Planned obsolescence is the game in town, especially in the tech world, and no one appears as savvy at this game as Apple, which has elevated the periodic adjustments of its product portfolio into an art form. Today, Apple has discontinued its 32-inch 6K display, called the Pro Display XDR, and replaced it with a 27-inch 5K one, aptly dubbed the Studio Display XDR.
Apple replaces the pricey Pro Display XDR with the cheaper Studio Display XDR, entailing some compromises
Apple has officially retired the Pro Display XDR in favor of the new 27-inch Studio Display XDR, which, while a very capable offering, lacks the former's larger screen-based real estate.
As a refresher, Apple's all-new Studio Display XDR offers the following features:
- A stunning 27-inch 5K Retina XDR display with 5120-by-2880 resolution that offers exceptional detail and clarity.
- The mini-LED backlight utilizes 2,304 local dimming zones that enable extreme contrast.
- Delivers up to an outstanding 1000 nits of SDR brightness, 2000 nits of peak HDR brightness, and a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio.
- Adds Adobe RGB color gamut support, in addition to P3 wide color, resulting in more than 80 percent Rec. 2020 coverage for HDR video editing and color grading.
- A 120Hz refresh rate with support for Adaptive Sync that allows the refresh rate to vary between 47Hz to 120Hz, making gaming more fluid with faster frame delivery and lower display latency.
- Support for DICOM medical imaging presets and the Medical Imaging Calibrator, which unlocks use in diagnostic radiology.
- A 12MP Center Stage camera that keeps users centered in the frame as they move, while Desk View gives a simultaneous view of the user and a top-down view of the desk, which is quite handy for demonstrating a creative project.
- A studio-quality 3-microphone array with directional beamforming coupled with an immersive 6-speaker sound system with support for Spatial Audio.
- Features Thunderbolt 5 connectivity, with a second port for connecting downstream high-speed accessories or daisy-chaining other displays, as well as 2 additional USB-C ports.
Of course the main difference between the two boils down to price: Apple launched the Pro Display XDR with a starting price of $4,999, while the Studio Display XDR can be purchased for $3,299.
While the lower starting price is a huge positive for the new Studio Display XDR, it remains compatible with M-series Macs only. What's more, if your Mac sports an M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max, M1 Ultra, M2, or M3 chip, the Studio Display XDR would only work at a refresh rate of up to 60Hz.
About the author: Writing is my one incontrovertible passion. Over the past six years, he has authored over 2,200 distinct articles on financial and tech-related topics, spanning nearly 1 million words. And he has been a member of Wcctech mobile team since 2025. As an alumnus of the University of Toronto, Rotman Commerce Program, I bring nuance, in-depth knowledge, and a unique perspective to every topic that I cover. When I'm not writing, I'm traveling the world, exploring hidden confectionaries and restaurants as an aspiring food connoisseur.
Follow Wccftech on Google to get more of our news coverage in your feeds.
