Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read my full Ethics & Affiliate Relationship Disclaimer.
The Apple Studio Display and the Studio Display 2 look almost exactly the same. Same size, same starting price of $1,600. So what actually changed, and is it worth upgrading? And if you are buying one for the first time, should you hunt down a refurbished or open-box original, or spend a little more for the Studio Display 2?
I have been running both side by side for months. Here is the honest breakdown.
Same panel, subtle internal upgrades. Do not sell your original to get one, but the Studio Display 2 is the pick for a first buy or a matching second display.
- Identical, still-excellent 27-inch 5K panel on both
- Studio Display 2 adds Thunderbolt 5 with a daisy-chain port
- Noticeably better speakers and webcam on the 2
- The 2 matches the original closely enough to sit side by side
- Still 60Hz and no mini-LED on either; that gap only closes with the XDR
- Studio Display 2 requires an M1 Mac or newer
- The upgrades are internal and subtle, not a new viewing experience
The panel is identical
Both use the same 27-inch 5K panel: 600 nits, which is more than bright enough indoors, a 60Hz refresh rate, P3 wide color for accurate color, excellent contrast, and Apple’s True Tone that shifts color to match your room. Apple again left out 120Hz, and neither is mini-LED, so blacks do not look as deep as they do on the newer XDR. If you sit them side by side, the panels look the same.
What the Studio Display 2 actually adds
The improvements are internal. The 2 has a newer processing chip, a better camera, and much-improved speakers. The Studio Display 1’s speakers were usable; the 2’s I actually love to use. The headline upgrade is Thunderbolt 5, which brings extra bandwidth for modern devices and, more importantly, a second port on the back so you can daisy chain another display or fast storage off a single cable to your Mac. It is fully backward compatible with older Macs and iPads that lack Thunderbolt 5, though you will not get full bandwidth on those.
One catch to know: the original works with certain Intel Macs, but the Studio Display 2 requires at least an Apple M1 chip.
Living with both side by side
After months with both, I sometimes genuinely forget which is which. The giveaway is the webcam and speaker quality, not the panel. The colors look very close, and any small difference is probably just because my original is four years old now. The original’s webcam looks grainier and flatter even with good lighting, and its mic is not quite as good. Center Stage on the 2 follows you around the frame, which is a fun trick, but it feels like a gimmick sometimes: a little slow to catch up, and occasionally jumpy.
Should you upgrade from the original?
For most people running a single display, no. You get the same panel and the same 60Hz, so if that did not bother you before, this does not fix it. Upgrading makes sense in three cases: you need Thunderbolt 5 for fast drives or to daisy chain multiple monitors, your original is having issues, or you want the better camera and speakers badly enough.
Where the 2 really shines is as a second display. That is exactly why I bought mine. The panel matches the original closely, so I plugged the Studio Display 2 into my Mac Studio and daisy-chained the original off the 2’s extra Thunderbolt 5 port. Two matched displays, one cable to the Mac, and I did not have to sell my original.
There is no middle option
The frustrating part of Apple’s lineup is that the next real step up from either Studio Display is the XDR, with nothing in between. The XDR runs about $2,900 to $3,200 depending on the stand and adds mini-LED with full HDR, 120Hz, brightness up to 1,000 nits (1,600 for HDR), and 140W of charging instead of 96W. If 120Hz and HDR genuinely matter to you, neither Studio Display will ever satisfy you and you should buy the XDR. For most general Mac work, photo, and even video editing, a standard 60Hz display is enough.
Pricing, used, and refurbished
Prices move around a lot. I have seen used originals around $1,000, and open-box or refurbished ones from retailers around $1,200 to $1,300. The Studio Display 2 has shown up on sale and on Apple’s refurbished site for about $1,400.
| Studio Display 1 | Studio Display 2 | Studio Display XDR | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panel | 27″ 5K, 60Hz | 27″ 5K, 60Hz | 27″ 5K, 120Hz mini-LED |
| HDR | No | No | Yes |
| Thunderbolt | TB3 | TB5 + daisy chain | TB5 |
| Speakers / camera | Good | Better | Best |
| Charging | 96W | 96W | 140W |
| Typical price | ~$1,000 used | $1,600 (from ~$1,400 refurb) | ~$2,900, $3,200 |
Final verdict
The Studio Display 2 is not a reason to sell and upgrade your Gen 1. The panel is the same, and the upgrades are internal and subtle. But it is absolutely not a bad buy new, and it is the clear pick as a matching second display or as your first Studio Display, thanks to Thunderbolt 5, the better speakers, and the better camera. If you are chasing 120Hz or HDR, skip both and buy the XDR. If you can find a clean original for around $1,000, it still holds up beautifully, since the viewing experience is identical. The extra $200 to $400 for the 2 is money well spent when it comes with a warranty and you want daisy chaining and the better speakers.
