Apple Studio Display 2 leak reveals ProMotion, HDR, A19 chip upgrades

We’ve been hearing rumors about a potential new generation of Studio Display for a while, but 2025 has passed without an announcement. But that’s about to change, because Macmonde saw evidence of a new Studio Display with new features that will bring several notable upgrades.

New screen with 120 Hz and HDR

Legitimate Apple code for an internal preview build of iOS 26 seen by Macworld points to a new external display identified as “J527.” This code name had already been associated with a second generation Studio Display by Mark Gurman of Bloomberg.

While the existence of an imminent Studio Display upgrade should come as no surprise, we finally have more details on what to expect in terms of new features.

References in the code clearly show that this new Studio Display has a variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz, just like the ProMotion display on the latest MacBook Pros. The current Studio Display is limited to 60 Hz.

Foundry

Additionally, the code refers to a “J527” monitor that also supports SDR and HDR modes, an upgrade over the current SDR-only model. This is a strong indication that Apple will replace the LCD panel with better technology, such as Mini-LED, capable of achieving higher brightness levels.

The first-generation Studio Display’s LCD panel can reach up to 600 nits of brightness, but without HDR. In contrast, the Mini-LED display on the latest MacBook Pro achieves up to 1,000 nits of sustained brightness and up to 1,600 nits for HDR content.

If Apple actually delivers on these leaked specs, the next Studio Display will represent a huge step up in image quality over the current model.

A19 chip inside

Another small but interesting detail is that the new Studio Display would be powered by the A19 chip, while the current one packs the A13 chip. Although Studio Display lacks smart features like built-in apps, it uses its chip to handle webcam image processing and Spatial Audio.

Apple is aiming to launch the new Studio Display sometime in 2026, possibly alongside a new M5 Mac Studio. Stay tuned to Macworld for more details.