These Macs Can't Run the Studio Display XDR at 120Hz

[MacRumors]

The new Studio Display XDR features a mini-LED display with up to a 120Hz refresh rate, but you'll need a newer Mac to get support for the full 120Hz.

According to Apple, Macs that have an M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max, M1 Ultra, M2, or M3 will only support the Studio Display XDR at 60Hz. All other features remain available.

For the full 120Hz refresh rate, you'll need to have a Mac with one of the following chips:

• M2 Pro, M2 Max, M2 Ultra
• M3 Pro, M3 Max, M3 Ultra
• M4 Pro, M4 Max
• M5, M5 Pro, M5 Max

All Macs that have an Apple silicon chip can be used with the Studio Display XDR with the upcoming macOS Tahoe 26.3.1 update.

As for the iPad, The M5 iPad Pro supports the Studio Display at 120Hz, but all other compatible iPad models are limited to 60Hz. Compatible iPads include the M4 iPad Pro, the 3rd-6th generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro, 1st-4th generation 11-inch iPad Pro, the M2, M3, and M4 iPad Air models, and the 5th-generation iPad Air.

For older Macs and iPads that don't support 120Hz, there is little reason to select the more expensive Studio Display XDR over the standard Studio Display. The Studio Display starts at $1,599, while the XDR model starts at $3,299.

The Studio Display XDR will be available for pre-order tomorrow at 9:15 a.m. Eastern Time, with a launch to follow on March 11.

Article Link: These Macs Can't Run the Studio Display XDR at 120Hz

 

[onenorth]

Good to know.

 

[appleguy123]

Too expensive in general. I really wanted a monitor with these specs but $2000 was my hard limit.

Now it’s not even compatible with my MacBook Pro 1 M1 Pro, so it’s even easier to resist.

 

[Ferrandix]

and... M4?

 

[LiE_]

So does that mean base M4 cannot do 120hz? I can’t see it mentioned in the article.

According to Apple, Macs that have an M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max, M1 Ultra, M2, or M3 will only support the Studio Display XDR at 60Hz. All other features remain available.

For the full 120Hz refresh rate, you'll need to have a Mac with one of the following chips:

• M2 Pro, M2 Max, M2 Ultra
• M3 Pro, M3 Max, M3 Ultra
• M4 Pro, M4 Max
• M5, M5 Pro, M5 Max

 

[abowlby]

Apple is willing to throw dust in Mother Nature's eyes if it means pushing people off their perfectly capable M1 MacBook Pros. 😄

 

[ShufromChina]

OP missed the M4 Macs. My guess is that they support 120hz since they are not on the 60hz list.

 

[upandown]

Would much rather have a far superior OLED monitor than these. And older Mac’s can run it at 120hz no problem.

 

[tyranne201]

imagine paying 4k for a monitor that doesn't deliver all the features on your 3k Mac.

 

[MacMikePro]

Apple is willing to throw dust in Mother Nature's eyes if it means pushing people off their perfectly capable M1 MacBook Pros. 😄

Only supporting 60Hz instead of 120Hz on a $3300 external monitor does NOT mean to throw your perfectly capable M1 MacBook Pro in trash.

 

[tennisproha]

Just goes to show how much of a waste of money Pro, Max, and Ultra chip premiums are.

 

[Chinch07]

What about the M4 Mac Mini?

I’m using mine on a 120hz 4k LG Ultra right now. Anything less than 120hz would feel like a downgrade.

 

[d5aqoëp]

Would much rather have a far superior OLED monitor than these. And older Mac’s can run it at 120hz no problem.

I would rather go for 240hz Tandem OLED monitor.

 

[AppleUser2]

From Apple’s site. M4 is supported:

Studio Display XDR is compatible with the following Mac models with Apple silicon and macOS Tahoe 26.3.1 or later:

• 16‑inch MacBook Pro (2021 and later)
• 14‑inch MacBook Pro (2021 and later)
• 13‑inch MacBook Pro (M1, 2020 and later)
• 15‑inch MacBook Air (2023 and later)
• 13‑inch MacBook Air (M1, 2020 and later)
• Mac Studio (2022 and later)
• Mac mini (2020 and later)
• Mac Pro (2023 and later)
• 24‑inch iMac (2021 and later)

 

[Elwe]

Studio Display XDR - Technical Specifications

View all technical specifications for the 27-inch 5K Retina Studio Display XDR.

www.apple.com

I get the confusion around if the M4 is supported at 120Hz. Apple's specification page above for this monitor isn't perfectly clear, at least in the Mac. The iPad Pro (M4) clearly is not supported at 120Hz . . .

"
iPad Pro (M5) supports Studio Display XDR at 120Hz. All other compatible iPad models support it at 60Hz.
"

But the M4 isn't exactly the same in all applications. And looking at this specification page below for last year's base MacBook Pro (M4) . . .

MacBook Pro (14-inch, M4, 2024) - Tech Specs - Apple Support

MacBook Pro (14-inch, M4, 2024) - Tech Specs

support.apple.com

It can support 6K at 60Hz (over TB4) and 4k at 240Hz (over HDMI). I'm not sure I am doing the calculation in my head correctly, but that seems to suggest there would be bandwidth to do 5k at 120Hz (over TB4). Maybe some of the limits around the full variant (as opposed to binned, like exists in the iMac (2-port) come into play here. Maybe Apple didn't include it because of this variance--or maybe the press people just missed it.

 

[abowlby]

Only supporting 60Hz instead of 120Hz on a $3300 external monitor does NOT mean to throw your perfectly capable M1 MacBook Pro in trash.

Purposefully preventing this feature is planned obsolescence, which is antithetical to environmentally sound practice.

 

[Black_Mage]

My Studio can handle the new display. My wallet can’t. 😭

Aside from the price, the specs for this monitor are amazing. I’ll be sticking with my 1440p MiniLED monitor.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Studio Display XDR - Technical Specifications

View all technical specifications for the 27-inch 5K Retina Studio Display XDR.

www.apple.com

I get the confusion around if the M4 is supported at 120Hz. Apple's specification page for this monitor isn't clear.

 

[mihighil]

Apple is willing to throw dust in Mother Nature's eyes if it means pushing people off their perfectly capable M1 MacBook Pros. 😄

Heyyyy the box that this overpriced garbage comes in can be recycled more efficiently.

 

[abowlby]

Fun fact: a 12th Gen Core i3 (entry level chip) from 2021 (same year as M1/M1P/M1M) can push 6K at 120Hz.

I thought the M series chips were handed down from the Isu as Pieces of Eden. What gives?

 

[stefanhinkley]

So does that mean base M4 cannot do 120hz? I can’t see it mentioned in the article.

I can report that the M4 base can do 5K 120hz. I am using the new ASUS ROG 5K 27" 165hz Monitor and currently getting the full 165hz on it. But any additional monitor will be limited to 60hz. My second monitor is 4K and can only get 60hz on it. I imagine that a second 5K monitor would have similar limitations. Looks like M5 will be the way to get high refresh rate and more than one display at 5K.

 

[Alex.ne]

Before today all forums were full of complains that Apple (or other brand) didn't not have a 5k 120hz display. Starting today everyone will be complaining about bad Apple gatekeeping them from using 5k 120hz display on older computers without TB5 for no reason.

 

[nt5672]

Imagine displays that require a certain main computer CPU to work. What BS. Cook needs to go.

 

[markpaterson]

WHHHYYYYYYYYYYYYYY TAHOE?! This is a requirement for BOTH the "new" Studio Display and the Studio Display XDR.

The only similarity over both displays is the new center stage camera and Spatial Audio speakers, two feature I couldn’t care less about and will never use. I have my own better webcam and external speakers.

I’m hoping it will still be compatible with Sequoia in a limited sense, i.e. just the display features like XDR and local dimming will work. That would be fine by me.

 

[LiE_]

I can report that the M4 base can do 5K 120hz. I am using the new ASUS ROG 5K 27" 165hz Monitor and currently getting the full 165hz on it. But any additional monitor will be limited to 60hz. My second monitor is 4K and can only get 60hz on it. I imagine that a second 5K monitor would have similar limitations. Looks like M5 will be the way to get high refresh rate and more than one display at 5K.

This monitor?

ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG | 27 to 31.5 Inches | Gaming Monitors｜ROG - Republic of Gamers｜ROG Global

rog.asus.com

How are you connecting?