Rumors are swirling regarding a new kind of Studio Display powered by mini-LED, happening sometime in 2026
With that said, here is a rundown of the latest rumors.
Pro Display XDR 2
Launched in December 2019, Pro Display XDR has a 32-inch LCD with an LED backlight running at 6K resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate with support for the P3 wide color gamut with brightness levels of up to 1,600 nits. It has Thunderbolt 3 input and three USB Type-C ports. In the U.S., the Pro Display XDR starts at $4,999, with the optional Pro Stand priced at an additional $999.
Gurman mentioned today that a new Pro Display XDR is currently “a low priority for Apple as a high-end, niche product.”
In 2022, he claimed that Apple was developing a new version of the Pro Display XDR as an Apple Silicon attached unit, but whether this still belongs to the company program was up in the air. It could be A13 Bionic, taking over features such as the Center Stage video camera framing for video calls, spatial audio, and Siri voice commands, for instance, built into the Studio Display.
While there are no other rumored features for the next Pro Display XDR, customers are expecting improvements in the camera, speakers, and a higher refresh rate.
Bigger iMac
It’s been almost three years since Apple discontinued the 27-inch iMac as part of its transition away from Intel processors. Since then, the 24-inch iMac has been the only all-in-one desktop available from Apple, with no larger model in sight.
Will a larger iMac ever make a comeback? Gurman said today that Apple “might eventually bring it back.”
However, it may not necessarily be another 27-inch iMac.
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Then in November, Apple announced it had no plans for a release of a new version of 27-inch iMac with an Apple Silicon chip for that time. Instead, they advised pairing the Studio Display with a Mac Studio or Mac mini.
But a larger iMac could still be on the horizon.
At the end of 2023, both Gurman and Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo stated that Apple was developing a 32-inch iMac for a potential release by the end of 2024 or in 2025. Kuo mentioned that the larger iMac’s screen would feature mini-LED backlighting, which would allow for increased brightness, higher contrast ratios, and other benefits compared to LCD technology.
The end-of-2024 window has passed, but a 2025 launch is still possible. However, Gurman’s latest update on the larger iMac remains unclear.
