If you’ve been around the computing world long enough, you’ll know that Apple doesn’t exactly have a great reputation when it comes to gaming. For years, the company’s computers were not ideal for gaming performance. You were more likely to be able to run Crysis on a potato than on a MacBook.
Then Apple silicon came along and changed everything. Mac gaming performance, while not on par with Nvidia’s RTX 5090, has come a long way. Apple even partnered with CD Projekt Red to offer Cyberpunk 2077 on Mac, with optimizations specific to macOS. It feels weird to say it, but Macs are serious gaming machines these days.
That’s why I’ve been eagerly awaiting news of Apple’s new Studio Display. Unfortunately, today’s announcement that Apple has refreshed its standalone display disappointed me, and it looks like my ideal Mac gaming setup will have to wait.
Bitterly disappointing
Imagine, if you will, a 27-inch Apple display with 5K resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. This holy trinity is an Apple fan’s gaming dream. You’ll get Apple’s famous design and quality, plus a handful of features to take your games to the next level.
The previous Studio Display checked off the first two features on this list, meaning it was just missing a 120Hz refresh rate. Today, I kept my fingers crossed for a third strike. Unfortunately, that’s not what we got from Apple.
Of course, the Studio Display has notable improvements. There’s a 12MP Center Stage camera with better image quality and Desk View support; better quality microphones; improved sound with Spatial Audio; and Thunderbolt 5 support.
But I would have traded all that for one thing: a 120Hz refresh rate.
If you’ve never experienced refresh rates above 60Hz, they can make a huge difference not only to gaming but also to standard computing. Everything feels smoother, from simply scrolling web pages to watching immersive movies. The benefits are especially noticeable in games, as the constant on-screen action lends itself well to smoother movements.
Yet for one reason or another, Apple has once again left Mac gamers without anything better than 60Hz when it comes to standalone displays. Sure, you can get 120Hz on a MacBook Pro, but there you’re limited to a maximum screen size of 16 inches. The Studio Display measures 27 inches in diameter, making gaming much more enjoyable and immersive.
Mac gamers now have a choice. On the one hand, you can buy a MacBook Pro and get 120Hz but sacrifice screen size. On the other hand, you can buy a Studio Display and get an expanded display size, but forgo the 120Hz refresh rates. The lack of 120Hz seems like an unnecessary compromise on Apple’s part, leaving Mac gamers with a thankless decision to make.
And given that Studio Display’s last update was four years ago in 2022, it’s bitterly disappointing to be left without this core gaming feature for yet another product cycle.
Unanswered prayers
Of course, I know what you’re thinking: many of these features (and more) are available in the all-new Studio Display XDR. This device is Apple’s high-end display and replaces the Pro Display XDR, which has been sadly neglected since its debut in 2019.
Compared to the Studio Display, the Studio Display XDR comes with an assortment of premium features to salivate over. Its mini-LED panel – missing from the base Studio Display – features 2,304 local dimming zones for fantastic contrast levels. Its maximum HDR brightness reaches 2,000 nits, a far cry from the 600 nits of classic Studio Display.
But more importantly, for gamers like me, it offers that all-important 120Hz refresh rate, as well as Apple’s Adaptive Sync feature that automatically adjusts refresh rates between 47Hz and 120Hz on the fly.
So, does this mean the Studio Display XDR is the Apple display gamers should turn to? Unfortunately, the answer is no. On the one hand, its $3,299 price tag puts it out of reach for all but the most serious professional gamers. Apple’s reputation in video games may be improving, but it hasn’t captured that market yet.
And even then, there are better non-Apple options for almost half the price, at least when it comes to gaming features. Take a look at our roundup of the best gaming monitors, for example, and you’ll find a good selection of displays that offer gaming-specific features that Apple’s Studio displays lack.
Our favorite 4K monitor, the Alienware 27 AW2725Q, for example, comes with a 240Hz refresh rate. Sure, it’s not at 5K resolution and it’s nowhere near as bright as the Studio Display XDR, but its suggested price of $899 is a fraction of Apple’s $3,299 asking price.
Or you can get the Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM, with a 4K OLED panel and a 240Hz refresh rate, for $1,199 RRP, which will get you 240Hz OLED quality for almost a third of the price of the Studio Display XDR.
And speaking of OLED, that’s another Apple weakness that has been exposed by the world of gaming monitors. Apple’s flagship monitors have used mini-LED technology for years, and while it’s a great choice for many people, a significant number of users swear by OLED and won’t turn back.
This is especially true in the gaming world, where OLED is considered a premium choice that deepens your immersion. While Apple has rolled out OLED panels on its devices (all the best iPhones had it years ago, for example), it’s nowhere to be seen in the Studio Display series.
So no, despite its advancements, Apple’s Studio Display XDR is unlikely to become the monitor of choice for Mac gamers. And that’s fair enough, because that’s not what it’s made for.
But I was hoping the base Studio Display would answer my prayers and add at least 120Hz to the mix. However, as today’s news has shown, Mac gamers are going to have to continue looking elsewhere to find the solution to their monitor.
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