Curated from Latest from TechRadar US in News,opinion — Here’s what matters right now:
When Apple launched the Studio Display in March 2022, it seemed that its purpose was to be an advanced monitor for creative pros who didn’t want to shell out for the $4,999 Pro Display XDR. Since then, though, it’s been over three years without a single update, leaving it suspended in an uncomfortable limbo. When we initially reviewed the Apple Studio Display , we thought it was good but not great, with a few glaring omissions and frustrating oversights marring its final score. It’s fallen further behind in the years since, and with rival monitors offering OLED panels and higher refresh rates for lower prices, the Studio Display is in a tough spot. Fortunately, there are rumors that Apple is working on several new monitors , one of which is likely to be a new Studio Display. Rumors have suggested it could arrive in 2026 with a mini-LED panel, making it four years between hardware updates. And while that mini-LED screen would be a serious upgrade over the LCD panel in the current Studio Display, there’s one thing that I’d love to see above all else in the new model: a higher refresh rate. This isn’t just about gaming, although that’s part of it – this upgrade would benefit a wide range of users and scenarios, making it a change that could finally bring the Studio Display right up to date. Gains for gamers (Image credit: Future) Let’s start with the elephant in the room, the aspect that, on the surface, perhaps makes the least sense: gaming. The Studio Display is not a gaming monitor, and Apple never claimed it was in the first place. The clue is in the name, after all: Studio Display. It’s meant for designers, photographers, and videographers – creatives, in other words, not gamers. But in the years since the Studio Display’s 2022 launch, Apple’s gaming prowess has gone from strength to strength . We can no longer scoff when someone suggests that a MacBook is a gaming machine – it’s genuinely true . Apple has also demonstrated more of a commitment to gaming on Mac, with a new Metal dev toolkit and triple-A games featuring more frequently in Mac event presentations. That’s mostly thanks to Apple’s in-house chips, with the latest editions offering bona fide gaming performance. Throw in frame generation, and even the most demanding games can run at high resolution and high frame rates on a Mac. Yet right now, the Studio Display is singularly unsuited to take advantage of that. That’s because it’s limited to a measly 60Hz refresh rate, which Apple chips can go blast past these days. Pair up a Studio Display and a powerful Mac, and it’s the screen that will let you down, not the chip – and who thought we’d be saying that a few years ago? Increasing the Studio Display’s refresh rate – ideally to the 120Hz of the latest MacBook Pros and iPhones – would significantly improve the gaming experience for Apple users. After all, Apple has already added this smooth refresh rate tech to other Macs. Why not the Studio Display? Creative license (Image credit: Appl
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Original reporting: Latest from TechRadar US in News,opinion