You won’t believe how much better the new Studio Display’s camera is
Summary created by Smart Answers AI
In summary:
- Macworld reviews Apple’s Studio Display 2026, which maintains the same $1,599 price and LCD panel while offering significant webcam improvements.
- The upgraded webcam shows dramatic improvements in low-light and good-light conditions, although it still doesn’t match dedicated 4K webcams or iPhone quality.
- Additional upgrades include two Thunderbolt 5 ports and slightly improved speakers, while the microphone array remains adequate for basic video calls.
You would be right to criticize the new Studio Display for its lackluster improvements over the old model. It was too expensive for what it offered in 2022, and the new 2026 model keeps the same price without changing the billboard itself at all.
Yes, the four USB-C ports on the back are upgraded, now including two Thunderbolt 5 ports. And yes, the speakers are a bit better, and still excellent compared to most monitor speakers and terrible compared to almost any dedicated speaker. But that hardly takes away from the $1,599 price tag for obviously decade-old LCD screen technology.
The webcam, though… that got a huge boost. Look at the difference in low light between the old and new cameras.
While low-light performance is the most dramatic improvement, there is still a major quality difference even when lit very well with a large key light.
Of course, the new screen doesn’t quite live up to the quality of using your iPhone as a webcam or the best dedicated webcams. You can get a much better picture with 4K 60fps cameras from Logitech or Elgato. But the new webcam is more than serviceable; it’s actually pretty good.
But the new camera really highlights how bad the original model’s camera was. The difference is made all the more dramatic by the fact that the old model had a very poor webcam that produced grainy, splotchy images and couldn’t seem to determine the correct white balance. Apple tried to fix this via firmware updates, but the truth was that it just wasn’t a very good camera. The Studio Display now has a good camera.
Unfortunately, the microphone array is still decent, but it will serve you well for simple video calls. If you want better voice quality, it is suggested to use AirPods or a dedicated mic. I produced a quick video to give you an idea of how it all compares in motion.
Note that the Studio Display XDR has the same camera, mics, and speakers as the new Studio Display, so you’ll get the same picture and sound with the $3,299 model.
As decent as the webcam is (finally), I’d like to see Apple take some real leadership here. The next time Apple updates the Studio Display, it should use the same sensor as the iPhone’s selfie camera. The new square sensor layout makes it easier to shoot landscape or vertical at full resolution (increasingly important for content creators), and can handle 4K and 60fps with Dolby Vision while delivering superior detail, color and contrast. The iPhone’s front-facing camera is exactly what Apple should include in a monitor that costs $1,599 (or $3,299 for that matter) – and it’s certainly thick enough to handle it.
