iOS 26 code points to a major Apple Studio Display refresh: 120Hz ProMotion, HDR on a Mini-LED panel, and an A19 chip for smarter camera and audio features.
© A. Krivonosov
Apple appears to be gearing up for a long-awaited refresh of its popular Studio Display — and a leak in iOS 26 code hints that the change will be far more than a cosmetic touch-up. References to a device codenamed J527, already linked to a next-gen Studio Display, now point to a serious technical overhaul.
The headline upgrade is a 120Hz refresh rate with ProMotion and variable refresh rate support. That instantly makes the monitor more compelling for designers, videographers, and anyone who wants the kind of fluid motion found on a MacBook Pro. The code also contains nods to HDR support, which all but guarantees a new panel — most likely Mini‑LED, given that rumors of an OLED version have been repeatedly dismissed. It’s the sort of leap the current model has been missing.
There’s a notable shift under the hood as well. The aging A13 Bionic, which has powered the webcam and features like Center Stage, is expected to give way to a new A19 chip, familiar from the iPhone 17 line. That points to better image processing, a more capable Neural Engine, and expanded camera and audio features — a swap that, on paper, could redefine how smart the display feels day to day.