In this video, I dive deep into the new Studio Display XDR to see if it actually lives up to its impressive spec sheet. While features like Mini LED, 120Hz ProMotion, and 2000 nits of peak HDR brightness sound incredible on paper, my real-world testing led to a surprising conclusion.
Studio Display XDR: https://geni.us/studiodisplayxdr
Studio Display: https://geni.us/studiodisplay2
Mac Buying Help: https://www.adamtalks.tech/mac
Mac Speed Tests: https://www.adamtalks.tech/mactests
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My Desk Setup: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ4v-Uu0Kt8&t=1s
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00:00 – The XDR Specs vs. Reality
00:22 – Price Tags and the Quest for Thunderbolt 5
00:46 – Why macOS Integration Matters
01:04 – Upgraded Features: Webcam, Speakers, and Ports
02:05 – Does 120Hz ProMotion Actually Feel Different?
02:50 – Brightness Battle: SDR vs. HDR Performance
03:35 – Mini LED and True Blacks
04:08 – Longevity: Is a $3,300 Monitor Worth It?
04:45 – Dual Monitors vs. The XDR Price
05:01 – Choosing the Right Stand (VESA vs. Tilt/Height)
05:32 – My Final Decision: Why I’m Returning the XDR
06:20 – 27-inch vs. 32-inch: The Size Debate
06:37 – Why I Prefer a Dual Setup for Editing
07:40 – Final Verdict: Who is the XDR Actually For?
🖥 The Studio Displays:
– Studio Display XDR: https://geni.us/studiodisplayxdr
– Studio Display: https://geni.us/studiodisplay2
– Mac Buying Help: https://www.adamtalks.tech/mac
– Mac Speed Tests: https://www.adamtalks.tech/mactests
The spec sheet reads great, but real-world testing told a different story. Worth the upgrade to you, or sticking with the original 👇
I wouldnt buy any of them. It's not worth the money what so ever.
just bought asd2 refurbished in taiwan , 44990NTD, around 1405USD.
I tend to agree that 60hz doesnt cut it in 2026. Especially at those prices
If you’re not shooting or consuming HDR content it’s a waste. But if you’re shooting and editing in an HDR workspace I don’t think there’s a better value right now. This punches way above 1000 dollar OLEDs. No consumer oled can hit 1000 nits full screen sustained. For pro monitors there’s few that can beat these specs at the resolution and price. “Better” mastering monitors in terms of color accuracy cost way more have lower resolution, and do not work so well out of the box need a lot more calibration.
Since the SDR is only sRGB, the XDR may be a necessity for those who need Adobe RGB inkjet print screen-to-print color matching nor editing for print publishing. sRGB is fine for online content and some forms of video, but not for all forms of still photography.
Also, pro photographers like that the XDR supports Adobe RGB, which remains the preferred color space for archival quality digital printmaking on Epson, Canon and other photo printers.
I'm not earning money with any color related computer activities.
Used many top end 24-27" monitors since 2007: EIZOs, LG Ultrafines 4K/5K (horrible build quality), cheap $500 miniled Redmi 27U (very bright, horrible SW and miniled control), Samsung (horrible matte coating), ASUS PG27UCDM (great in dark room), MSI 4K 27" gaming miniled.
Always preferred glossy ones (ASUS OLED is a bad glossy one though).
Several weeks ago got nano-texture Studio Display XDR. This thing is beautifully aluminum, much better white uniformity than anything I've used before, very bright, not dimming every time I turn away (say hi to OLEDs). In a bright room nano-texture is just AMAZING (it really is). Comparing to glossy iPad Pro M4 and MacBook Pro 16 this XDR display having no reflections at all! https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LWsuN3riUcxVlRLJazgljRt6sFcPTApC/view?usp=share_link
I'm a happy guy (paid almost $4k for my Studio Display XDR)
Thank you Adam.. Your video made me so happy ..!!
No you are not wrong, i have the xdr version but im gonna return it. The standard version is good enough.
Honestly, why would you want an XDR display if you're not interested in what it offers?
If you don't care about HDR content, HDR color work, or 120Hz – and don't want to pay for it – just buy something cheaper.
It's not like you can point to a better, cheaper display in the Apple ecosystem with the same features.
Sure, there are better HDR displays out there, but they don't work as well when you connect them to a Mac.
The XDR display hasn't disappointed me at all.
I RARELY comment. But the HONESTY, non-product bashing, presenting both sides of an issue was so impressive to me that I just needed to comment. I have 2024 Apple Standard and looking to buy another and oscillating between the Standard and XDR – You have helped me greatly and I will now certainly be a subscriber to your channel and look forward to more, calm, honest, well presented information. Well Done!
Good decision
I returned my SD XDR a couple weeks ago and bought an Asus ProArt PA32UCG-K for £1800 and am super happy with it! It's an older model now, the colour accuracy is pretty comparable to the SD XDR but it does have a lot more blooming (which does bother me a little bit but I can deal with it!) The resolution doesn't bother me, I'm more than happy with 4K 120Hz. The thing that makes the biggest difference to me is that I have many more input options now, so I can have my PC hooked up to HDMI and my Mac hooked up to TB. The price tag kinda made me feel sick after I ordered it, which at that point I should've known it wasn't for me!
SD XDR does have better image quality, the speakers are amazing and the integrated webcam is super nice too, but I simply couldn't justify the price jump. Maybe one day I'll have the money and desk space for a dedicated monitor, but sadly not today…
What a great, honest, down to earth review. You just saved me $1,500 dollars as I have the Standard Studio Display (2023) and was planning on adding a second display (XDR) and realize that there is absolutely nothing in the XDR that I actually need. Just editing videos on Davinci and other non=-professional uses. Thanks so much for helping me to see my real needs.
The Studio Display XDR is amazing, got dual screen 🖥️ 🖥️ setup with the Studio Display 1. Filming all new content in HDR looks way better, wouldn’t go back to SDR. Used to have a 42” hdr oled , that’s been replaced by XDR and the size thing is not an issue. When clients see their footage in HDR they are impressed 🤯. Be selling the Studio Display 1 and get a second XDR at some point, M5 ultra is next on the kit list 😛
For me, for all my color work including photo-editing, design, and more, I just crouch over and use iPad Pro with M5 chip 13-inch. This product has the most vivid and accurate display in the world. Once you use Tandem OLED, you absolutely can’t go back.
For the price of one XDR, you can get three 32" 4k OLEDs with even better picture quality. Just move them further away and you're getting the same PPI.
I hear you Adam, sounds like you have made a lot of thought into this and made the right decision for you. I went for the Studio Display XDR and have had the iPhone 14 Pro Max since it came out and I am not able to see the difference between 60 and 120 hz either. Most people, including most gamers, can't notice that difference. The only difference most people will notice is some improvement in the picture quality with more poping colours on the Studio Display XDR, but that is mostly when you but the two displays together. Same goes for the web cam which is now much better. I am keeping mine though, because I work with graphics and some video editing, not yet HDR but hey future proving, right?…
Thank you! I have seen many reviews about the new Studio Display and compared the displays in an Apple Store. Since I am doing mostly office work and besides some photo editing, they recommend actually the Studio Display 2 to me and not the HDR. I was still ambivalent, because I wanted the best buy for me, if necessary the XDR-Version. But this balanced and honest review made the decision now easy for me. I do nothing wrong if I do not buy the Studio Display XDR. I am now confident that the Studio Display 2 will meet all my expectations and will make me happy beyond any doubt.
Typical youtuber. For years all we heard about was the stupid refresh rate. Turns out it was not such a big deal after all.
Can you comment on the nano coating? Is that worth it in your opinion?
I still have the 27" Cinema LED display, the one with mini display port.
That is why I am thinking about getting the 6k xdr display. I would notice more a larger screen and 6k.
Hey, I bought Apple Studio Display (2026) with nano-texture glass and I decided to go for it because I thought it is simply good enough for the price tag it has. I watched tons of YouTube reviews, but since I have played like 3 games on my MacBooks since … 2011? I did not see a reason to pay a premium for XDR. As a matter of fact, I think that ASD (2022) is a pretty decent deal now for what it is, but I did not want 2022 version, because the camera is shit and Apple only fixed it with 2026 version. 60 Hz vs 120 Hz – loads on YouTubers make a massive deal out of it, but I do not give a f*** honestly and I am happy with my choise… The new XDR is significantly more expensive. It costs more than a car and unless you earn your bread with photo and video editing, I do not think it is worth it.
Liked the nice way your point of view is being presented in this video 👌🏼 the ending is among the humblest 😊
The ProMotion 120 Hz makes a difference in particular when scrolling up or down, left or right. Text and images are easy to read. At 60 Hz, text stutters, making it impossible or very difficult to read. The faster you scroll, the more obvious it becomes. ProMotion was already a big miss in the first generation Apple Studio back in 2022, and now, 4 years later, in 2026 and given its high price, it's even more disappointing to not have it
i own a 250 euros 4k 27" lg monitor, and i'm very happy with its color quality.
Really….the best you come up with for the 120hz is that the mouse moves smoother…
I just bought the Asus ProArt 6K 32" and I'm delighted with it. Coming from a 4K 27" Benq monitor. A.
One thing you need to consider is the time the monitor will last and how long you are willing to use it. Luckily Apple products keep their worth quite well, and the technology is quite ideal for what it's meant for, so it won't be outdated in a few years and once it starts to be you can sell it for quite a chunk still. Is it overpriced? Yes. Is it still kind of worth it? For prosumer yes. I don't regret getting one, it makes me excited to do work on it.
This guy is one of the few that makes logic sense and isn't red pilled. I went to the Apple Store and even after checking the display settings, I had a hard time to see the differences. The Apple Store itself placed the wrong labels next to the monitors. The only noticeable difference was in HDR but really, how often does one watch HDR content? I also preferred the glossy display. Each to their own but it made my choice easier. Similarly I thought for the money I would much prefer two Studio Displays to the HDR one.
I am waiting to see a mac review for the 27 Inch UltraGear 27GM950B-B looks promising, but LG is not answering any questions on it, so no way I will pre-order will keep my old studio display for now.
I decided to keep my XDR. As you pointed out, there is a difference especially in the blacks. That’s something I wanted in a display. I also kept my original Studio Display from 2022. Like you, I use a dual monitor setup so having the two Studio Displays is exactly what I wanted.
Really good summary. HDR is important to me, because all the iPhone videos come in HDR and it looks really nice on the XDR, but unfortunately I can't live with the 27" size. Still trying to find a 3rd party 4k+, 31,5"+, 90Hz+ monitor with good HDR support.
I have my SD XDRs next to my 16 inch MacBook Pro, and I love the consistency across the displays. That wouldn’t happen with the standard SD, and I know the lack of consistency would annoy me. These displays are an investment and the extra cost is worth knowing I bought the best displays available at the time and will enjoy them for many years.
I upgraded from two Samsung M90 Monitors and there is a slight drop in color vibrancy going from QD OLED to Mini LED, but the quality of these displays is on another level.
If you edit HDR photo / video than difference is night and day. Actually more than that, older one is not HDR at all 🙂
Once you try to make HDR video form your log footage SDR looks so flat and 2D.
But whatever
¯_(ツ)_/¯
Great review but was wondering if the screen bar light that you had atop of the XDR monitor closed up/covered the vent, altered the sound quality of the audio & covered the FaceTime camera?
I gotten myself an SD and a SD XDR as I can't stand the grey when I am watching movies. Also, my contention is the difference is not that much when you factored in the height adjustment stand of the XDR. I'm loving it at the moment. Reading with dark mode is really a pleasure.
120 refresh rate is overrated. I want the pro xdr.