M5 iPad Pro Sparks Speculation About a 120Hz Apple Studio Display

The latest M5 iPad Pro introduced a quiet but important upgrade. It now supports 120Hz output on external displays using Adaptive Sync. This means smoother motion, lower latency, and fewer visual artifacts during fast-paced tasks like gaming and video editing. It is also the first time an iPad has driven a 120Hz external monitor.

New 120Hz Output Raises Hopes for Studio Display

The M5 iPad Pro’s new 120Hz external display support has raised expectations that Apple will finally bring ProMotion to its next Studio Display, expected in early 2026. Apple monitors have stayed at 60Hz even though Macs have supported higher refresh rates for years. The timing makes many believe a 120Hz Studio Display is now likely.

Internal Apple code reportedly references a new monitor codenamed J427 that may use the A19 Pro chip. Industry leaks also suggest a 27-inch model with mini-LED technology. Mini-LED would offer better brightness, higher contrast, and improved color accuracy compared to the current 27-inch 5K LCD Studio Display. This would bring Apple’s external monitor visuals closer to the MacBook Pro line, which has used mini-LED since 2021.

Expected Launch Window Points Toward Early 2026

The upgraded Studio Display is rumored to arrive in early 2026 and could launch alongside new Macs powered by the M5 chip. Pricing remains unknown, but the current Studio Display starts at 1,599 dollars and includes a 5K LCD panel, 60Hz refresh rate, 600 nits of brightness, a built-in camera, Center Stage, Spatial Audio, the A13 chip, Hey Siri support, and four ports.

If Apple adds 120Hz ProMotion support, mini-LED, and a newer A-series chip, the new Studio Display would match current MacBook Pro display standards rather than acting as a small refresh of the existing monitor.

Nothing is officially confirmed yet, but the M5 iPad Pro’s 120Hz external capability combined with leaks about Apple’s upcoming monitor strongly hint that a higher refresh rate Studio Display is on the way.

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