Apple's mysterious missing product looks like it's getting a huge upgrade after all – several, in fact

We’re nearly at the end of the year and it’s safe to say it hasn’t been a quiet one for tech in general and Apple specifically. There have been a huge number of launches, and some of them being pretty great ones, but there have also been some notable absentees.

One of those is an upgrade to Apple's Studio Display monitor. The external display first launched in 2022, but while there have been a number of rumours about a second generation, they have yet to come to fruition.

What might the next Studio Display deliver?

The latest report has some solid evidence to suggest a new Studio Display is on its way though, and some big upgrades could be coming with it.

According to Macworld, Apple code for an internal pre-release build of iOS 26 software has mentioned a new external display with a model name of J527.

To many, this will just be a set of numbers and letters, but the name has previously been associated with a second-gen Studio Display by Apple specialist Mark Gurman of Bloomberg.

There’s nothing to say exactly when the next Studio Display might appear, but the code does suggest it could come with ProMotion tech, which means it could support refresh rates up to 120Hz, like the latest iPad Pro (M5) and the MacBook Pro (M5).

For context, the current Studio Display has a 60Hz refresh rate, so this upgrade would allow for a noticeably smoother scrolling experience.

There is also talk that both SDR and HDR modes will be supported rather than just SDR only, suggesting that the current LCD panel could be upgraded to a different technology – such as Mini-LED for higher brightness levels. Finally, the report on Macworld also talks about the A19 chip running the next Studio Display.

As we said, we still don’t have any word on when this second generation Studio Display might appear, but if it comes with any one of these upgrades, let alone all three, it will no doubt be welcomed with open arms.