Apple is Finally Making a Cheaper Display: What We Know

[MacRumors]

Apple has not offered an affordable Apple-branded display since the 27-inch Thunderbolt display was discontinued in 2016, but that's set to change sometime in the not too distant future.

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Right now, Apple only sells the $5,000 Pro Display XDR, but rumors suggest new standalone displays are in the works. We don't know a lot right now, but everything we've heard so far is aggregated in the guide below.

A Lower-Priced Display

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who often provides accurate insights into Apple's plans, there is a successor to the Thunderbolt Display in the works, which will be sold as a lower-cost consumer-oriented monitor alongside the Pro Display XDR.

The display won't be as expensive as the Pro Display XDR, and as a result, it will feature reduced brightness and contrast ratio in comparison.

It's possible that Apple is planning to release the display in two sizes, perhaps 24 inches and 27 inches. LG is allegedly working on new standalone displays that could be for Apple in 24, 27, and 32-inch sizes. The 24 and 27-inch models could be new lower-cost options, while the 32-inch model could be a Pro Display XDR followup.

Apple already makes 24 and 27-inch iMacs, so it would make sense for standalone displays to come in the same size options, and the Pro Display XDR is a 32-inch display. The 27-inch model and the 32-inch model are mini-LED displays with a 120Hz variable refresh rates, so if these LG Displays are being manufactured for Apple, we can expect the higher end versions to feature ProMotion and mini-LED technology.

We don't know anything about the display's design or specs at this time, but it's definitely in the works.

Rumors suggest that the more affordable 27-inch display is going to launch at Apple's March 8 event. The display could be called the "Studio Display" and it could have an A-series chip inside.

Renders created by YouTuber Luke Miani suggest the display will be 27 inches in size with slightly smaller bezels than the Pro Display XDR and no rear pattern. "Studio Display" is also a name rumored for the higher-end Pro Display XDR successor with a 7K resolution, so it is unclear what Apple's actual display lineup might look like.

Pro Display XDR Successor

As mentioned above, Apple is working on a successor to the Pro Display XDR, which could be sold alongside it or could be a replacement, with the display expected to feature a 7K resolution and "Apple Studio Display" naming.

A rumor from 9to5Mac has suggested that Apple is working on an external display that will include an A-series chip, offering GPU cores that could help power graphic intensive tasks. The Pro Display XDR successor is expected to have this A-series chip inside. The rumor is from mid-2021 and it said that Apple would use an A13 chip, but there are newer A14 and A15 chips that Apple could pick instead.

Possible Pricing

The Pro Display XDR successor will likely continue to be priced at around $5,000, and rumors suggest that the consumer-oriented display could be priced at $2,500, making it half the cost of the Pro Display XDR.

If there are actually three sizes coming, the 32-inch display could be $5,000, the 27-inch display could be $2,500, and the 24-inch display could be cheaper, perhaps somewhere around the $999 price point that Apple sold the Thunderbolt Display for.

Release Date

Apple has a lot of new Macs coming in 2022, including a refreshed Mac mini, a new MacBook Air, an smaller version of the Mac Pro, a revamped iMac, and a refreshed MacBook Pro, so it would make sense for the company to release standalone displays to go with this new wave of Macs.

That said, we have no word on when Apple's planned displays could see a launch, and it's not yet clear if we're going to see them in 2022.

Guide Feedback

Have questions about Apple's rumored displays, see something we left out, or want to offer feedback on this guide? Send us an email here.

Article Link: Apple is Finally Making a Cheaper Display: What We Know

 

[macsplusmacs]

SHIPPPPP IT APPLE!!!!

If you build it they will come. (get your mind out of the gutters!)

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

These will sell like hot cakes. I personally know so many people that are desperately waiting for a lower-priced Apple display. Instant buy!

 

[nwcs]

I wonder if it will be essentially the LG UltraFine 27” next version?

 

[certen]

Still top end of the market if priced as £2500,

has to be called pro or max

 

[DFZD]

Cheaper or Slightly Cheaper?

Because when you say cheap we assume something under $999.

 

[BuffaloTF]

At $2500 I’ll just buy another TV for my computer.

 

[russell_314]

This will be awesome! I can see it going well with the new Mac mini. Some people will complain that the price is too high but like most Apple products they’re not cheap and cheaper options are currently available. Apple isn’t trying to compete in that market. This is going to be for someone who doesn’t need a professional display but would like a really nice display

 

[8CoreWhore]

Same price as an iMac but without the computer?

 

[Icaras]

The sub $1000 24” display will be an instant buy for me and a fine compliment to an M1 Pro/Max Mac mini.

 

[w5jck]

Better options at lower prices. Typical Apple overpriced stuff. Assuming Mark “Guesser” Gurman is even in the ballpark, which he often is not…

 

[russell_314]

Cheaper or Slightly Cheaper?

Because when you say cheap we assume something under $999.

When you say “we” it doesn’t include me because I wouldn’t assume this. Even $2500 is not slightly cheaper than $5000. It’s half the price so that is cheaper

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

In the Apple spirt of "Think Different," I'd really rather see an Apple branded ultra-wide. My personal interest is about 40" UW 5K/2K... or basically about TWO 27" classic iMac screens side by side in ONE frame.

 

[DFZD]

I don’t think consumers go out and look for $2,500 Displays like Tim Apple thinks we do especially when it comes without a stand.

 

[Danfango]

I hope they do one without the stand for $1500.

 

[DFZD]

When you say “we” it doesn’t include me because I wouldn’t assume this. Even $2500 is not slightly cheaper than $5000. It’s half the price so that is cheaper

Apple iMac 27 with M1 Max would cost around $2500. So that Display is still expensive for the rest of us consumers.

Edit: Apologies, I mean M1 Pro not Max.

 

[DummyFool]

Would love an Apple display but 27 inch is to small for me. Already own a 28 inch monitor and looking forward to go bigger, not smaller.

 

[saudor]

Hopefully it's 5K otherwise there's a ton of "consumer" 4K displays for super cheap

 

[ghanwani]

I'm so old, I remember those days when if you had a 14" 1024x768 LCD monitor you were the envy of everyone else.

As for Apple, I really hope someone is paying attention to eye strain issues with all their new displays.

 

[jdb8167]

In the Apple spirt of "Think Different," I'd really rather see an Apple branded ultra-wide. My personal interest is about 40" UW 5K/2K... or basically about TWO 27" classic iMac screens side by side in ONE frame.

A 5120x2160 at 40” would only give approx. 140 dpi. There is no way Apple would ship something so far from Retina in 2022.

 

[lkrupp]

A fully loaded Mini with a new Apple display could be an iMac killer in the making. That’s why I think any new iMac Pro will carry a hefty price tag along with massive performance.

 

[russell_314]

Apple iMac 27 with M1 Max would cost around $2500. So that Display is still expensive for the rest of us consumers.

There is no 27” Apple iMac with M1X… If one does come out you don’t know if it’s going to be $2500.

Of course it’s going to be expensive. The market is flooded with sub $1000 monitors so why would Apple make another one? The whole point of this monitor it’s going to be better than what’s out there but cheaper than the $5000 pro monitor. It’s not going to be a rebranded Asus monitor with an Apple logo. At least I hope not because that would be terrible.

 

[Spock]

Take the price of a Mac mini, keyboard and mouse from the iMac and it comes out to be around $399. That would make a killer price for an Apple 4.5k display.

 

[mi7chy]

At $2500 I’ll just buy another TV for my computer.

48" LG C1 is currently $1200. Maybe the new 42" LG C2 will be ~$1K.

 

[lkrupp]

I'm so old, I remember those days when if you had a 14" 1024x768 LCD monitor you were the envy of everyone else.

Pffft. I used a 12” CRT standard television set with my Apple II+ and a cassette tape player to load software... until the Disk II came out. So there. ?