Apple

Studio Display vs Pro Display XDR What are the differences?

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To put Studio Display to good use, we just need to dig into the specs of the two monitors and how they compare. Trying to pick a winner at this point is a bit of a back-and-forth – they all have their advantages. However, in terms of pure image quality, the Pro Display XDR is likely to continue to win.

The Pro Display XDR is certainly brighter than the Studio Display, with a base 1,000 nits that can go as high as 1,600, while the Studio Display offers 600 nits. However, not everyone may need the full 1600 nits, and 600 nits still puts the Studio Display high on any leaderboard.

pro display vs studio

Brightness

The brightness is different. The 27-inch model has up to 600 nits of brightness. The larger monitor, on the other hand, can vary from 500 to 1,600 nits of brightness depending on the reference modes, which makes a lot of difference between the two models.

Apple’s ProDisplay XDR has more reference modes than Display Studio. Reference modes on the company’s monitors allow parameters to be adjusted in a more personalized way to better visualize the content the user is working on. For example, it is possible to apply a photo mode to achieve more accurate colors when editing images, or one that includes the possibility of playing HDR content to edit videos. In this case, the two monitors share many of the references, but the Pro Display XDR includes two additional ones to make the most of that extra brightness it has.

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True Tone

This technology automatically adapts the color of the screen to the ambient light. Using an ambient light sensor, True Tone adjusts to general lighting, making the viewing experience appear natural. For more information, see Change Display preferences on Mac in the macOS User Guide.

True Tone technology with dual ambient light sensor (ALS) designed to offer the highest image quality in any type of light. It is an improved technology that makes the screen adjust itself with the light that is in the room at each moment, so you will not have to adjust it manually.

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Reference modes

Apple’s ProDisplay XDR has more reference modes than Display Studio. Reference modes on the company’s monitors allow parameters to be adjusted in a more personalized way to better visualize the content the user is working on.

For example, it is possible to apply a photo mode to achieve more accurate colors when editing images, or one that includes the possibility of playing HDR content to edit videos. In this case, the two monitors share many of the references, but the Pro Display XDR includes two additional ones to make the most of that extra brightness it has.

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Features beyond the screen

Both screens look quite similar and have a very Mac-like minimalist style that combines muted shades of black, white, and silver. Studio Display has a distinctive Apple-like design with a thick stand. The bezels around the screen aren’t particularly slim, but they’re not bulky enough to be intrusive.

The Pro Display XDR appears to have slightly slimmer bezels, but it’s hard to tell without seeing both monitors in person. The two screens look very different from the back. The Pro Display XDR has a dotted finish similar to the Mac Pro, while the Studio Display has a sleek display with Thunderbolt ports on the back.

microphones

In the Studio Display, three microphones complete the speakers, perfect for video calls, which should, thanks to their construction, offer decent performance on voice calls. The entire audio system is based on the Apple A13 Bionic chip, which we have already seen in the iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max.

The Pro Display XDR, on the other hand, does not include microphones. It is a complementary screen, so the Cupertino company has not wanted to add practically anything extra other than what is necessary to have the best image quality.

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Speakers

Speaker quality tends to be quite poor. Studio Display is equipped with six speakers, including four force-cancelling woofers that help enhance bass and two tweeters that boost mid and high frequency sounds. All speakers are routed separately and offer Dolby Atmos Virtual Spatial Audio.

Speakers is another of the shortcomings of Pro Display XDR, which in terms of image and external sound leaves something to be desired. As we have said before, it is a complementary screen that does not need speakers, a camera or a microphone, but if you are going to use it for video calls, you will have to find a complementary computer.

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Camera

Studio Display is also equipped with an integrated 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera. This is the same model found in the recently announced iPad Air 5. The monitor adds support for Apple Center Stage, which automatically tracks it and places it in the middle of the shot, making video calls even better.

Unlike the new Studio Display, the Pro Display XDR does not have an integrated webcam. In this sense, Studio Display is a clear upgrade, offering all of these features without the need to purchase an external webcam. It is without a doubt one of the advantages of Studio Display.

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Support

When you get the Studio Display screen you have the support included in the price, being able to choose between a support that adjusts the inclination and height, only the height or a VESA support to be able to place it horizontally and vertically. Although the support is included, you have the option to buy another one to give it more performance.

On the Pro Display you can choose a separate Pro Stand that provides height or tilt adjustment, or the same type of VESA mount. It is one of the great differences between the two screens, since it is not included in the Pro Display, so you will have to add the one that you like or is most convenient.

pro display

ports

Studio Display features a single upstream Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) port that delivers up to 96 watts of power for charging. There are also three USB-C downstream ports. Up to three studio displays can be connected to the latest MacBook Pros, so you’ll be able to connect quite a few external computers.

pro display

Pro Display XDR has similar connectivity to Studio Display with one Thunderbolt 3 port and three USB-C ports. It is also said to offer 96 watts of charging power. In this aspect the two screens are very similar and there is hardly any difference between the two, since they are quite complete.

this is our choice

After having analyzed and compared the two screens, we stay with Studio Display. It is true that the image quality is not as powerful as in the Pro Display XDR, but for users looking for a full screen, it will be more than enough for everyday use.

pro display vs studio display

In addition, the fact that the Studio Display has speakers, microphones and a camera means that you can get much more out of it to use it every day. Another advantage is the price, and that is that the Pro Display XDR has a much higher price, and that does not have the support included in the box, so you will have to buy it separately.

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