If you’re looking to purchase a first-party monitor from Apple, I would highly suggest you wait a little bit longer. For several months, it has been highly rumored that Apple is developing a next-generation monitor, which could be either a Studio Display or a Pro Display XDR. Now, as spotted by MacRumors, an unreleased Apple monitor with the model number A3350 was discovered in a Chinese regulatory database today. However, the source cannot determine whether this upcoming model will be the next Studio Display or Pro Display XDR.
The Pro Display XDR was introduced at WWDC 2029 alongside the redesigned Mac Pro, and it has a 32-inch Retina 6K display that uses mini-LED backlighting for exceptional brightness and contrast ratio. The Studio Display, on the other hand, was introduced in March 2022 alongside the Mac Studio, and it features a 27-inch Retina 5K display that uses LED-backlit LCD technology. Still, the Studio Display provides the best integration with any Mac model as it has a six-speaker system, a 12MP Center Stage camera, studio-quality mics, and the A13 chip for optimal display performance.
One thing’s for sure is that the listing does reveal that this next monitor from Apple will feature improved LCD technology, which would rule out the OLED displays for now. If it were to be the Studio Display 2, this suggests that the next Studio Display will use mini-LED display technology with far better brightness levels and contrast ratios than what we have with standard LCDs. Apple might as well call this the “Studio Display XDR” to promote its HDR capabilities. Previous leaks from MacWorld claimed that this next Studio Display would feature 120Hz ProMotion technology and the A19 Pro chip, so this rumor would corroborate with previous rumors.
Apple just introduced Apple Creator Studio, which will launch on Wednesday, January 28, and I’m speculating that we’ll also see MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro/Max chips on that day. So Apple could launch this display alongside the upcoming MacBook Pros, but I’m leaning more towards later this year when Apple will update the Mac Studio with the M5 Max/Ultra chips, since the Studio Display is the most ideal companion for the Mac Studio after all.
