Apple Studio Display XDR Review: 5K Monitor With High Brightness and 120Hz

The Story

According to a review from The Guardian, Apple’s new 27-inch Studio Display XDR is the company’s best monitor yet, offering a 5K screen with up to 2,000 nits peak brightness for HDR content. The monitor costs from £2,599, includes six speakers, a 12MP webcam, and a Thunderbolt 5 hub, and requires a modern Mac to fully use its 120Hz refresh rate.

Key Facts

• The Studio Display XDR costs from £2,599 (€3,099/$2,899/A$4,799), with nano-texture glass adding £300.
• It sits above the standard £1,499 Studio Display and is £2,000 cheaper than the 2019 Apple Pro Display XDR.
• The 27-inch IPS LCD screen uses miniLED backlight technology with 2,304 dimming zones.
• It sustains 1,000 nits for everyday SDR content and peaks at 2,000 nits for HDR content.
• The display has a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate and Apple’s True Tone system.
• The monitor includes six speakers, three microphones, and a 12MP webcam with Centre Stage and Desk View.
• It has two Thunderbolt 5 ports and two USB-C ports, capable of charging a laptop up to 140W.
• The Display XDR contains Apple’s A19 Pro chip and inaudible fans.
• The screen is factory-calibrated for colour accuracy and supports custom calibrations and reference modes.
• Macs require an M4 chip or better to drive the display at 120Hz; the MacBook Neo can be used but only at 4K resolution.
• It can work with some PCs with Thunderbolt 4 or 5 but support is not guaranteed, and many features are limited.
• The monitor is made with recycled aluminium, copper, glass, gold, rare-earth elements, tin, and zinc.
• The stand cannot be removed after purchase.

Conflicting Reports

No conflicting reports identified in the source article.

Still Unclear

No open questions identified in the source article.

Misconceptions

No widespread misconceptions addressed in the source article.

Key Figures

• Apple
• Studio Display XDR
• Studio Display
• Asus ProArt Display PA32UCXR (mentioned for price comparison)

Sources

• The Guardian — Primary Source (single-source story)