Today we heard rumors that Apple is working on a new monitor for its catalog. The Apple Studio Display Pro would come replace Pro XDR display and it would do so by also providing a mini-LED panel and ProMotion quality. A quality that raises some doubts.
A question of bandwidth
Remember that it is after a Ross Young costume, renowned Apple analyst, that we have heard of a 27-inch mini-LED panel for this coming June. Initially, we thought we could talk about an evolution of the Apple Studio Display, but there is an obstacle: the Thunderbolt 4.
The problem is th at the Thunderbolt protocol, even in its fourth version can’t move the amount of data needed for a 5K panel at 120Hz
To be clear on all the context, remember that Apple left behind the 27-inch iMac by declaring that the Mac Pro is the only computer left to make the leap to Apple silicon. Taking the words at face value, the truth is nothing excludes that we see an iMac Pro, because it is a different name and a different computer. A computer that we could see in June.
It’s the same Ross Young who said just under a month ago that we would see this new iMac at WWDC, although now he doesn’t seem so sure. young aclaraAlso, that your sources aren’t aware of the iMac’s split into Mac Studio plus Studio Display, which adds even more doubt to the information
As if that weren’t enough, we have to keep in mind the predictions of Ming-Chi Kuo, who said we won’t see an iMac Pro until 2023. And who also says it’s very possible that don’t see any new devices with mini-LEDs this year due to high costs.
So… Monitor, iMac? They were?
While rumors often make mistakes, It is rare to see such contradictory information.. When this happens, it’s usually because we’re talking about different devices and it turns out that both rumors are more or less correct in their predictions.
In the present case, what is clear is that a 5K 120Hz monitor is out of range for Thunderbolt 4 ports
The situation can therefore take several paths. The first is that we see the arrival of a 27-inch iMac Pro with a mini-LED display and ProMotion, because the limitations of Thunderbolt 4 bandwidth does not apply to an integrated display. Another is that Apple has found a way to transfer all the bandwidth needed to launch a 120Hz Apple Studio Display Pro to 5K (or more), perhaps in the form of a proprietary connector. One that could happen, perhaps, with a future Mac Pro.
In any case, it seems, going well beyond the uncertainties, it seems that this WWDC will be much more eventful than the others. Not only because of the presence of hardware, if we listen to the rumors, but because it will mark the way forward both in the field of iMacs and dedicated monitors.