, the Pro Display XDR, the new Studio Display XDR costs “only” $3,300. Sure, there are some substantial differences in size and resolution between the Studio Display XDR and the Pro Display XDR it replaces—27-inch with 5K resolution versus 32-inch with 6K—but the new monitor supports a 120Hz refresh rate. The price is now more approachable—for a professional-grade monitor from Apple at least.

There are actually two new versions of the Studio Display. The regular one is a very minor refresh to the original 2022 model. The Studio Display XDR is the one with the 120Hz refresh rate and HDR support. Therefore, it’s the display that feels comparable to other standing screens you can buy today.

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As per usual, Apple’s pricing scheme is messy. The new regular Studio Display starts at $1,600 and you can spend an extra $300 for Apple’s nano-texture glass panel. That add-on helps reduce glare and reflections (though it normally comes at the cost of brightness and screen vibrancy). If you want a tilt- and height-adjustable stand, that will be another $400. Meanwhile, the Studio Display XDR starts at $3,300 ($3,600 for nano-texture) and comes with the tilt- and height-adjustable stand. Don’t forget, you’ll want a Mac that’s built to maximize this monitor’s capabilities. In the end, you’ll be dropping a thick wad of cash for the sake of this pretty, pro-grade screen.

Still no swivel action

Apple’s Studio Displays are positioned as premium monitors. And yet, despite the price and design, neither of the new Studio Displays have a stand that supports any kind of swivel function. The only way to turn the screen around is by physically spinning the whole thing. The tilt- and height-adjustable stand doesn’t let you raise or lower the monitor all that much either—just 105mm or a little more than four inches. You can instead get this monitor with a VESA mounting bracket for no extra cost if you have a preferred desktop setup with better versatility.

With that built-in stand, unboxing the display doesn’t take more effort than dragging the unit out of its cardboard coffin, putting it on your desk, and plugging it in. Alongside the extra-thick, glassy bezels, there’s also a built-in 12-megapixel camera that supports Center Stage features and Desk View. The former centers the image on your mug for FaceTime or Zoom calls. The latter provides a top-down view of the desk area in front of your hands.

Spin the thick, hefty monitor around and you’ll find no HDMI port in sight, only USB-C. That means the only way to connect any device that uses HDMI for video output, like a Switch 2 or PS5, will require an adapter. Both the Studio Display and Studio Display XDR have two Thunderbolt 5 ports and two USB-C ports. The included USB-C cable that comes with the monitor is capable of charging a MacBook at up to 96W via Thunderbolt 5 on the Studio Display and up to 140W on the Studio Display XDR.

Apple’s monitors work well within the Mac ecosystem but are incomplete outside of that bubble. Nothing has changed there. The Studio Display XDR will feel like a natural extension of your Apple-centric desktop or laptop setup.

5K is the new 6K

This XDR model is the only one of the new Studio Displays that supports adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz. Of course, you’ll need a more modern Mac that can handle external display refresh rates higher than 60Hz at greater resolutions. For instance, the M2 MacBook Air can only output at 60Hz to a single external display. The new M5 MacBook Air or any recent MacBook Pro can output at 5K resolution at 120Hz. Meanwhile, the new $600 MacBook Neo does work with either Studio Display, but you’ll be limited to 4K resolution and 60Hz, not the full 5K and 120Hz refresh rate.

In case you were wondering, Apple’s “XDR” label stands for “extreme dynamic range.” It’s the name Apple puts on its mini LED panels to indicate they are better for HDR (high dynamic range) content than its other IPS LCD displays. The Studio Display XDR claims to support near 90-degree viewing angles from either side or the bottom without any drop in picture quality. I tested it for myself, and indeed I could spot only the barest hint of a muddied image when standing at about 70 or 80 degrees to the Studio Display XDR.

Mini LED screen technology uses a similar panel to LCD. Underneath that screen, the monitor includes an extra layer of miniature backlights that enables finer control of brightness and image quality. Specifically, the Studio Display XDR supports 2,304 local dimming zones. The previous Pro Display XDR made use of 576 full-array dimming zones. Both screens have the same pixel per inch value of 218, though being a smaller display at 27 inches will make images appear the slightest bit crisper.

Mini LED also enables better brightness. The Studio Display XDR promises a peak brightness of 2,000 nits in HDR content versus 1,000 in SDR (standard dynamic range). The new non-XDR Studio Display can only reach 600 nits of brightness; same as the 2022 model. The more expensive screen also promises to support both the P3 and Adobe RGB wide color gamuts, meaning there won’t be a tone across your app stack that won’t be able to display in the right shade.

What Apple won’t tell you is that the Studio Display XDR houses an A19 Pro chip (complete with 12GB of unified memory and 128GB of storage), similar to that found in the iPhone 17 Pro. The regular Studio Display has an A19 chip from the iPhone 17. All this internal processing is used for firmware updates and managing the built-in webcam. It seems excessive, but the Studio Display XDR is all about excess. Then again, I wonder why this entire monitor couldn’t have been an iMac itself.

Now that we know the MacBook Neo and its less powerful A18 Pro chip is no slouch, why the hell isn’t the Studio Display—at least on the XDR—not also a full-blown iMac when it has the hardware to run macOS? That could help justify its enormous $3,300 price tag.

Better image quality compared to older Studio Display

The difference between the new Studio Display XDR and a past-gen Studio Display from 2022 is subtle, though it is noticeable if you’re a stickler for visual quality. I set up the old display next to the new one and ran both through several tests with 4K video using the P3 color gamut. There’s a very slight variation in contrast within shadows, but the black levels are much better overall on the Studio Display XDR’s mini LED screen with less blooming— aka the light glow or halo—at the edges of bright and dark parts of the picture.

The most important distinction is how the old and new screens handle HDR (high dynamic range) content. The difference in white values between the original Studio Display and the Studio Display XDR grows more significant when watching video of snow-capped peaks or the whitecaps of waves slapping on the beach. In other 4K content I watched, the difference in tone between the two screens becomes especially noticeable. In several moments watching Pluribus I immediately noticed actors had an unrealistic red skin tone that is not nearly as prominent on the Studio Display XDR’s mini LED panel.

There were other scenes—such as the famous Pluribus cameo with John Cena holding up a carton of not-milk—where highlights were blown out on the older Studio Display. I could see much more detail from the same scenes on the Studio Display XDR. It’s those small details that make a massive difference in how you view content. Even something as simple as the words “Lap 20” on screen in a movie like F1 appeared whiter than on the non-XDR display.

As a creator-first monitor, the Studio Display XDR is certainly a visual upgrade for anybody using the non-XDR models. Just keep in mind there are other, cheaper creator displays that use OLED panels. Organic light-emitting diode displays can support near-infinite contrast since they eschew backlight for self-emissive technology. The fact that Apple is pushing aside its Pro Display XDR for now either says it thinks its Studio Display XDR is good enough or its saving OLED for a new MacBook Pro. We may need to wait a while longer if Apple ever decides to give the Pro Display XDR the OLED makeover.

Epic sound from a monitor

Few video editors sitting at their desk would use anything but a quality pair of headphones for matching sound to their clips. Still, the Studio Display XDR’s six-speaker system has some seriously impressive sound. Packed in alongside the speakers are four extra force-cancelling woofers and two tweeters. It may not match a high-quality soundbar or surround sound setup, but it’s closer than you may think.

The difference between an older Studio Display and the new Studio Display XDR’s sound is obvious as soon as you switch back and forth between them. While both the old and new Studio Monitors support Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos, only the new models have 30% stronger bass. When listening to my usual tunes in Apple Music, I found the audio on the Studio Display XDR could really fill a room if you push the volume up. The sound still has a clear sense, especially in the middle ranges.

For the price, the audio system shouldn’t be considered a cherry on top of a quality screen. It’s a top reason you should consider either monitor.

Pricey even for diehard Apple fans

Most people would be fine with the regular Studio Display. Hell, most creators can likely stick with their current setup unless they absolutely need the brightest monitor that Apple offers for professional work.

If you’re already spending thousands on a high-end MacBook capable of supporting multiple displays up to 5K, then perhaps cost isn’t a factor at all. The Studio Display XDR may not be a “Pro” display in name, but it’s the kind of professionally minded monitor that will do everything you ask—except connect directly to HDMI. And yet, this monitor has everything it would need to become an all-in-one computer, except an OS. Maybe one day we’ll finally get the iMac XDR. Unfortunately, today is not that day.